logo
episode-header-image
May 27
10m 59s

How do musicians make money?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

From Taylor Swift to Michael Jackson, there’s been countless superstar musicians who have called out their record labels for how much they’re being paid for their music. For musicians at the start of their careers it can be even more challenging to make money. The emergence of streaming sites like Spotify has made understanding publishing a bit more complicated. So how does it all really work?

BBC Newsbeat reporter Riyah Collins talks us through how musicians make their money - from royalties, touring and streaming. Mary Spender, a singer-songwriter here in the U.K. shares her experience with earning money from her music.

Plus we also hear from Kenyan TV host, KenRelBis, who’s launched a free music distribution platform to help local artists.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Maria Clara Montoya Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
Today
Dead white people’s clothes: How Ghana is dealing with its textile waste crisis
Ghana has been described as the fashion industry’s dumping ground. Around 15 million second-hand garments arrive every week, making Ghana the world’s largest importer of used clothing. Many of the garments are re-sold and re-purposed at Kantamanto Market in the capital Accra. But ... Show More
14m 7s
Aug 22
ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online
In the UK, if you want to watch pornography or see content on sites like X, Reddit and Discord that is deemed only suitable for people over 18 years old, you now need to provide your identification to prove you are old enough to access this material. The UK government says its On ... Show More
11m 33s
Aug 21
Why fake weddings are India’s latest party trend
The big fat 'fake' Indian wedding is social media’s latest party trend. Fake wedding parties have taken the world and social media by storm with people getting together to enjoy all the fun of a wedding party: the food, Bollywood music, dancing and glamorous outfits. But there ar ... Show More
10m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 1
Why your gig tickets will get even more expensive
From dynamic pricing and VIP packages to ‘priority entry’, there seem to be more ways than ever to squeeze money out of music fans - and that’s not even to mention the sky-rocketing cost of a basic standing ticket. The Times' Jonathan Dean has been investigating why the cost of s ... Show More
26m 45s
Jun 2022
Why some superstars have had enough of TikTok
In just 12 months, the video app TikTok has transformed the music industry….artists can reach audiences like never before.  Directly getting new music to their fans in seconds.  But some artists say they’re being told to create content purely for the short-attention span market o ... Show More
21m 29s
Dec 2024
How AI and Algorithms Are Transforming Music
It’s been almost a year since the historic music outlet Pitchfork shrank considerably. On this week’s On the Media, why the distinctive voices in music journalism are worth saving. Plus, how AI music generators could upend the industry. [01:00]  Host Micah Loewinger, speaks with ... Show More
50m 42s
Oct 2024
Can Charli XCX save Australia's music festival industry?
Brat summer is officially coming to Australia.  Superstar singer Charlie XCX will headline Laneway in 2025. The excitement is palpable – but the story of the last few years of music festivals in this country has not been a good one, with countless examples of big-ticket headlinin ... Show More
14m 3s
Apr 2025
Qui est l'influenceur Nasdas, « Robin des bois » millionnaire et controversé de Perpignan ?
Avec plus de 9 millions d’abonnés sur le réseau social Snapchat, Nasser Sari, alias Nasdas, est une des personnalités les plus suivies en France, particulièrement chez les jeunes. Originaire d’un des quartiers les plus pauvres de France à Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales), l’influe ... Show More
23m 27s
Jul 2024
Every Musician Should Hear This! Savvy Music Entrepreneur Micheal Silverman
Send me a text messageWatch the YouTube video version of this podcast at https://youtu.be/OblwbV_YyAY - Musician Micheal Silverman is one of the most savvy Music Biz Entrepreneurs I know. His music generates one billion streams yearly, with 12 billion streams and downloads since ... Show More
28m 21s
Oct 2024
8 Music Industry Myths | What Really Matters for Audio Engineers and Producers
In this episode of the Mixing Music Podcast, we dive deep into the myth-busting side of audio production, discussing common misconceptions like whether expensive gear is necessary, the true value of stock plugins, and the importance of location for career success. Drawing from da ... Show More
1h 17m
May 2021
Berita on claiming back her career, creating more female executives in the music biz and the untold story of Zimbabwe.
S02 E41 Jon Savage's Whats Your Poison podcast; with Berita. Gugulethu Khumalo, best known by her stage name Berita, is a Zimbabwean-born singer, songwriter and music producer. She is the owner of the independent record label Assali Music and also the founder of the Women of Musi ... Show More
1h 8m
Apr 2025
Music's New Success Model
Specialized platforms and social media have empowered musicians to tap into niche audiences, igniting a quiet revolution in the music industry. Despite the dominance of viral hits, a new wave of artists, labels and businesses are redefining success by building dedicated fanbases ... Show More
46m 57s
Aug 2024
Can Taylor Swift really bring a £1bn economic gold rush?
Musician and billionaire Taylor Swift is so influential that a new economic term has been coined to refer to her impact: 'Swiftonomics'.     From concerts and tours to merchandise and deals, the power of Swift's brand not only earns her money but boosts economies by millions. One ... Show More
19m 46s