Starting a music blog is exciting! There’s so much to explore, like choosing a domain name and setting up WordPress.
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to dive into monetizing your blog.
This is where the real fun begins!
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already a music guru, these monetization tips can help you turn your passion for music into a profitable venture.
Let’s break down each method together!
Why You Can Trust Our Music Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many music blogs.
Our team has built multiple 7-figure blogs in a wide range of niches.
We have hands-on experience working with founders to grow and monetize their music blogs.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for music bloggers because it hits the sweet spot between time investment and earning potential.
Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a publisher (the site owner) links to a product in their content and earns a commission from the advertiser (the affiliate program) if readers click on that link and make a purchase.
TIP: With all monetization methods, the rule of thumb is the easier it is to accomplish, the less money you can make, and vice versa.
Also, since you can add links to your existing content, it’s the perfect method for beginners. You’ve already written content, so you’ve already done the hard part.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing for Music Bloggers
If you're diving into the music blogging niche, recommending affiliate products can boost your income while providing value to your readers. Here’s a list of some great affiliate products to consider:
- Music Streaming Services: Offer subscriptions to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal. People love discovering new music!
- Musical Instruments: Promote guitars, keyboards, or digital instruments. Ideal for musicians looking to upgrade.
- Music Production Software: Recommend DAWs like Ableton Live or FL Studio. Perfect for aspiring producers.
- Online Music Courses: Share links to platforms like MasterClass or Udemy for learning instruments or production.
- Concert Tickets: Use affiliate links for ticket sales on platforms like Ticketmaster or Live Nation. Everyone loves live music!
- Vinyl Records and Turntables: Cater to vintage lovers with links to vinyl and turntable retailers.
- Flexible Options: You can choose a range of products for different audience segments.
- High Demand: Music-related products often have a broad appeal, translating into good sales.
- Recurring Income: Services with monthly subscriptions can provide ongoing commissions.
- Community Engagement: Promoting relevant products makes you a go-to resource in the music scene.
- Varied Prices: You'll find options for every budget, from inexpensive courses to high-end gear.
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Commission Rate: 9% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 30 Days
StubHub is a very well-known event ticket marketplace, and that leverage helps to encourage your audience to click on your affiliate links.
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Commission Rate: 7% - 400% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 1 - 30 Days
Earn commissions on qualifying Apple Music memberships as well as sales of movies, tv shows, books, audiobooks, and more.
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Commission Rate: 6% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 45 Days
With zZounds, you get More for your Music: the lowest prices AND the best service in the musical instrument and equipment business. Period.
- Add links where it’s helpful. Adding too many links to your blog posts is just like adding too many ads; it’s annoying. Add links to product titles, images, CTA buttons, and the first time you mention a product. That’s plenty.
- Disclose your links. Every blog post with affiliate links should have a disclaimer at the beginning, and every CTA or product image should also.
- Use direct sales language. When you are writing your call to action, be direct. It’s not rude to say, “Check the price” or “Buy this product today.” Being too passive makes you look unconfident.
- 100,000+ Visitors per month - Raptive
- 50,000+ Sessions per month - Mediavine
- < 50,000+ Visitors per month - Ezoic
- Music Production Courses: Teach your audience how to produce tracks, mix, and master their own songs through video or downloadable content.
- Exclusive Sample Packs: Offer your original samples, loops, and sound effects for producers looking to spice up their projects.
- Sheet Music and Tabs: Provide downloadable sheet music and guitar/bass tabs for popular songs or original compositions.
- Personalized Songwriting Coaching: Sell one-on-one sessions to help aspiring songwriters craft and improve their lyrics and melodies.
- Merchandise for Artists: Design and sell digital merch like posters, album covers, or artwork that fans can download and print.
By focusing on what your readers love, not only do you enhance their music experience, but you also create a solid income stream for yourself.
Once you’ve identified which products will solve problems for your readers, you need to sign up for their affiliate programs.
