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Two years for me
For me it took about 6 years, from 2011 to 2017.
I had circa 50-60 non-ex tracks to that time.I first uploaded tracks to one music publisher in late 2009 early 2010, then proceeded to upload all of my tracks for about 4 years straight. My PRO royalty checks hit at least $1000 a per distribution by 2012. So two years for me too. Foreign Royalty Checks took until 2013 to hit $1000, But by 2013 most checks were at least $3000 or more.
I’d have to say that it probably does take 2000 titles being published and distributed and ready for editors to access to make a semi livable wage. So come up with your 10 year plan to try and make a livable wage.
Look even if you are making $10,000 a quarter in PRO performance royalties, this is a minimum wage job and your hourly wage (to create the music) is probably something along the lines of $7 per hour. LOL!
This is a make money very slowly kind of business and should really only be treated as a side hustle.
Mine reached 4 figures by my 2nd payment. I know that’s a lot faster than most, but I was dropped straight into writing 5 tracks a week for a very busy library focusing on American reality shows. So I had mostly US royalties coming from a US PRO for maximum speed.
Just curious, what genre did you produce for these shows?
Mostly stuff on the “cinematic” side of things as opposed to pop. Orchestral drama, electronic tension, orchestral comedy, etc. The more “film score”-esque genres.
How many statements did it take for the full timers to quit your day jobs.
If you have:
1. a lot of Talent
2. are alligned with the right music libraries that really get your music on air
3. know how to create multiple revenue streams with your music catalog
4. produce 50 to 100 very useful tracks a year for about 7 years straight
5. Stumble upon lucky career breaks, where you land a few placements that really produce high royalty payouts….I think you may be able evolve into a full time music producer after probably 7 years.
I do not think you can pull it off if you just write cues for exclusive music libraries and then give them total control of the intellectual property in perpetuity, allow them to collect Content ID, and disallow yourself from selling on direct licensing markets.Multiple revenue streams has been the key for me. Had I just sent cues only to my best performing publisher/library, my music composition income would probably be only 25% of what it is today.
Also annual salary needs vary greatly from person to person. I have two tuitions to pay next year so my royalties are going into my bank account and the directly to university bank accounts. Love it! LOL!
A single person in their early 30’s may be fine with $50,000 in music royalties.
My advice: don’t ever quit your day job. I still seek revenue and income from other non music related activities.
Similar but a bit different here. I’ll modify a bit…..
If you have:
1. a lot of Talent
2. are alligned with the right music libraries that really get your music on air
3. know how to create multiple revenue streams with your music catalog
4. produce 200+ very useful tracks a year for about 10 years straight
5. Stumble upon lucky career breaks, where you land a few placements that really produce high royalty payouts….I think you may be able evolve into a full time music producer after probably 10 years.
So many variables though. Where you are located being one. How old you are being the second. Married with kids being the third. Mortgage of your own or living with a friend/family being a fourth. Have a wife/SO with a killer income being another…. So many variables. And again, I’d underscore – don’t quit the day job!! This industry is closer to crumbling than exploding at this stage. Hedge those bets.
>Also annual salary needs vary greatly from person to person.<
True. And doing this full time could require sacrifices some may be unable or unwilling to make…
In response to Vasim, it was my 8th quarter/statement when I felt comfortable putting in my notice for my day job.
i reached over 4 figures after 3 years of receiving my first royalty check. but i have a ridiculously small number of tracks out there in rotation, just over 100 cues between 3 or 4 publishers. need to get way more productive in this game to make those bigger royalty amounts.
Hello
if you’re not reaching the 4 figures with 400 tracks. there is an issue.
Either you bet on the wrong publisher (they are bad and dont do anything with your music) or you are not writing the good music style wanted by TVs.
MY first PRO payout was a HUGE $14 back in 2014! It took about 5 years to start seeing at least $1000 per quarter but I would do things differently now. I started out in the RF field but have since totally abandoned it. I now average $2500 to $3000 per quarter… not rich by any means, but it helps to nicely supplement my other income.