Music artist (occupation)
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A music artist (commonly referred to as recording artist) is a musician who records and releases music, often professionally, through a record label or independently. Working as a music artist requires an immense amount of mental and physical conditioning as music artists continually live very erratic, nomadic and taxing lifestyles. Music artists face interminttent periods of unemployment, long nights in the studio recording music, travel constantly performing their music and also have to deal with the uncertainty of their income due to frequent rejections during auditions as well as competition for performance spots. Although it can be a risky profession, it is one of the most over-saturated occupations today.[1] Most musiI artist , depending on public reception and appreciation of their work, go on to achieve celebrity status
INCOME
Music artists are paid in a very different manner than most conventional occupations. Instead of receiving a wage from a single employer like most occupations, music artists have what are called income streams. These income streams are the different avenues through which the music artists receive compensation for their work.[
Performance royalties
Performance royalties are monies a music artist is paid every time his or her song is performed. “Performed” in this sense is any time the song is transmitted digitally, performed live, broadcast and/or played in a public place.[4] These monies are collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). What these organizations do is retrieve money on behalf of the artist every time his or her songs are performed to ensure the artist is being properly compensated for their work. In the United States the three major PROs, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. In order to be properly compensated music artists must choose which PRO they will have collect their performance royalties. Upon the release of their music to the public and use in different types of media, their PRO will start collecting their performance royalties.[5] At the end of each quarter, meaning at the end of every March, June, September and December, the artists will receive a check for the performance royalties collected from the prior quarter
Special permission
Music artists also make money by licensing their songs to stores, restaurants and nightclubs that allow these places of business to play their music.[4] Music artists usually grant these places of business “blanket licenses” that allow them to play a collection of songs instead of licensing each song individually. Stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, GAP are all holders of blanket licenses that allow them to play music