Hustling on a Budget: A Street-Smart Guide to Launching Your Music Career
Yo, if you’re just kickin’ off your music career or got a few tracks under your belt but running on a slim budget, this guide is your blueprint. It’s straightforward, no BS, and yeah, it requires a bit of cash, but nothing that’s gonna have you breaking the bank.
Step 1: Find Your Beat
First off, let’s get it straight: you need a beat to spit your lyrics over. Here’s how you move – hit up YouTube. It’s a goldmine for beats waiting to be claimed. You might think you need exclusive rights, but hold up, that’s not necessary yet. Cop a non-exclusive license for about £30. This lets you legally drop your bars on that beat and share it on all major streaming platforms until you hit 50,000 streams or views. By then, you’ll need to upgrade, but as a rookie in the game, that’s a bridge you’ll cross when you get there. Some independent labels do this, and so can you.
Step 2: Pen and Perfect Your Lyrics
Now, write those bars or that chorus. Drill it till you own it. You gotta be ready to lay it down smooth when it’s go-time in the booth.
Step 3: Lay Down Your Vocals
Here’s where you got options. If you’ve got a home setup, that’s dope. If not, book a studio session. Don’t stress about nailing it in one take; just make sure you don’t rush. Or maybe you’ve got a buddy who can handle the recording. Just ensure you sort out payment upfront to avoid drama later if your track blows up.
Step 4: Mix and Master
Once your vocals are down, it’s time to polish that gem. Most studios will mix and master for you, or you can find someone to lace it up nice. Or hit me up, I got connections that won’t gouge your wallet.
Step 5: Design Your Artwork
Artwork is key for your single’s vibe. You can get mad creative here without splurging. Use your phone, snag a photo, and tweak it with some graphic design flair, or let AI tools whip up something fresh. Or, if you’re feeling it, invest a bit more for professional design. But remember, we’re keeping it economical to start.
Step 6: Distribute Your Music
Next up, upload that track to a digital service provider (DSP). DistroKid is solid, charging £35 a year, letting you drop all the music you want, anytime. They push your tracks to Spotify, Apple Music, and more, and handle the coin coming back to you. Just read those terms carefully, yeah?
Step 7: Set Your Release Date
Don’t rush to drop your track as soon as it’s uploaded. Plan it out, give yourself at least a 14-day window to build some buzz.
Step 8: Market Your Music
Now, get that song out there. Whip up a lyrics video with AI tools; there are heaps of services online, some even for free. Grab your phone, make some reels, and blast them across your socials.
And that’s it! You’re now in the game, learning on the fly. Each step is a building block to leveling up. Own your work 100%, keep hustling, and remember, every big name started somewhere small. You got this!
My website’s about to drop, and it’s coming in heavy! Hundreds of beats ready for licensing, mix and master packages to level up your sound, and music video’s in reels style, that no one else can touch. Quality and Price,,,,, Stay locked in,,,, it’s all coming real soon!
Check these video’s out,,, level up.
How to upload your music on Distrokid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYbrkimnHgk
Music Royalties
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgRoPNQMhhg
Stay Blessed 🙏
Love Yea ❤️