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Entrepreneurship for Composers

Sheet music Sheet music

A Collection by Davo van Peursen

How can you make money as a composer?

The music industry is a complex world. There are many ways to generate revenue – many more than just through performances or online streams. The business side of music may not be what calls you to become a composer, but as a composer it is crucial that you understand how the industry works. You must know about all the players. Who’s doing what? What do they offer, and how can they help you earn income?

When you know about your rights and income, you can better focus on what you want to achieve.

These topics will get you started in the right direction:

10 Pages

Experience level

Beginner, Intermediate

"I advise all composers and authors to take the time to learn about the music industry."

Davo van Peursen

If you have read all ten topics above, then you have caught a first glimpse of what you need to know to make money as a composer – but don’t stop now!

To deepen your understanding of how you can make money as a composer, I would recommend you explore all the topics available on CLIP, starting with the sections on “Music Creators’ Rights”, “Scope of Protection”, “Rights Transfer and Licensing”, “The Music Industry Ecosystem”, and “Getting Credited and Paid”.

Congratulations on your progress. Keep learning, don’t get discouraged, and above all, enjoy the ride!

Davo van Peursen's signature

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Davo van Peursen is the Managing Director of Donemus Publishing and the Director of the Dutch Music Publishers Association. He teaches Entrepreneurship for Composers at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

His expertise in the field has led to his appointment to the global board of the International Council of Music Publishers (ICMP).

Video credit: Davo van Peursen.