In this installment of guest blogger Frank Klepacki’s series on music production Frank talks about generating income from streaming while avoiding common pitfalls. If you missed Frank’s previous post, you can read it here.

A lot has been taken for granted by many in the entertainment industry regarding the value of music content. And now, during one of the most upside-down times in our history, it is showing itself to be much more apparent.

Content owners are relying more than ever on paid use, especially since live shows and events are all on hold indefinitely. But as more novices turn to live streaming as a source of income, they are being flagged left and right for using copyrighted content without proper licensing. People are finally seeing firsthand that intellectual property is not all fair use, particularly if you are trying to make money off of it on your own channels.

This means that if you’re looking to get into streaming you need to either produce your own original content to use, pay for licenses for the stuff you want to use, or hire someone to create custom content for you. Whichever way you go, it’s an investment and you need to take it seriously. It’s important to educate yourself so that you can figure out how to navigate the online environment. You need to remember that content creators invested thousands of dollars in equipment and software, and years of their lives, paid education, and experience to acquire the skills to create their content. Now, in an on-demand world, with sales being more niche and streaming payments being extremely low, you can understand why the scrutiny might be there to maintain what’s left to hold on to.

A musician friend of mine, who relied on performing solely in cover bands as his source of income, was at a loss for what to do. He did not know anything about streaming, but he knew he wanted to give it a good shot. So, he put in the work, and did his own research online on what he needed to do to accomplish his goal. He risked investing a good chunk of money into the proper gear, interface, microphones, and software, and crash-coursed YouTube tutorials to really understand streaming. Then by simply linking his PayPal info to his first videos, he was able to live stream, taking requests from only his Facebook friends, and accept virtual tips. He managed to pay all his bills after only a week of live streaming. So, for those who are afraid and don’t know where to start, there is your proof that it’s possible.

The real question is, what could you do that would appeal to your friends and/or audience? It isn’t about having huge numbers of followers, it’s about who you have to start with and how you can grow from there. Maybe it won’t be your living, but it could be a supplement. Maybe you can do virtual lessons. Maybe it’s just to have a bit of fun to help maintain mental health and express yourself creatively. Maybe you could show another side to your musical abilities most haven’t seen yet. Maybe you can get into gaming or reviewing. Regardless of what your angle is, there are a few basic things you are going to need for live streaming:

• A good computer with a decent video card
• An audio interface
• An HDMI capture card such as MYPIN
• A good-quality HD webcam or pro video camera with HDMI connection (make sure there is good lighting in your space)
• A gaming headset with mic such as the ATH-AG1X for game streaming, or a good pair of headphones such as the ATH-M50x
• Microphones to suit your setup (vocal, guitar, band) – set a live mix and run it to your interface
• An audio mixer with enough channels for your needs (optional for more control to plug into the interface)
• OBS Studio (free download) to set up your broadcast
• Accounts on Twitch and YouTube – display on those pages whatever form of payment links you can accept for tip

Then start experimenting and learning how to set up and navigate all those things so that you can simply turn on your equipment and start broadcasting whatever it is you want to do. Start simple and small, and gradually work your way up to be as pro as you want to be.

Frank Klepacki is an award-winning composer, sound designer, audio director, recording artist, touring performer, and producer. He has worked on top video game titles such as Command & Conquer, Star Wars: Empire at War, and MMA sports television programs such as Ultimate Fighting Championship and Inside MMA. For more info, visit www.frankklepacki.com

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