PART-TIME MUSIC PRODUCER SIDE HUSTLES
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Are you passionate about music production and seeking ways to turn your skills into additional income? The music production industry offers a plethora of exciting side hustles that allow you to explore your creativity and make money. In listicle article, we will delve into 10 profitable side hustles in the music production industry and outline the first step you need to take to kickstart each venture. Let’s begin!
1. Freelance Music Producer:
Starting a career as a freelance music producer may feel daunting, but you can take steps to succeed. First, create a collection of your best work that showcases your versatility across different music genres. A diverse range of high-quality tracks will help you stand out.
Next, establish an online presence through a website or social media platforms to increase your visibility. Networking with other musicians and industry professionals is also crucial. Websites like Upwork can assist you in finding job opportunities. While freelance work as a music producer can be challenging, following these steps can lead to a successful career.
2. Mixing and Mastering Engineer:
To become a successful mixing and mastering engineer, follow several key steps. First, invest in a digital audio workstation (DAW) that meets your needs. High-quality plugins are essential for achieving professional-sounding recordings.
Next, start building your portfolio by collaborating with local artists or other producers. Consider remixing tracks, mastering demos, or working on full-length albums. Additionally, learning through tutorials and online classes will enhance your skills. Experimenting with different setups and workflows can further boost your expertise.
Once you feel confident, establish an online presence through a website or social media to showcase your work. Finally, platforms like Soundbetter can help you connect with other music professionals.
Popular Platforms
If you’re looking for platforms to use your skills, don’t worry! Numerous online platforms allow you to use your skills while earning extra income. Popular options include Freelancer.com, Upwork.com, and Fiverr.com.
These websites enable you to create a profile that showcases your unique talents and experience, making it easier for clients to find you. With Fiverr, you can also create a gig listing that clearly describes your services.
Whether you prefer browsing job postings or waiting for clients to contact you, each platform caters to different preferences. Additionally, these platforms offer a wide range of job opportunities and flexible payment options, making the job search stress-free.
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3. Session Musician:
A session musician plays music for others and can make good money through recordings or live shows. They can work with any genre of music and even play for jingles or movies. Pay is usually hourly, but sometimes a set amount for the project. To become a session musician, search online or in music schools and studios. Networking can also help find clients. This job offers the opportunity to learn from professionals and explore different types of music.
What is a Session Musician? (YouTube Video)
4. Sound Designer:
Sound design is a fun and creative job that needs various skills and tools. If you want to become a sound designer, you can start by getting a good sound library and professional audio software. You can learn more about sound design by watching online tutorials and practicing on your own.
To show your skills to customers such as game developers and filmmakers, you can make a portfolio of your work. This could include sounds, music, and other relevant things that show what you can do.
Networking with other professionals can also help you find more work opportunities. You can join online groups, go to events, and use social media to showcase your skills and find new connections.
If you want to learn more about sound design, check out this website: “Sound Design Basics: Getting Started Using The 3 R’s”
Skillset: Attention to Detail
Becoming a sound designer can be both challenging and rewarding for those passionate about creating immersive soundscapes. Knowledge of sound creation, software, and programming is essential. You can gain expertise through formal education or by self-teaching.
Attention to detail is crucial, along with critical thinking and collaboration skills. Understanding client needs and staying current with new technologies is also important. This role requires a blend of art and science, ensuring various media sound appealing. Sound design is an exciting field—are you interested in exploring it?
5. Jingle Composer:
The power of music is undeniable when it comes to advertising. One of the most popular methods is through catchy jingles that have a way of getting stuck in people’s heads long after they’ve heard them. For example, everyone knows the famous “I’m lovin’ it” tune from McDonald’s, “Nationwide is on Your Side” from Nationwide Insurance, and “The Best Part of Wakin’ Up is Folgers in Your Cup” from Folgers Coffee. These jingles are infectious and have the power to make people remember the brand.
Interestingly, research shows that people are more likely to retain information if it’s set to music. This makes jingles an extremely effective way to create brand identity which is memorable. And while the three examples above have been around for some time, they continue to prove that simple, upbeat, and catchy tunes can work wonders in advertising and promotion. In summary, jingles are a time-tested strategy that can help a brand stand out from the crowd and stay memorable with potential customers.
Corny Can Be Catchy
If you’ve ever listened to a catchy jingle on the radio or on TV and thought to yourself, “I could do that,” then becoming a jingle composer might just be the career path for you! To become successful in this industry, it’s essential to develop a deep understanding of what makes an effective and memorable melody that can stick in people’s heads. You’ll need to create a diverse portfolio of jingles that demonstrates your ability to capture the essence of a brand or product, and to really show off your skills in this area.
To expand your reach and find more clients, you can connect with advertising agencies, local businesses, and marketing professionals who may require jingles for commercials or promotional campaigns for their products. By showcasing your talents and spreading the word about your services, you can attract potential clients and grow your business. Make use of online platforms such as social media channels and freelance websites to promote your services and get your jingles in front of a wider audience. If you’re interested in the history of jingles and how they’ve evolved over the years, you can do some research and visit websites like Wikipedia to learn more about this fascinating aspect of music and advertising.
6. Music Teacher or Online Tutor:
Music is a passion that many people share, and if you’re looking to make some extra money, there’s no better way than by starting a side hustle as a music teacher or online tutor. Not only will you be able to earn some additional income, but you’ll also be able to share your love of music with others and help them develop their skills.
