logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
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
Nov 21
The ancient origins of kissing
<p>Scientists at Oxford University in the UK now think that kissing evolved more than 21 million years ago, and it wasn’t humans that started it.</p><p>As a behaviour, it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits but it’s seen across the world, in humans and animals alike. ... Show More
11m 34s
Nov 20
The drama at this year’s Miss Universe
<p>Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch has been crowned Miss Universe at a ceremony in Bangkok, marking the end of an exceptionally scandal-filled pageant season. It's the 74th Miss Universe pageant and there was a lot of drama before a single contestant took to the stage.</p><p>Early in No ... Show More
12m 55s
Nov 19
Epstein files: What are they and when will they be released?
<p>After months of mounting pressure, US lawmakers have just voted to release all of the so-called Epstein files. So documents from criminal investigations into the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before his death could soon be made public. The vote was passed in the House of Repres ... Show More
9m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
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
<p>In just 12 months, the video app TikTok has transformed the music industry&hellip;.artists can reach audiences like never before.&nbsp; Directly getting new music to their fans in seconds.&nbsp; But some artists say they&rsquo;re being told to create content purely for the sho ... Show More
21m 29s
Sep 12
The music industry is broken: OpenWav’s new app aims to change that
Grammy Award-winning musician, composer, and producer Wyclef Jean says the music industry is broken, which is why he’s now involved with a startup, OpenWav, that’s looking to give the power back to the artists. Through the OpenWav app, launched over the summer, artists can drop n ... Show More
6m 49s
Nov 9
Ed Sheeran: Music Mogul Makes Waves from Spotify to Schools
Ed Sheeran BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Ed Sheeran has been making international headlines over the past few days, blending music, advocacy, and business in ways few artists manage at his level. Perhaps the biggest headline comes from his high-profile appearance at Spotify’ ... Show More
3m 1s
Dec 2024
How AI and Algorithms Are Transforming Music
<p>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. </p><p>[01:00]  Host Micah Loewinger, sp ... 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 ?
<p>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’inf ... Show More
23m 27s
Sep 25
How Minecraft Can Make You Millions: We're Talking Streaming
Three of the UK’s biggest online creators - TommyInnit, DanTDM, and Talia Mar join Paul to explore what it really takes to build a streaming career. They share how they grew their platforms, stayed creative under pressure, and built communities that reach millions. We’re Talking ... Show More
30m 26s
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
<p>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 ... Show More
1h 17m