You should start by joining the Amazon Associates affiliate program.
Most physical products in the music niche will be available on Amazon, and the conversion rate on Amazon is insane.
Yes, Amazon’s commission rates are rough, and they only offer a 24-hour cookie duration, but the conversion rate makes up for it. Plus, you’re nearly guaranteed to get accepted into their program.
For products that aren’t available on Amazon, just Google “[Product] affiliate program,” and you’ll find their program’s signup page.
To save you some time, here are a few of the best affiliate networks for music bloggers:
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best music affiliate programs.
Once you’ve been approved for the product’s affiliate program, the program will give you your affiliate link, and you can start inserting it into your content.
How To Monetize A Music Blog With Affiliate Marketing
To add your link to your content, go to your post editor, highlight the relevant text, and insert the link.
Here are a few best practices for adding affiliate links to your WordPress blog:
Or, take it a step further by creating product displays.
You Can Double Your Affiliate Sales With Lasso Displays
You can create displays manually using the post editor to add links to images and buttons.
However, it can be time-consuming to create these displays and keep them updated if you’re doing it all by hand.
Luckily, monetizing your blog with affiliate links is simplified when you’re using a tool like Lasso.
Lasso makes it super easy to add links and product displays to your posts. You can add product displays to posts right from the post editor; no coding is required. It’s as simple as clicking your mouse three times.
You can also automatically import product info from retailers like Amazon. Just paste the link into the Lasso dashboard, and Lasso will populate the display with the product title, image, and price.
With all of this, remember to follow the guidelines in the affiliate program’s terms and conditions. Amazon, in particular, is pretty stringent.
But everything Lasso does is compliant with Amazon Associates’ TOS, so you never have to worry about being booted from the program.
That’s just scratching the surface of what Lasso can do to help you monetize your music blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your music site, sign up for Lasso today.
A WordPress plugin that lets you add, manage, and display your affiliate links from any program, including Amazon. Increase conversions. Find new affiliate link opportunities. Earn more revenue! Less than 5 minutes to set up.
Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Music Bloggers
Affiliate marketing can be a great way for music bloggers to monetize their passion. You get to promote brands or products you love, and earn a commission when someone buys through your link. This aligns your income with what you genuinely care about, which is cool.
However, it's not all smooth sailing. The competition is fierce in the music niche. You have to build a strong audience before you see any real cash flow from affiliate links. Plus, if you're promoting something that doesn’t resonate with your followers, it can hurt your credibility.
On the upside, it offers flexibility. You can choose products that best fit your blog's vibe and audience interests. This freedom allows for creativity in your promotions, keeping your content fresh and engaging.
But remember, success in affiliate marketing doesn’t come overnight. It takes time to figure out what works. You may need to experiment a lot before finding the right products and strategies that convert. Patience and persistence are key.
2. Display Ads
The second best way to monetize your music blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.
How to Monetize a Music Blog With Display Ads
Monetizing a music blog with display ads couldn’t be easier.
First, choose an ad network to join. Networks have traffic requirements, so here are the best ad networks to join based on your site’s page views:
NOTE: WordPress is an open-source software found on WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a premium blogging platform, but you never need to pay to install WordPress on your website, even if it’s self-hosted.
Once you’re accepted to an ad network, follow their instructions to integrate their ads into your site. They will have documentation for every type of content management service (WordPress, Joomla, Ghost, etc.).
If your chosen ad network has a dedicated accounts manager, they will guide you through getting their ads on your site.
And… that’s it. Let the ads run and wait for your deposits to hit your account.
TIP: Optimize your display ads for user experience by using your chosen network’s software settings or talking to your account manager. Keep the ads in the sidebar and footer whenever possible.
You’ll make a lot of money in the long run if you put your readers ahead of quick profit.
Display Ad Pros And Cons For Music Bloggers
Display ads can be a great way for music bloggers to monetize their content. They can provide a steady income, especially if your blog has a decent amount of traffic. Brands often pay competitively for placements, which can help fund your next big project or help improve your blog's design.
