Turn your music into revenue! Learn how windowing can boost your earnings and make your next release more profitable.
This article explores the concept of windowing as a strategy for musicians to maximize revenue from new music releases, addressing the challenges of low royalty payouts from streaming platforms.
Windowing involves making music temporarily exclusive to specific platforms, formats, or channels before wider distribution. This approach capitalizes on initial demand, allowing artists to generate income upfront.
Key Takeaways:
- What is Windowing?
- Windowing is a content distribution strategy where artists release music exclusively on select platforms for a limited time before wider availability. This generates revenue early on through fan purchases or subscriptions, avoiding reliance on delayed and minimal streaming payouts.
- Implementation Strategies:
- Digital Platforms: Artists can release music on platforms like Bandcamp or EVEN for exclusive early access.
- Physical Products: Physical formats such as vinyl or CDs can be released before streaming, with perks like signed copies or merch bundles.
- Incentives: Add value with offers like listening parties, raffle entries, or deluxe album versions to boost engagement and sales.
- Timeframes and Tactics:
- Digital release windows can range from 2–4 weeks before streaming, while physical releases may require 4–6 weeks to account for shipping and production.
- Best Platforms for Windowing:
- Bandcamp: Ideal for community support, offering music downloads, streaming, and sales of physical merchandise.
- EVEN: A direct-to-consumer platform with features like “pay what you want” and fan perks, taking an 80/20 revenue split.
- Patreon: Useful for artists with established fanbases, allowing early access to releases through memberships or one-time payments.
- Who Should Use Windowing?
- Windowing is most effective for artists with a sizable fanbase and previous releases. It may not be suitable for newer musicians still building an audience.
Conclusion:
Windowing offers an alternative revenue stream for artists facing low streaming payouts, but it requires careful planning and an engaged fanbase.
By staggering availability, artists can turn initial excitement into direct support while sustaining long-term momentum.
Source: How to Window Your Next Music Release to Maximize Revenue