Once an artist has started selling fan subscriptions, it's important to establish a rewards system which consistently gives back and keeps them engaged enough to stay subscribed.
Some of these same rewards would also be great additions to a music crowdfunding campaign or just as thank-yous to any artists most active fans.
Guest post by Dave Cool of The Bandzoogle Blog
Once you've decided that you're going to start selling fan subscriptions or fan club memberships, the first thing you'll need to figure out is what rewards to offer your fans.
With crowdfunding, your fans make a single payment for a specific reward. But with subscriptions, it’s all about offering ongoing rewards for regular, monthly payments. So you’ll have to think of the content, perks, and rewards that you can deliver on a regular basis to your biggest fans.
For example, if you’ve recorded a new song, you’ll have to decide if it’s going to be something that is exclusive to your subscribers. This means that it won’t go up for sale on your website or be available on streaming services.
On the other hand, you could give your subscribers early access to new tracks and videos for a certain amount of time, then officially release them publicly.
There’s no right or wrong approach to this. It’s really a matter of how prolific you are with creating content, and what your goals are with each song, album, or video.
If you’re just starting out, keep things simple. You can always add rewards and tiers as you go. Start with a few rewards for the lowest tier that are easily scalable (like access to digital music), then add 1-2 bonus rewards for each higher tier.
To help you decide which rewards to offer your subscribers, here are some ideas to get you started. You could pick and choose from each list, for a combination of rewards. Or you could focus on one area for your subscriptions (if you are a teacher, for example).
Some of these same rewards would also be great additions to a music crowdfunding campaign or just as thank-yous to any artists most active fans.
Guest post by Dave Cool of The Bandzoogle Blog
Once you've decided that you're going to start selling fan subscriptions or fan club memberships, the first thing you'll need to figure out is what rewards to offer your fans.
With crowdfunding, your fans make a single payment for a specific reward. But with subscriptions, it’s all about offering ongoing rewards for regular, monthly payments. So you’ll have to think of the content, perks, and rewards that you can deliver on a regular basis to your biggest fans.
Early vs. exclusive
Something to consider for your subscriber rewards is if you’re going to give early or exclusive access to new content. This is especially important when it comes to your music and videos.For example, if you’ve recorded a new song, you’ll have to decide if it’s going to be something that is exclusive to your subscribers. This means that it won’t go up for sale on your website or be available on streaming services.
On the other hand, you could give your subscribers early access to new tracks and videos for a certain amount of time, then officially release them publicly.
There’s no right or wrong approach to this. It’s really a matter of how prolific you are with creating content, and what your goals are with each song, album, or video.
Structuring your rewards and tiers
It might be tempting to offer lots of rewards to encourage fans to subscribe. Keep in mind that you’ll have to manage the delivery of each reward every month. Plus, once you’ve decided what types of rewards to offer subscribers, you’re going to organize them into tiers, which you’ll also have to manage.If you’re just starting out, keep things simple. You can always add rewards and tiers as you go. Start with a few rewards for the lowest tier that are easily scalable (like access to digital music), then add 1-2 bonus rewards for each higher tier.
To help you decide which rewards to offer your subscribers, here are some ideas to get you started. You could pick and choose from each list, for a combination of rewards. Or you could focus on one area for your subscriptions (if you are a teacher, for example).
Music
- Exclusive unreleased songs
- Early access to songs/albums
- Access to full catalog (streams)
- Access to full catalog (downloads)
- Access to full catalog (FLAC & WAV)
- Albums/EPs on CD
- Albums/EPs on vinyl
- Albums/EPs on cassette
- Demos
- Live recordings
- Instrumental versions of songs
- Handwritten lyrics
- Pre-sales
- Discounts (can be a larger discount for higher tiers)
- Let fans give feedback on songs in progress
- Let fans vote on song direction
- Let fans choose specific cover songs to record
- Write custom songs for fans
- Let fans vote on cover songs to record
- Give fans producer credit on albums
- Stem files
Merch
- Exclusive merch
- Signed posters
- Buttons, pins, stickers
- Pre-sales
- Discounts on merch / store items (can be larger a discount for higher tiers)
- Branded USB drive of all music, photos, or videos
- Postcards (signed / handwritten)
- Other art (paintings, photos, illustrations)
- Let fans vote on merch design
Videos
- Exclusive videos (behind the scenes, messages for fans, etc.)
- Videos before they go public
- Video downloads
- Download of the audio from videos
- Shout outs in videos
- Thank yous in video descriptions
- Personalized videos / covers
- Let fans vote on songs for video releases
- Happy birthday videos for fans
Live
- Guest list at shows
- Signed set lists from shows
- Meet & greets
- Green room access
- VIP seating
- Dinner before the show
- Exclusive online shows
- Let fans vote on setlists
- Let fans request songs for online concerts
Music Teachers
- Sheet music
- Songbook (pdf)
- Songbook (physical copy)
- Song charts
- Tabs
- Video lessons
- Live lessons
- Archived lessons & videos
- Q&A’s
- Song requests
- Let fans vote on songs to learn
- Let fans choose the song to learn
Other
- Exclusive blog
- Exclusive forum
- Personal video calls
- Livestream / video hangouts / listening parties
- Promote the fan’s business
- Follow fans on social media
- Thanks/shout outs on social media
- Feature fans on your website, on social media
- Q&As
- Private / fan-only social media account (Instagram, Facebook Group, Snapchat)
- Birthday shout-outs on your blog, on social media