However, display ads come with some downsides. First, they can disrupt the reader's experience. Too many ads can slow down your site and clutter your layout, which can drive visitors away. Plus, some readers may use ad-blockers, reducing your potential revenue.
Another consideration is the need for relevancy. It’s crucial to choose ads that resonate with your audience. Irrelevant ads can tarnish your blog’s reputation and alienate loyal readers. The balance between monetization and maintaining quality content can be tricky.
In the end, display ads can be beneficial, but they require a careful approach. Finding that sweet spot where you can earn money while keeping your audience engaged is essential. It's all about striking the right balance.
3. Digital Products
Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the music niche.
A digital product is anything you can sell on your music blog that the customer will receive via download.
Here’s a quick list of digital products you can sell on your music blog:
A lot of people search for simple checklists and guides related to different topics. They’d happily pay you for them.
Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products for Music Bloggers
When it comes to selling digital products, music bloggers can hit the jackpot. One of the main pros is the low overhead cost. You don’t need physical inventory or a brick-and-mortar store. Everything is online. Plus, digital products like e-books, courses, or exclusive tracks can be easily scaled. As your audience grows, so can your sales.
On the flip side, there are some hurdles. Competition in the digital landscape is fierce. To stand out, you need unique content and strong marketing strategies. Also, not all audiences are ready to spend on digital items. It takes time to build trust and convince them that your product is worth their hard-earned cash.
Another consideration is the technical aspect. Creating, hosting, and maintaining digital products might require some tech skills or investment. If you’re not careful, it can be overwhelming. However, once nailed down, it can be consistent income. With the right approach, the digital product journey can be rewarding.
Lastly, digital products can generate passive income. Once they're created, you can sell them without additional effort. But remember, they need promotion. Regularly engaging your audience is essential to keep sales afloat. Balancing quality content with effective marketing is the key to success.
How To Monetize a Music Blog By Selling Digital Products
The first thing to do is create your digital product.
Look at which content your audience interacts with the most, and brainstorm digital products to help serve their search intent.
That’s what I did when I created our Ultimate Blogging Guide:
Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
Then, create the product using whatever tools are at your disposal. For example, use Microsoft Word to create an ebook PDF, or Google Sheets to create interactive spreadsheets and checklists.
Next, you have to figure out how to distribute your product. The easiest way to distribute PDFs is by uploading them to your WordPress media library. Then you can give customers the link, and they can download the PDF from there.
Lastly, you’ll have to set up payment processing and order fulfillment. A plugin like Woocommerce can automate most of this, but you’ll have to tie it to a processor like Stripe or PayPal.
Woocommerce can even connect to an email tool like ConvertKit, so as soon as your customer finishes their checkout, they’ll get an email with a link to their download.
TIP: You can still use Lasso to get more clicks to your digital products. Just create a Lasso display with the link pointing to your product’s sales page.
Barring any issues, you won’t have to do anything but watch your bank account grow.
4. Email Newsletter
One effective way to monetize a music blog is by creating an email newsletter. This method allows you to build a loyal audience and engage with your readers on a more personal level. Let's explore how to monetize a music blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for music bloggers.
5. Consulting and Coaching Services
Consulting or coaching is exchanging your expertise and time for a fee. Your customers need an expert, and you’ve proven yourself to be that expert.
As you become an authority in the industry, people will reach out to you with questions about topics they consider you an expert in.
Now, you don’t have to charge for being helpful, but you should place a dollar value on your time.
As a music blogger, you extensive knowledge of the industry. If a reader reaches out to you asking for help, you should get paid for that effort.
How To Monetize A Music Blog With Consulting Services
Monetizing a music blog with consulting services is similar to selling sponsored posts.
Put a “Coaching” option in your nav bar that goes to a landing page outlining your consulting services and your hourly rate. This will help head off some of the people looking for free advice.
