Many performing musicians have been left wondering whether public performances would ever again be allowed since lockdown methods were adopted globally.
Live streaming is a method that has gained popularity among both audiences and performers since it enables musicians to perform for their followers while staying at home and abiding by government regulations.
This straightforward manual for independent artists explains how you can monetize live streaming and establish a virtual connection with your audience. In this article, you’ll be provided the tools and platforms you need to start a Livestream and how to make money from live streaming as a musician.
What you need to set up a Livestream
- A smartphone with an internet connection (wifi is not required) or
- A laptop or desktop with an internet connection, the Google Chrome browser, a camera, and a microphone
You don’t need them to begin live streaming, even though having extra cameras, microphones, lights, and specialized software can help to increase the quality.
Where can you Livestream?
Although you can’t stream straight from a computer to Twitter or Instagram, those are the key platforms we’ll cover: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can only livestream on one platform at a time, using one device, without the use of additional software.
Computer or Phone?
Both are simple to set up for going live, but mobile is unquestionably simpler. Livestream scheduling is only possible with a computer.
If you want to interact with your audience through a Q&A, using a computer is preferable because you can read comments and questions more clearly on a larger screen.
You have the choice to flip the camera on a mobile device to record other musicians. You will need to hold your phone, use a stand, or lean it against something, like a book, if you want to record yourself.
Which Platform should you use for Live streaming?
You might believe that the location with the finest quality is the best spot to broadcast. The best location, though, is where your followers are, or where you want them to be. It makes sense to livestream from Facebook if that platform has your biggest audience.
Most platforms are only 720p quality since you want your audience to be able to see them without lagging or buffering. Their experience will depend on how dependable their connection is, even if you have high-speed internet. For the sake of the experience, YouTube will reduce the quality.
Here are some characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks of each platform:
YouTube:
- Enables live streaming on a phone or pc
- Offers the best video quality available
- Enables you to plan livestreams for whenever in the future, giving your viewers advance warning.
- Real-time audience feedback is available
- On your YouTube channel, you can include a section for “live videos.”
- Prior to and during livestreams, you can give your audience simple notification reminders.
- Your videos will be preserved after that
- For mobile, you’ll need 1000 subscribers.
Also Read: Music Promotion: how to get your song played on Radio in 8 Proven Steps
Facebook:
- Enables live streaming on a phone or pc
- 720p maximum quality
- Livestreams can be planned up to seven days in advance, giving your audience plenty of time to prepare.
- You may create Facebook events for live streams to provide extra details and reminders to your audience.
- Real-time audience feedback is available
- Your audience can receive notifications both before and during livestreams.
- Your videos will be preserved after that
- Live streaming is only possible on mobile.
- 720p maximum quality
- There is no function for scheduling.
- Real-time audience feedback is available
- During livestreams, you can remind your audience via notifications (but users have to enable them)
- Your films will be preserved after that
- Guests can accept your invitation to watch the broadcast on their device.
Instagram:
- Live streaming is only possible on mobile.
- 720p maximum quality
- There is no function for scheduling.
- Real-time audience feedback is available
- During livestreams, you can remind your audience via notifications.
- Your video will be deleted after that because they are only accessible for 24 hours.
- Guests can accept your invitation to livestream using their own device.
Also Read: 7 Proven Tips for Journalists Interviewing Musicians
How to make Money from Live Streaming
Purchase Websites:
You must also locate a buying platform if you want to sell concert tickets.
Buymeacoffee.com is simple to set up, allows donations with a credit card or PayPal, and comes with a landing page. Since their fees were eliminated in April to support artists during COVID-19, all proceeds go to the musicians in full, with no deductions for percentages.
Calendar Invites:
Your ticket website should be set up in the ideal way so that when people pay, you receive their email address and can give them a calendar invite that includes the livestream link to your performance as well as other important facts (date, time, performance details, schedule etc).
This can be done manually, or Zapier can be used to automate it. Wegottickets and other traditional ticket platforms take care of this for you automatically.
