So, admittedly, I don't know a lot about this topic, but as I understand it, musicians now make most of their income by touring, when in the past, it was mostly from record (or cassette, or CDs) sales. I'm talking about a moderately successful national act, not a mega-star Taylor Swift or Beyonce type (who have access to other income streams that others don't). Let's say The Black Pumas, Gary Clark, Jr., Parker McCollum, Kacey Musgraves, or someone in that vein (clearly successful, not a startup, but not yet superstar level)?

Approximately what percentage of their typical income currently comes from:

- Signing bonus with record label (one-time thing, but I assume can be large?)
- "Record" sales (all media types)
- Streaming music income
- Radio play income (is there such a thing, at this point?)
- Touring - guarantees written in contracts
- Touring - variable income based on success of tour
- Royalties and residuals (assume an artist with a decent but not huge catalog)
- Appearance fees?
- Other (admittedly, I don't know all the categories)

Also, I understand that some artists get songwriting credits, and others do songs written by others, but anyone want to take a stab at how writing and publishing income works?

Any kind of "signing bonus" is most likely just an advance on future earnings.

This is a pretty good primer.

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/how-musicians-make-money-or-dont-at-all-in-2018-706745/

Rick Beato and Mary Spender have each done videos on how musicians are making money these days.

It's sobering.

Helps me understand why 67 year-old Eric Johnson is finishing one tour, doing some G3 dates with Satriani and Vai, then another solo tour, then Experience Hendrix.

I don't know how they do it.

Most musicians throughout time have made most of their money through touring or other business ventures. Very few make substantial money from record sales or streams, unless they own their own masters/publishing, or own their own record label, which very few do.

Beato had Ed Roland of Collective Soul on a couple weeks ago. Ed mentioned that he was offered 350K to sign away 50% rights to his music when he first started. Which was very rare. But good thing for him his career took off and he pocketed way more that he might have.

A lot of my money comes from selling guitars after I get bored with them and want something else.

I don't know what the exact numbers are, but I think musicians/bands used to make a lot more money from album sales than they do streaming/downloads now. It kind of makes sense as there is nothing physical there. Also would make more sense to earn a higher percentage for downloads vs streams but I'm not sure if that is the case.

Bands have always made more money touring and selling merch. But I think concert tickets and merch are more expensive now because they make fewer dollars on media.

Obviously, royalties were probably higher with radio because I think they made $ per spin. They still do with streaming but I think it is a fraction of the amount.

So I say all that to say, I really don't know.

They make money from playing live shows and touring. Residual income for those artists who have publishing rights from songwriting credits.

It is why you see artists from the 60-80s touring well into their old age.

Darius Rucker was on Smartless (podcast) a few years back and broke it down pretty well, and admitted that every single artist including himself was a massive idiot for signing on t the deals with the ikes of Spotify and Sirius without considering the long-term ramifications.

The pod is here, I can't remember how far along that discussion is in it, but it's a good listen anyways.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/darius-rucker/id1521578868?i=1000507286636

Music and money, two of my favorite subjects.

I can break it down on local level for you with a restaurant analogy:

Original artist - Like a new indepencent specialized food restaurant. You better have patience and a lot of money to spend until you build enough of an audience to make any money at all. You'll likely give up on your dream of making it big before you see any financial success.

Cover Band - Like a Mexican or BBQ restaurant. You'll draw crowd because people assume they'll be familiar with your music. Parties and bars will hire you. You'll make some decent grocery money that you'll blow on equipment.

Tribute Band - Like a franchised restaurant. You'll have a built in crowd because people know exactly what to expect. Just target your Facebook ads to people who "like' the Beatles or Eagles or whoever and enjoy great crowds at every show. Watch your creative juices dry up as you mimic every note of one band forever. Also, you'll have enough money for new equipment AND a car payment.

Wedding / Corporate Band - High end franchise restaurant (Ruth's Chris). Big paychecks for every gig, but none of your friends will ever see you play.