Case Study: Indie Rock Composer-Performer

Previous: Introduction

Gross Revenue Time Series

Below are the overall gross revenue numbers for 2008-2011 for Indie Rock Composer-Performer. For more detail year by year, including definitions for each category, visit the appendix.

Most of his income is tied to live performance – either through salary for actively touring bands, his own shows as a solo artist, or CDs sold at live shows.

From 2008-2011, 30.5% of his income came from performance fees for solo shows. He made approximately the same amount of money – 29.7% – during this period as a salaried member of two different bands. Both bands paid him a consistent salary that drew from each band’s respective corporate fund. 21.2% of his income was derived from compositions; 15.0% for publishing related income – both advances and royalties – for one of the salaried bands, for which he wrote many of their songs, and 6.2% in PRO royalties. CD sales and record royalties comprised 12.1% and 3.5% of his income, respectively. The remaining 2.9% was made up of session musician work (both live and on recordings), income as a producer, TV royalties for television performances, teaching, and SoundExchange royalties.

Next: Income v Expenses

Tweet

About the Case Studies

Graphs do not have a Y-axis dollar value in order to observe the conditions of our privacy policy. In addition, graphs and visuals in case studies are not comparable within or between case studies. For more details about this, read about our financial case study protocol.

Information detailed in case studies is based on data received directly from the artist or their authorized representative. The data analysis and lessons learned here are based on individual experience, and do not necessarily reflect the experiences of all musicians in genre or roles.

Case studies are one of three ways this project is looking at music creator income.

Pages:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

---

AFTRA ASCAP case study CD Sales on Tour indie rock merchandise music careers PRO Royalties Publishing Income salary SoundExchange teaching TV Residuals

6 responses to “Case Study: Indie Rock Composer-Performer”

1. SXSW 2012: Artists, you have 42 different ways to make money says:

   March 17, 2012 at 7:16 pm

   […] examining the books of a successful indie rocker, for instance, the Future of Music Coalition found thant nearly 40% of […]

2. Future of Music Coalition Releases ‘Money from Music’ Results | Music That Resonates says:

   March 19, 2012 at 9:19 am

   […] Case Study: Indie rock composer / performer […]

3. Was Musiker verdienen - und wie - New Urban Music Blog says:

   March 25, 2012 at 2:45 pm

   […] Allerdings dürften sich die Einkommensquellen teilweise verschoben haben. So erzielen Indie Rock Composer-Performer nach Angaben der US-amerikanischen Future of Music Coalition fast ¾ ihrer Einnahmen im Rahmen von […]

4. How Do Musicians Really Earn Their Living? [CASE STUDIES] says:

   March 26, 2012 at 3:52 pm

   […] Indie Rock Composer-Performer […]

5. Bills, Bills, Bills « Nuts and Bolts Music says:

   August 25, 2012 at 7:10 pm

   […] example, the case study of an Indie Rock Composer-Performer:  ”While he is an active member of four bands in addition to his solo work, 94% of his […]

6. How Much Does a Professional Musician Make in 2012? – Flavorwire says:

   December 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm

   […] a whole, the survey makes for fascinating reading — there are some case studies here, including this one of an “indie rock composer-performer” who “writes, records and performs his own […]