6 Smart Ways to Invest in Your Music Career

Do you want to take your career to the next level? Here are six strategic ways to invest in your music career to build momentum and ultimately a lasting and sustainable career.

6 Smart Ways to Invest in Your Music Career

by Lisa Occhino from Bandzoogle

Investing in your music career isn’t just about spending money. Sure, you might end up deciding that you do actually need that new guitar you’ve been eyeing for months, but we’re going deeper than that: think about how you can be more intentional with your time and energy. What small steps can you take today that will help you reach your goals throughout 2025 and beyond?

Here are six smart ideas on how you can invest in yourself as a musician this year:

1. Develop your skill set

The music industry is constantly evolving, so there’s always something new to learn. Perhaps you want to focus on improving your musicianship, mastering a new DAW, or developing your business acumen.

There are countless courses and resources online, both free and paid. If you’re looking to learn a skill in a more structured way, you could try platforms like Skillshare, Berklee Online, or Coursera. If you’re on a tight budget (and really, who isn’t these days?!), check whether your local library offers free access to LinkedIn Learning before dropping money on a course.

For a more personalized approach, you could hire a private instructor or coach to refine your craft and work towards your music career goals. No matter which path you choose, investing in your skill set will boost your confidence, expand your opportunities, and help you stay competitive.

2. Upgrade your online presence

Your online presence is often the first impression fans and industry professionals have of you, so this is a no-brainer to invest in if you haven’t already done it.

Social media trends fall just as quickly as they rise… and apps can get banned just as quickly as they get unbanned (cough cough, TikTok). While being on these platforms is important for building your brand and growing your fanbase, you never want to put all your eggs in one basket. It’s essential to have your own professional artist website that you have full control over, regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Creating your website with Bandzoogle means all the heavy lifting is done for you. You can easily make a stunning, SEO-friendly website with built-in tools to showcase your music, promote your tour dates, sell music and merch directly -to -fans, and much more — without any commission taken from your sales.

If you have the budget, you may also want to consider hiring a graphic designer to help you craft a cohesive brand identity. Start with a professional artist logo, and gradually add other promotional materials that you can repurpose for all of your online channels and easily share with presenters that hire you.

3. Streamline your workflow

Time is one of your most valuable resources as an independent musician. You wear many hats between all the creative and business aspects of your career, and it is easy to get overwhelmed without a system that you regularly use and trust.

Consider using a task management app like Todoist to get yourself organized. For any repetitive tasks (like social media posting or data entry) that you don’t want to waste time doing manually anymore, check out workflow automation software such as Zapier. And if you regularly juggle collaborative projects, apps like Notion or Trello will keep your whole team on the same page.

Each of these platforms have free versions, and you can always upgrade later if you need more features.

4. Build music industry connections

The music industry is all about relationships. Networking online and offline can open doors to exciting collaborations, gig offers, and new opportunities.

If your goal is to hire a manager, you might target a different kind of event than if you’re looking for a new co-writer. Set aside some time to research upcoming music conferences and networking events that you think could help you achieve your goals this year.

You can make great connections at popular conferences like NAMM or SXSW, but don’t overlook local events and musician meetups in your area. There are also plenty of virtual events that you can attend from the comfort of your home, as well as niche online communities for just about everything.

5. Prioritize your wellbeing

Let’s not forget that your physical and mental health are critical to your success. This is true for everyone, of course, not just musicians. But the pressures of the music industry have a unique way of accelerating burnout if you’re not careful.

Staying healthy improves your energy, focus, resilience, and creativity. Consider investing in a gym membership, yoga classes, or therapy sessions. There’s also plenty you can do that doesn’t cost money, such as taking outdoor walks, meditating, and journaling.

You may also want to invest in books or other resources that promote self-confidence, get your creative juices flowing, and help you develop a growth mindset.

6. Diversify your revenue streams

Relying on a single income source is risky in the ever-changing music industry. Diversifying your income not only reduces financial stress, but also allows you to reinvest in yourself in all of the areas we’ve explored.

There are tons of flexible and remote music revenue streams to dive into: creating merchandise, playing private events, exploring sync licensing, monetizing your social media, and or launching a Patreon account, just to name a few. You could also lend your talents to teaching music, writing blog posts, or creating digital resources that other musicians would find useful.

If you already feel maxed out on your music-related activities, it’s totally fine to take a part-time job or contract work that uses a different part of your brain. You might even pick up some new skills that unexpectedly come in handy for your music career.

Invest in Your Music Career

Whatever you choose to do, remember that investing in yourself isn’t only about immediate gains — it’s about laying the foundation for a sustainable life that you’re passionate about. By staying nimble and proactive, you’ll be better equipped to navigate challenges and jump on opportunities as they come.