Everyone starts small... even musicians. If you want to become a professional musician, here are some tips for you to consider when starting your music career.
The path to becoming a professional musician: turning a hobby into a career
As a hobby musician, you've probably often dreamed of performing on big stages and presenting your music to a wide audience. But how do you make the leap from the garage to the concert stage? How can you turn your hobby into a career and become a professional musician?
Many hobby musicians specifically look for a music label for newcomers. Such a label has the know-how and contacts to advance your music career. It can help you to produce, market and distribute your music professionally. But there are also opportunities to release music independently of a label with a music distributor like us, FEIYR.
But before we take a closer look at the topic of music labels, let's take a look at the path to music as a profession.
Tip 1: Networking in the music industry
As in any industry, networking and contacts in the industry are among the most important. This applies not only to contacts with music colleagues, event organizers, record labels, etc., but especially to contact with fans. A job in the music industry can also be an advantage for you. Even if you don't work there as a musician, you can gain insights into the scene, meet new people and make contacts.
Of course, you can also expand your network on social media or via festivals and events in the music scene. Some of these are, for example: Midem Cannes, IMS Ibiza, Manic Street Parade in Munich, Reeperbahnfestival in Hamburg, m4music Zurich, Amsterdam Dance Event, c/o pop Convention Cologne and the Future Music Camp.
Tip 2: Record labels for newcomers - do I actually need one?
Record labels are still justified in 2025 and have some advantages: A record label has a huge network of contacts and often much more budget at its disposal than you do.
This means you always have a contact person who can take some of the work and financial risk off your hands. In return for the fact that the record label does a lot of the work for you, you have to hand over the rights to your music, are restricted in your freedom of choice and give up a not inconsiderable proportion of your income. What's more, it's difficult to get a record deal if you don't already have a proven track record.
Try our FEIYR platform to get started with your newcomer music!
With FEIYR, you can distribute your music to all known portals worldwide, regardless of the label, while retaining all copyrights. Once you have registered, you can get started right away, upload your music and earn money with it.
Tip 3: Stay true to yourself
Always be yourself. There have been many artists who have been ridiculed and rejected by record companies, but who have gone on to achieve great success despite this, or above all because of who they are.
Don't be satisfied with a no and work on yourself and your music. Be different, be yourself and leave a lasting impression. Do your thing, success is then only a matter of time.
Tip 4: Define milestones for your music career
Create a plan of what you want to achieve: Your own pressed CD, concerts, festivals, TV appearances, radio airplay, etc. Success can have different faces. Write down your goals and align your next steps with them. Did you know that as a newcomer musician you also have the chance of state funding?
Tip 5: Be present in the music scene!
Show yourself to the world! Seek personal contact, even if it's "only" via social media. With Facebook and Instagram, you have every opportunity to get to know your fans better and gain new ones. Here are some tips for Instagram and Facebook Messenger marketing, and of course don't forget YouTube.
Tip 6: Take a risk
Your new song is finished, but you're not quite satisfied yet? You can probably work on it for another 3 months and you'll still have something to complain about. Sometimes you just have to draw a line and show yourself to the world. Upload your newcomer songs and let your listeners decide what they think of your music.
You don't know whether you should have a CD pressed? Is it still worth it? (Spoiler: Yes, definitely!) Nothing ventured, nothing gained...
Tip 7: Hang in there!
Most successful personalities have an eventful past and have had to endure many setbacks. But their perseverance has paid off. Life is beautiful, there was never any talk of it being easy... Fight for your dreams and hold on to them. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars!