Get Paid Like a Rockstar

Boosting Income Through Live Performances and Merchandise Sales

In today's music industry, artists need to diversify their income streams to maximize their earnings. While streaming and royalties are important, live performances and merchandise sales have become crucial revenue sources for musicians. Let's explore how artists can boost their income through these channels and how GigPay can streamline the payment process.

Live Performances: The Heart of Artist Income

Live performances remain a cornerstone of an artist's income. Here's why they're so important:

Direct revenue from ticket sales
Opportunity for merchandise sales
Fan engagement and brand building
Potential for sponsorships and partnerships

For many top-earning artists, live performances account for the majority of their income. For example, Taylor Swift earned 91% of her $99.6 million in 2018 from touring, while Bruce Springsteen earned 96% of his total revenue from live performances.

Steps to Earn Live Performance Royalties

Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)

First, artists must affiliate themselves with a Performing Rights Organization in their country. In the United States, the main PROs are:

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)

Artists should choose one PRO to register with as a songwriter and publisher.

Register Your Songs

Once affiliated with a PRO, artists need to register all their original songs with that organization. This ensures the PRO has a record of which songs belong to the artist.

Submit Setlists After Performances

The key to earning live performance royalties is consistently submitting setlists after each show. Here's how to do it for each major US PRO:

ASCAP OnStage

Log into your ASCAP member account
Use the OnStage program to submit performance details
Can be done via mobile app for convenience
Submit within the quarterly deadlines provided

BMI Live

Access BMI Live through your BMI account
Submit setlists and gig information
Available via mobile app for iOS users
Can input data for performances from the previous 6 months

SESAC

Log into your SESAC Affiliate Services account
Complete live performance forms for each gig
Provide venue details, date, and song list

Submission Deadlines

It's best to submit setlists promptly after each show. However, PROs typically allow submissions for several months after the performance date. For example, ASCAP has quarterly deadlines:

Performance Date	Submission Deadline
Jan 1 - Mar 31	June 30
Apr 1 - Jun 30	September 30
Jul 1 - Sep 30	December 31
Oct 1 - Dec 31	March 31 (next year)

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Automated Solutions

Some platforms aim to simplify the process of submitting live performance data:

By consistently registering songs and submitting setlists, artists can earn additional income from their live performances. While individual show royalties may be small, they can add up significantly over time, especially for frequently performing artists. Remember, these royalties are separate from ticket sales and merchandise revenue, providing an additional income stream for songwriters and publishers.

Maximizing Merchandise Sales

Merchandise sales can significantly boost an artist's income, often accounting for up to 30% of revenue per show. Here are some tips to maximize merch sales:

Offer a variety of products (t-shirts, hoodies, limited-edition items)
Place the merch table in a visible location
Promote merch during the performance
Provide online purchasing options for fans who couldn't buy at the show

Maximizing Income Through Live Performances and Merchandise

To fully leverage these additional revenue streams, artists should:

Focus on creating memorable live experiences to drive ticket sales and repeat attendance.
Develop a strategic touring plan that balances profitability with fan engagement opportunities.
Design attractive, high-quality merchandise that resonates with fans and encourages purchases.
Use GigPay to efficiently manage all financial transactions related to live shows and merchandise sales.

Additional Revenue Streams

While live performances and merchandise are key, don't overlook these additional income sources:

Streaming Platforms: Focus on growing your fan base on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
YouTube Monetization: Leverage the YouTube Partner Program to earn from ads, sponsorships, and channel memberships.
Sync Licensing: Place your music in films, TV shows, commercials, and video games for upfront fees and royalties.
Songwriting and Publishing: Register your songs with performing rights organizations to receive royalties when your music is performed or played.

By embracing these revenue streams and utilizing GigPay's powerful payment management tools, artists can truly "Get Paid Like a Rockstar™." GigPay's seamless payment solutions ensure that whether you're collecting ticket sales, paying band members, or distributing merchandise revenue, the process is quick, secure, and hassle-free.

Streamlining Payments with GigPay

GigPay offers a revolutionary solution for managing payments in the music industry, including those related to live performances and merchandise sales. Here's how GigPay can help:

Instant Payments to Multiple Parties: GigPay allows you to send payments to an unlimited number of payees instantly and free of charge. This is perfect for paying band members, crew, and vendors after a show.
Customizable Payment Alerts: Customize SMS/Email "You got Paid!" alerts to keep all parties informed about their payments.
Flexible Payout Options: Payees can transfer their balance to traditional bank accounts, send domestic & international wires, or even schedule cash pickups from over 17,000 locations worldwide.
Batch Payments for Merchandise Sales: Use GigPay's batch payment feature to distribute funds to all parties involved in merchandise production and sales.
Integration with Existing Systems: GigPay's infrastructure can be integrated into your existing systems, making it easy to manage payments alongside your other business operations.

Remember, in the music industry, it's not just about creating great music... it’s also about effectively managing the business side of your career. With GigPay, you can focus on what you do best... making music... while ensuring that you're maximizing your earnings from every performance and sale.

Transform Your Royalty Payments Today

Ready to revolutionize how you manage music royalties? GigPay offers two simple ways to get started:

Instant Access: Experience GigPay's streamlined solution immediately through our user-friendly self-onboarding process at https://gigpay.com.
Personalized Guidance: For a tailored walkthrough or to address specific needs, reach out to our dedicated team at sales@gigpay.com to schedule a comprehensive demo.

Don't let outdated payment systems hold you back. Join the future of royalty management with GigPay and empower your artists with faster, more transparent payments.

Take the first step towards effortless royalty distribution - choose your preferred option above and let's revolutionize your payment process together!