Here are 8 real ways musicians can make money on YouTube, helping you turn your passion into profit and boost your YouTube revenue as a musician:
1. Get Paid for Your Views (YouTube Partner Program)

The YouTube Partner Program is a fantastic way for musicians to earn money from their music videos. Ever notice ads playing during videos? Through the program, YouTube shares ad revenue with you, meaning every view can generate income. So, the more fans watch your videos, the more you earn—imagine getting paid on YouTube for every music video view!
2. Earn from YouTube Premium Views
YouTube Premium helps its subscribers watch videos without ads, you can earn from that too…interesting right? When YouTube Premium members watch your videos, you earn a portion of their subscription fee, so every fan counts, whether they’re watching with or without ads.
3. Offer Exclusive Perks to Subscribers (Channel Memberships)
YouTube makes it possible for you to have what they call – SUPER FANS In 2021, YouTube introduced the Super Thanks feature within the YouTube Partner Program.
It was designed to provide additional tips for the content creators who enlisted in the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube Super Thanks works relatively easily. Imagine just uploading content, which your viewers enjoy watching.
4. Sell Your Merch Right on YouTube

You can promote your music video merch or custom products directly below your videos.
Whether it’s tees, hoodies, or other unique gear, this shelf feature lets your fans easily buy something to support you.
5. Make Money with Live Streams (Super Chat and Super Stickers)
When you go live, fans can buy Super Chats and stickers to get noticed in the chat. It’s a cool way for your audience to connect with you directly and for you to earn during live sessions.
6. Cash in on Short Videos (YouTube Shorts Fund)
YouTube has made it possible for you to monetize your music video shorts, by sharing the revenue on every ad viewed on the YouTube shorts.
7. Partner with Brands You Love (Sponsored Content)
If you’re able to grow a large and big audience that businesses and brands would need or like to promote their product to, boom! You’ve landed what we call a brand partnership deal. Brands are looking to connect with audiences like yours. By promoting products that fit your style, you can earn money while supporting their business through tour music videos.
8. Share Products You Use and Earn (Affiliate Marketing) –
This model is called Affiliate Marketing, and it works well for YouTube creators and musicians inclusive. If you have music gears, softwares or other tools you use to produce your music video content, you can join their affiliate programs and link to the music gear, software, or other tools you genuinely use and recommend. When someone buys through your links, you get a commission – simple as that.
CONCLUSION
By leveraging YouTube’s monetization tools, musicians can turn their channels into powerful income streams.
From ad revenue and Premium views to fan-funded memberships and brand partnerships, earning money from YouTube music videos is within reach.
Using YouTube monetization for artists—whether through live streams, Shorts, or affiliate marketing—allows musicians to make money while connecting with fans and expanding their reach.
Start exploring these income options and watch your YouTube revenue for musicians grow as you continue creating and sharing your music.