If you google "how much do singers earn" you will get a confusing list of answers.
Some websites will tell you that the average singer makes $30 an hour, which works out to between $45,000 and $65,000 a year if you work full-time.
I can tell you now that the answer is not that simple.
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Contents
What does a professional singer do?
First of all, it is important to define what we call a singer.
For our purposes, I treat the term "singer" the same way I would treat the term "guitarist".
If you want to be a professional singer, you don't necessarily have to write songs or perform sets of original music.
You may do this sometimes, but it's not your main achievement. You can even be in an original band, even if it's not the main thing.
You are a voice for hire.
You do things like: sing backup at concerts and recordings, tour as a contract member of a band, play nightclubs, weddings and corporate events, sing at funerals or whatever. You're a pay-for-service singer.
Generally, people who do this kind of work will also appear as singers on the tracks, but you're not primarily an artist or a songwriter.
The reason we need to make this distinction is that singers who also write their own songs, record their own songs, sell their songs, sell merchandise and tour have other sources of income.
Artists make moneyamong other things on license fees, merchandising and ticket sales. They also have a lot more overhead.
Professional singers are like professional session musicians. They're hired for a specific purpose, they're paid, and that's it.
Of course, if you sing on recordings, you earn some royalties, but it's the royalties that contract musicians earn, not the royalties that writers earn.
Despite all this, there are many opportunities for singers.
How much do singers earn per song?
When recording songs, backing vocals and/or vocalists who can sing harmony are often needed.
Typically, the singer in question is hired based on their professionalism, studio experience, and vocal quality. For example, a friend of mine just hired a female singer to sing harmonies on a track because she has such a strong country voice.
Professional singers in places like Nashville or L.A. They're often hired to sing on demos that composers present to artists.
Singers should get the same or oneRate per song comparable to that of the other musiciansoccur on the route.
This can range from $50 to $300 per song. In general, $150 per player per song is an acceptable fee.
Not all artists will pay their hired musicians equally. Make sure you charge what you think you're worth.
How much do singers earn per day?
There are many situations in which singers uMusicians receive a daily fee.
For example, I was hired for a live music video (along with several other musicians) and paid a daily rate of $150 for about seven hours of work.
This is a standard fee.
If you're singing for a musical theater production, your daily rate is likely to be higher.
Even if you lead a singing workshop or something similar, you can set your fee as you wish.
An average daily rate can range from $100 to $500 depending on the job, the person being hired, and the hiring person's budget.
How much do singers make for a song they didn't write?
Since the dawn of the music industry, there have been famous singers singing songs they didn't write.
Out of my head: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Rihanna.
All of these artists are singers, not songwriters.
For example: “…baby one more time„was written by Max Martin and performed by Britney Spears.
Britney Spears receives no royalties for the public performance of this song. If it gets played on the radio, Max Martin deserves the royalties.
In almost all countriesexceptIn the US, the performers of the tracks (singers, backing musicians, sound engineers, etc.) win oneRelated Rights Royalties.
These are small.
Basically, a singer earns their one-time fee for singing the song. And this is.
Well, Britney built a great career on this song, so it paid off. But that's something you should think about as a singer.
How much do the singers earn per concert?
Back to professional singers - most of themSingers earn their incomeat live performances.
Unfortunately, the salary varies greatly.
For standard bar gigs, cover gigs, and contract musician gigs, the singer makes between $50 and $300 per gig.
$50 would be for a quick gig or a gig for a small artist who just couldn't afford it.
Most singers should charge a fee of $100 to $200 per show.
Certain occasions such as weddings can charge $500 per show. The same is true for high-budget corporate events.
A huge New Year's Eve show can generate even more money.
Constant performances are the key to a professional singer's income.
What do the singers earn on tour?
The singers are said to earn what the other supporting musicians earn on tour.
In general, this should be a decent exhibition fee: anywhere from $80 to $500 per showing (sometimes more, depending on the artist) and a daily fee.
The subsistence allowance should cover your daily groceries and some additional living expenses (new toothbrush, etc.).
Show prices vary widely, but daily rates are typically $30 to $50 per day, depending on the artist's country and budget.
How Much Money Do Singers Make From Teaching?
Many singers also give lessons to supplement their income.
The price per lesson/hour depends on whether it is an online lesson, a face-to-face lesson or a lesson about a conservatory or a shop.
In general, teachers should earn around $50 an hour. Tuition through conservatories often costs up to $80 an hour.
Online classes vary based on the caliber of the teacher, but can range from $30 to $200 per hour.
Having a few students around can be a big financial help.
How much do famous singers earn?
Some stars assimilate it. Others don't.
Now that stars aren't selling as many physical records, it's even harder to make money.
Remember that singers don't make money from their radio play if they didn't write the song.
They make money from physical copies, concerts, placements, licenses and merchandising.
But for the sake of it, here are some numbers:
- Britney Spears: $30 million a year.
- Rihanna: $70 million a year.
- Elton John: $46 million a year.
- Mariah Carey: $6 million a year.
In a Mirror article, Lily Allen revealed what she did for her John Lewis ad:
Everyone assumes I made millions from the John Lewis ad. I probably won 8,000 euros.
It always depends on the artist and the concert.
It's a tough (and competitive) business, but you can do it.
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