310 Creative Meets Commerce: A Musician's Guide to Revenue Stream Balance

The Unstarving Musician

This deep-dive episode explores how independent musicians can effectively balance their creative output with various revenue streams. From live shows and streaming to licensing and teaching, I break down the business focus and creative aspects of each income source. Learn practical strategies for time management, tools for productivity, and real-world examples from artists like Shannon Curtis, Bradford Loomis, and Dean Johanesen. Whether building a sustainable career or managing a passion project, discover actionable steps to maintain your artistic fulfillment while achieving financial stability. Based on insights from Liner Notes, this episode provides a comprehensive framework for integrating your creative and business mindsets.

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Mentions, Links, and Related Episodes

Automation Tips for Working With Audio and Video Files, by Anna B. Yang

Shannon Curtis – House Concerts, Building Connections, Community, Release Strategy And Her 2018 Album “Both At The Same Time” (Rewind Series Ep 243)

Building Community–Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill (Ep 168)

Writing Music With Preparedness In Mind–Bradford Loomis (Ep 220)

Cutting Out the Music Business Middleman–Bradford & Kimberly Loomis

Circus Swing and the Transformation of Dean Johanesen

Dean Johanesen – Album Artwork, Song Reference Files, Record Release Mode, Balancing Creative Time, Arc Of A Thematic Album, Writing Press Releases, Release Campaign Framework, Heightened Creativity, Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival (Ep 246)

Lessons Learned for the Modern Freelancer—Mike Volkin (Episode 27 of the Morning Tempo podcast on YouTube)

Live Streamed Shows In Isolation —Dean Johanesen Part 2 (Ep 156)

The Obstacle Is The Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, by Ryan Holiday

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield

Kit – Email Marketing for Musicians

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income

Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

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