To get started, it’s important to assess your musical expertise and identify the instruments or areas in which you can teach proficiently. This will give you a strong foundation on which to build your teaching materials and resources, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date information and techniques to share with your students.
Additionally, it’s crucial to create a well-structured lesson plan and curriculum tailored to different skill levels. This will allow you to deliver quality instruction to your students, regardless of their level of experience.
Once you have these elements in place, you can begin advertising your services locally through community centers, schools, or music stores. You can also leverage online platforms to maximize your visibility and offer virtual lessons to an even broader audience.
With dedication and hard work, your music teaching side hustle has the potential to transform into a rewarding venture that enables you to share your love for music and inspire others.
7. Sample Pack Creator:
If you’re a music producer, DJ, or musician, audio sample packs can elevate your music production. These collections of pre-recorded sound files offer a wealth of soundscapes. You’ll find everything from drum kits and vocal samples to instrumental loops.
Versatile enough for any genre, sample packs suit classical, jazz, rock, pop, and more. They are easily downloadable online at reasonable prices, making them both convenient and cost-effective. The true beauty of these packs lies in their ability to be layered and manipulated.
This feature allows music producers to unleash their creativity and produce unique tracks. Additionally, DJs can use sample packs during live performances to create exciting mashups and remixes. With the vast variety of sample packs available today, you’re sure to find the perfect sounds for your musical vision.
8. Music Licensing and Sync:
Music licensing and sync is a vital process that involves obtaining permissions to use songs in various media projects. This includes TV shows, movies, advertisements, and more. Understanding copyright laws is crucial for composers and musicians, as it protects their works and ensures fair compensation.
To excel in music licensing and sync, you need essential skills like communication, project management, and negotiation. These abilities can be developed through music schools, law schools, or apprenticeships with experienced professionals. Additionally, knowledge of music theory and the industry is necessary for obtaining the right licenses and negotiating fair agreements.
Success in this field relies on having a keen ear for selecting appropriate music for specific projects. Understanding how music conveys emotions enhances the viewer’s experience, making this work enriching. In summary, music licensing and sync are critical in the music industry, demanding diligence, hard work, and a deep understanding of the field.
Strategic Approach
Starting a career in music licensing and sync requires a strategic approach. First, create a portfolio showcasing your original compositions across diverse genres. This will highlight your musical range and creativity.
Next, identify potential opportunities by researching media production companies, advertising agencies, and content creators seeking music. After compiling a list of potential clients, craft personalized pitches that showcase your work and explain how your music enhances their projects.
Another effective strategy is to register with online music licensing platforms and libraries. These platforms streamline the licensing process and connect artists with clients. Make sure your music is properly tagged with keywords for easy searchability.
Stay active on these platforms, participate in licensing opportunities, and promote your work through social media and your personal website. By doing this, you’ll build a network of connections and establish your reputation as a music licensing artist.
9. Podcast Production:
When it comes to working in podcast production, a lot of different tasks and skills come into play. Of course, the main role of a podcast producer is to create and produce interesting audio content that engages the listeners. This involves everything from researching and brainstorming podcast topics to writing up well-crafted scripts.
In order to do all of this successfully, a solid foundation in audio engineering, journalism, or communications is a definite advantage. But beyond that, it’s important to have excellent writing, storytelling, and scriptwriting skills, as well as proficiency with audio editing software and recording equipment.
Being detail-oriented, having strong time management skills, and being able to work collaboratively with hosts and other team members are also crucial attributes in this line of work. Ultimately, the ultimate goal of podcast production is to create exceptional podcasts that inform, entertain, and keep listeners coming back for more.
Start a podcast side hustle by getting a reliable recording setup, practicing audio editing and mixing skills specific to podcast production, making a portfolio of edited and mixed podcast episodes across various topics, and network with podcasters to showcase your ability to enhance the audio quality and storytelling of their shows.
10. YouTube Channel Music Producer:
A YouTube Channel Music Producer is a skilled professional focused on creating and sharing original music content. Their creativity and musicianship shine through in high-quality music videos that span various musical styles. Passionate about their craft, they aim to build a dedicated fan base while generating consistent revenue.
Whether working solo or collaborating with other musicians, these producers strive to create exceptional music videos. They often spend long hours perfecting every aspect of production. Success in this role is fueled by a deep love for music and a strong work ethic.
Additionally, their ability to reach a vast audience through YouTube helps them grow their global fan base. This commitment to quality and engagement makes them influential figures in the music industry.
To become a YouTube music producer: Identify popular channels in your genre, offer custom tracks to content creators, set a pricing & licensing agreement, create a portfolio of samples, promote your services on social media and forums.
Here are three examples of successful YouTube Music Producer Channels:
“MA Music” is one of the most popular YouTube music producer channels with over 6 million subscribers. It features high-quality music mixes, remixes, and exclusive releases from various genres such as trap, future bass, and house. The channel curates content from upcoming and established artists around the world and is renowned for their exceptional visuals and audio quality.
“Majestic Casual” has over 4 million subscribers, and it’s one of the best channels for laidback electronic music. The channel concentrates on genres like chillout, indie-electronic, and downtempo. It’s also known for its significant role in pushing emerging talent and introducing their music to a worldwide audience.
“Trap Nation” is a colossal platform that focuses on trap music, a subgenre of hip hop. It has over 30 million subscribers and has been credited for significantly contributing to the growth of trap music. The channel features some of the most popular and talented producers in the genre and has a vast collection of exclusive releases, remixes, and music videos.