Produce and Sell Custom Songs

Write and record personalized songs for people as gifts.

About Produce and Sell Custom Songs

Personalized songs are among the most memorable gifts people can give. Couples commission love songs for weddings and anniversaries, parents request birthday songs for children, and friends order tribute songs for milestone moments. If you're a musician who can write and produce quality recordings, custom songs offer a creative way to earn meaningful income.

For digital nomads, custom song creation is perfectly location-independent. Modern music production happens entirely on laptops with portable interfaces and microphones. You can compose a wedding song from an apartment in Lisbon, record vocals in a quiet Airbnb in Mexico, and deliver the final mix before you catch your next flight.

How Custom Song Services Work

Most custom songs follow this workflow:

Client submits request - They provide the occasion, key details about the person, specific stories or memories to include, and their preferred style
You write the song - Using their information to craft personalized lyrics and melody
Record and produce - Create a finished recording matching the requested style
Deliver - Usually within 3-7 days for standard orders, rush available for extra fees
Revisions - Most services include 1-2 rounds of changes

The magic is in translating someone's stories and emotions into a song that feels personally meaningful.

Getting Customers: Platform vs. Direct

Approach	Pros	Cons	Expected Earnings
Songfinch	They bring customers, handle payments	30-50% platform cut	$50-150/song
Fiverr	Large marketplace, you set prices	Competition, 20% fee	$75-300/song
Direct/Own Website	Keep 100%, build relationships	You handle all marketing	$150-500+/song

Most musicians start on platforms to get experience and testimonials, then gradually shift to direct clients for better margins.

The Portable Production Setup

You don't need a home studio. Here's a travel-friendly setup:

Essential:

Laptop with DAW (Logic, Ableton, GarageBand, FL Studio)
Portable audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett Solo or similar)
Decent USB microphone (Rode NT-USB, Audio-Technica AT2020USB)
Good headphones (closed-back for recording)

Nice to Have:

Travel MIDI keyboard for composing
Portable acoustic treatment (reflection filter)
Backup recording device (phone works)

Total investment: $400-800 gets you started

The key is finding quiet spaces. Closets, walk-in wardrobes, and quiet Airbnb bedrooms work surprisingly well. Recording at odd hours helps avoid neighbor noise.

Realistic Income Expectations

Custom songs are project-based, so income fluctuates. Here's what's realistic:

Activity Level	Songs/Month	Platform Earnings	Direct Client Earnings
Side hustle	3-5	$150-500	$300-1,000
Part-time	8-12	$400-1,200	$800-2,400
Full-time focus	15-25	$750-2,500	$1,500-5,000+

Holidays (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas) and wedding season (May-October) are significantly busier than other times.

What Makes Custom Songs Different from Other Music Income

Unlike streaming income (fractions of pennies per play) or session work (often local), custom songs offer:

Direct payment for creative work - No waiting for royalties
Emotional connection - Clients care deeply about quality
Premium pricing - $100-500 per song beats streaming rates
Flexibility - Work when and where you want
Referrals - Happy clients share with friends

The tradeoff is inconsistency. Some weeks bring five requests; others bring none.

Building Your Custom Song Business

Phase 1: Get Started (Month 1-2)

Create sample songs in 3-4 popular styles (acoustic love song, upbeat birthday, tribute/memorial)
Set up Songfinch or Fiverr profile
Price low initially ($50-100) to get reviews
Develop efficient intake questionnaire

Phase 2: Build Reviews (Month 3-6)

Deliver quality consistently
Request testimonials from happy clients
Gradually raise prices as reviews accumulate
Identify your strongest styles

Phase 3: Expand (Month 6+)

Create own website for direct bookings
Raise platform prices, keep direct prices competitive
Build email list for repeat customers
Consider premium packages (full production, video versions)

The Nomad Reality

Custom songs work well for travel because deadlines are typically 3-7 days, giving flexibility. The main challenges:

Finding quiet recording spaces in shared accommodations
Rush orders during peak seasons can conflict with travel plans
Internet reliability for large file uploads

Many musicians batch recording sessions when they find good spaces, or specifically book accommodations with quiet rooms.

What This Pairs Well With

Custom song skills overlap significantly with making and publishing music for streaming platforms. The audio skills transfer to audiobook production or podcast production. You can sell finished songs through Gumroad for additional passive income.

Use Notion to track client requests, song details, and deadlines. Google Drive works well for sharing audio files with clients.

Getting started: Create sample songs in different styles to demonstrate your range. Join platforms like Songfinch or advertise on Fiverr to access customers. Develop a streamlined process for gathering client information and delivering songs efficiently. Invest in portable recording equipment that travels well. Build a portfolio of (anonymized) customer testimonials and sample work.

Business Models

Product-Based 📦

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I earn per custom song?

Through platforms like Songfinch, you typically earn $50-150 per song after their cut. Working directly with clients, you can charge $150-500+ depending on production quality and your reputation. Premium services (full band production, multiple revisions) can command $500-1,000+.

What equipment do I need to produce custom songs?

Minimum setup: a laptop, basic audio interface ($100-200), USB microphone or condenser mic ($100-300), headphones, and a quiet space. Many traveling musicians produce quality songs with just a laptop, portable interface, and a decent USB mic. The song and performance matter more than studio quality for this market.

How do I get started if I've never done custom songs before?

Start on Songfinch or Fiverr where platforms bring you customers. Create 3-5 sample songs in different styles (love song, birthday song, tribute song) to demonstrate range. Begin with lower prices to build reviews, then raise rates as you get testimonials.

What if I'm not a good singer?

You can focus on instrumental arrangements, work with vocalist partners, or specialize in genres where your voice works. Some platforms also need producers who handle the music while others provide vocals. That said, the singer-songwriter model commands the highest rates.