This is a little bit different post than the usual, but still very valuable in my opinion. There comes a time in a guitar player’s life where you must decide to keep playing guitar and music professionally to support yourself, or to take on another job, and play guitar as a side source of income.

It can be a little discouraging and depressing when this reality hits you, but here is a list of some of the many ways possible to earn income in the Music Business. Take this list and shove it in your friends’ and family’s faces the next time they tell you that there’s a job opening at their neighbor’s telemarketing firm.

Sources of Income

• Motion Pictures
• Television
• Ringtones
• Sampling
• Home video & DVD
• Greeting Cards
• Sheet Music
• Dolls, Toys, Music Boxes
• Interactive Video Games
• Multimedia Audio Visual Configurations
• Special Products Albums
• Streaming
• Foreign Countries
• Performances
• Advertising
• Lyric Reprints
• Karaoke Background Music
• Theme Parks
• Compilation Albums
• Record Sales
• Trailers
• Limited Edition Collectibles
• Downloads
• Broadway/Off Broadway Plays
• Video Games
• Podcasting
• Subscription Services
• Webcasting
• New Media
• Video on Demand
• Dual Disc
• Radio
• Satellite
• Remix

This list excerpt was taken from Music Money and Success: An Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business. I highly recommend it. The book is written by Jeffrey & Todd Brabec, former recording artists and entertainment lawyers, now pretty high up executives in ASCAP and Chrysalis Music Group. You can read more about it and purchase it here:

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