Promoting your Event:
At the moment, there is a ton of free entertainment available on various web platforms. You can only get people interested in your performance if you can create engaging, professionally produced content and if you’re not afraid to market yourself. We think it’s preferable to have a smaller, more focused audience than a large number of disinterested, distracted viewers.
Make sure to create a compelling promotional image or photo that expresses what to anticipate. Be sure to use clear, precise language. It is wise to review the schedules for the events or programs you regularly attend and utilize their messaging and branding as a guide.
For Instance, hosting a live streaming music event promotion format given below:
A series of intimate living room performances called “WSV Tunes” brings people together through masterfully composed underground jazz. We gather the best underground musicians on Zoom as our stage to play live solo shows while we’re alone, all the way from our houses to yours.
Start promoting your show on all of your channels early enough for people to make plans.
Hosting the Show:
Consider setting up a livestream like you would a genuine performance. Make sure your repertoire is strong, examine the aesthetics of the space, and consider adding some lighting, flowers, or anything else that will make the scene realistic and entertaining to watch. Think of it as a stage.
Before the performance, a soundcheck is crucial to assure quality and everyone’s comfort. You might even want to organize a warm-up performance for your buddies.
Consider starting the performance with a brief introduction and concluding with a quick Q&A. Many streaming services offer a chat feature that enables viewers to ask questions or interact with one another while watching a performance. To prevent interruptions, it is best to keep the crowd silent throughout the performance.
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Live streaming on Public Channels:
On open platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or YouTube Live, many live streaming take place. These platforms allow you to record your streams so you may later use them as a pre-recorded video. Streaming on these platforms can be a good way to promote your music.
However, live streaming on open platforms limits your capacity to make money because the only method to do so is to include a donation link in the description and mention it while you perform. Unfortunately, all the other activities that are available on these platforms tend to divert people’s attention. Don’t be shocked if your audience drifts away or exits without contributing.
We therefore suggest you to build a private livestream that is only accessible via a secret link that can only be gained once your audience has donated if one of your main objectives is to make money from your performance.
Selling Tickets:
The bond you build with your audience depends on having tickets for your event. Instead of tuning in and out like they would at a free concert, it enables an intimate performance where attendees remain the entire time. Additionally, it fosters a sense of belonging among the visitors. Not only do people attend for the music, but also to socialize with other like-minded music fans.
Find a live streaming platform that enables you to set up a “room” where your audience can be present while you play, but that is off-limits to those who haven’t bought tickets. Use a platform that your audience is already familiar with or that is simple to set up, if possible.
There are several live streaming services available, however Zoom is our preferred option for three reasons:
- Accessible: One of the most popular video conferencing services, Zoom, is simple to use for users of all levels of technological proficiency.
- Privacy: If you want to give your guests a personalized experience, Zoom lets you set up password-protected sessions.
Zoom provides a wide variety of audio choices, allowing you to change volume levels and input types.
Post-performance:
Send a thank-you email to your supporters following the concert, offer links to the performers’ websites, social media accounts, etc., and solicit feedback. Analyze the performance; if you were able to make some money and your audience and participants seemed to enjoy it, you might wish to do it again.
Frequently Asked Questions about Live Streaming
What does TikTok pay for each stream?
TikTok is thought to pay between 2 and 4 cents for every 1,000 video views. All of this can be credited to the TikTok Creator Fund, a scheme through which the company pledged $300 million to pay creators who utilize the platform and submit an application. A number of criteria determine how much money is given to creators: count of views.
How much money do artists get for a million streams?
Spotify pays musicians between $0.001 and $0.008 for each stream. This means that you can anticipate to make between $1,000 and $8,000 if your music is streamed one million times on Spotify.
How can musicians profit from live performances?
Additionally, royalties from your live performances are possible. PROs compensate original music songwriters with royalties when they perform their songs in venues with a license. This covers all authorized live event venues, such as bars, clubs, theaters, and other similar establishments.
How many streams are required to support a music career?
Therefore, to get minimum wage, you'll need about 170,000 Spotify streams and 85,000 Apple Music streams. This works out to about 3.06 million streams on both platforms over the course of a full year, which you will need to be able to support yourself.
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