You can't concert? You can... Live Stream!

Oh how we miss going to gigs! What a great way to spend the weekend! We’ve had to switch to Netflix binges instead. But what do you musicians do now that you can’t perform at venues? Have you heard of live stream?

We’re sure you’ve been bored at home, wondering what to do with your weekend now you are no longer playing gigs every weekend. Panic has set in about how you’re going to find new fans, and you’ve felt the pinch of that small cash boost disappearing.

Maybe it’s time for you to make a transition from live performances to live streaming. Now, we know it won’t fix everything, but it’s definitely a great way to keep your current audience engaged, as well as provide reach to new audiences… It could even make you a quick buck every now and then!

Music has been a huge part of cultures for many years. It stood the test of time, and we highly doubt that Covid-19 will be sending it packing any time soon! Music is uplifting, and it’s been found to have positive impacts on our mental health, which are needed now more than ever before! So there’s bound to be plenty of people there looking to discover a new pick-me-up to and make up for their loss of gigs.

Usually, you’d be out every weekend, playing your venues and getting fans charged up. But the mass closures, both temporary and permanent, will continue to affect the music industry for a while to come. Even with the recent announcement of a £1.5 billion care package for the arts and culture sectors, there is limited knowledge of how this will be distributed, and live music venues are likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future. So it is vital that you adapt!

In these challenging times, you are very fortunate to have a network of technology at your fingertips. There are plenty of places where you can share your music, such as using a music distributor to get on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and more. This way, your fans will still be able to listen to your music while you aren’t performing…

But hit the brakes for a second! Who said you can’t still perform? That’s right, time to use that tech! There are plenty of ways you can do an online concert. Okay, maybe it won’t be exactly the same as performing at a live venue. But we guarantee both you, and your fans, will love it!

First things first, you’ve got to decide where to stream a concert. There are plenty of choices out there, but we’ve listed our top three recommendations here.

Instagram Live
We are willing to bet that you’ve already got an Instagram account set up for your music… which is fantastic! That means your fans are already there. This platform has to be top of the list for artists to use. Firstly, it’s incredibly simple for you to get started on. You set up a smart phone camera, tap a few buttons, and you’re live! If you’re fans can’t make it at that time, it stays in your story section for the next 24 hours, so there’s plenty of time for them to catch up.

Since the start of the pandemic, this platform has already hosted some music legend’s mini-concerts, including Coldplay and Pink. Take a page out of their book, and get yourself an Instagram Concert going.

Facebook Live
Facebook Live has seen a large spike in usage during the lockdown periods. Live has proved popular with comedians for live stand-ups, DJ Sets, live concerts and more! The great think with Facebook is that you can use a computer instead of a phone! So, there’s no balancing your phone in a weird place and hoping it doesn’t fall!

Youtube Live
Then there’s YouTube live… The most used live streaming platform. YouTube is a great place to live-stream, because most of the people there are looking for music anyway! Talk about having them in the palm of your hand! Lots of stars have used YouTube for hosting home concerts and Q&A sessions over the pandemic, including Dua Lipa.

Now, you might be panicking that you need loads of expensive equipment in order to live stream. But you really don’t. All you need is a phone/ computer with a camera, any instruments/production equipment you use live and a streaming platform. (And an internet connection, of course.). That’s it, you’re good to go. If you have more equipment like studio grade microphones, then you’re on to a winner. These are not essentials though!

Making money using live streams is possible, and the potential earnings can be high. This is why lots of high-profile artists do it. If they made no money, they likely wouldn’t invest much time. But, just like anything else in your music career, it’s a bit of a slow burner. You won’t be making money on your first streams and when the money does start coming, it’ll likely be small amounts, because it takes some time to grow the audience. The great thing is: That audience growth will carry over in to all other areas of your fanbase.

There are many ways to make money, but some of the most popular ones are:

Donations: Fans can donate to you through your live stream.
Subscriptions: You can set up paid subscriptions so that people pay for a membership of sorts to access your live streams.
Super Chat: YouTube offers a great feature, which enables fans to pay for premium comments. This one works well when there is a good number of viewers commenting, and your audience want to be heard!
Advertising: When you become a well established live streamer, you’ll cross into the territory of being an influencer. Influencers will get paid to be partners or affiliates of a certain product and promote it. This can be done by actively promote the product, or if you are eligible on the platform, you’ll be able to roll out ads to your audience in the video. The higher the viewers, the more views the ad will get, and the more return you will make.

Now, you know just how easy it is to start live streaming your music. There is a whole world of technology ready to help you get your music out to the world. Rather than sitting there missing the concerts, jump on the live streaming and get some movement going again! Maybe we’ll tune into your concert next time…

Are you looking to get your music out there? With Identity Music you can get your music all over the globe in order to gain the maximum exposure. By using our distribution and music promotion services, you’ll be able to take control while watching your music reach new heights.