TIP: Again, you can use Lasso to drive more clicks to your coaching pages. Just create a Display with a link to your sales page, and insert it into blog posts.
Then, wait for requests to come in, evaluate them, and propose your offer. If the customer accepts, send them an invoice using PayPal or another payment processor, and schedule the call.
Pros and Cons of Selling Consulting Services for Music Bloggers
When considering selling consulting services as a music blogger, there are some clear pros. First, you can leverage your expertise in a niche market, making it easier to attract clients who seek specialized advice. Your knowledge of trends and audience preferences can position you as a go-to expert. This can lead to a solid income stream, especially if you package your offerings well.
However, it's not all smooth sailing. One major con is the potential for client management headaches. Not every client will understand the dynamics of the music industry or may have unrealistic expectations. This can lead to stress and client dissatisfaction. Additionally, spending time consulting may take away from creating content, which is often the heart of your brand.
Another consideration is competition. As the blogosphere grows, so do the number of consultants. It’s crucial to differentiate yourself and provide unique value. This requires continuous learning and adapting, which can become exhausting over time.
Lastly, selling consulting services can also mean more administrative work. You’ll have to handle scheduling, invoicing, and client communication, potentially diverting focus from your actual passion for blogging. Balancing these responsibilities is key to maintaining your energy and creativity.
Supercharge your earnings with Lasso. Create no-code product Displays and Tables that convert, find and fix broken links, and gain valuable business insights with revenue analytics.
Learn MoreMusic Blog Monetization FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Music Blogging?
If you want to build a successful music blog, then affiliate marketing is the best way to monetize it. It’s the least intrusive way to make a lot of money from your site without much extra effort.
Can I Make A Full-Time Income From Music Blogging?
Absolutely! Some music blogs, like Rolling Stone and Consequence get hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. That’s enough for a full-time income for a small team of people.
How Do I Start a Music Blog?
Learning how to start a music blog is the first best way to use your expertise to start an online business.
You need to register a domain, install WordPress, and publish great content. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it!
How Do Music Bloggers Get Paid?
Most music bloggers make money through affiliate commissions and advertising fees. Both of these monetization methods pay out one or two months after the fees have been generated.
Some music bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.
Is Music Blogging Easy?
Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean music blogging isn’t fun.
As a music blogger, you’ll get to go places, try new things, and meet new people. And it will be part of your business! What could be cooler than that?
Is It Worth Starting A Music Blog?
It’s absolutely worth it to start a music blog. Not only can you make a living from it, but you can also build a community and control the conversation.
Once you’re an established authority, people in music-related industries will take you seriously.
Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Music Blog
Congratulations! You’ve learned tons of ways to monetize your music blog.
Here’s one last tip: use multiple methods!
Diversifying your income streams is key to securing your blog's future.
If you mix in affiliate links, display ads, and even sell your own merch, you'll be safer. If one income source takes a hit, you have others to fall back on.
With this approach, a bit of hard work, and smart planning, your music blog can really thrive!
Why You Should Trust Our Music Blogging Content
You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about music blogging?"
Quite a lot, actually.
Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful music blog:
We've Built Wildly Successful Blogs
Lasso is built for affiliate marketers, by affiliate marketers. We're not gurus; we've walked the walk.
Our team members have built multiple blogs from the ground up, some of them earning over seven figures in revenue.
We put that experience into every guide we write, so you can trust we're giving you a process that works.
We Talk To Music Bloggers Every Day
Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of music blogs.
Our team supports those bloggers every day as they create awesome content and earn lots of money.
These communications give us a bird's-eye view of what's new in the music industry. We take that information and use it to keep these guides as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
We're Super Nerds
We've put a lot of company focus into learning everything we can about blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, and anything to do with online entrepreneurship.
We attend conferences, collect high-level contacts, read tons of books, and distill all of that information into our content. We pass information onto you that was previously only available to industry insiders.
