The singer, or vocalist, sings the vocal parts in the music. The lead singer is the main focal point of the song for the listener. Whether in the recording booth or on a live stage in concert, the singer’s job is to deliver the song melody and lyrics to the audience. Background singers must blend their voices and sound to support the music.

Singers may also use dancing and movement as a part of their stage performance. Some singers play instruments such as guitar or piano to accompany their vocal performance.

Singers usually work with a live band, a DJ, an orchestra, solo accompanist, or use recorded backing tracks. They sing songs they have written, cover songs, or music that’s been written for them by a production team. Their days are spent in the studio, on tour, in rehearsals, or practicing their singing, instrumental, or dancing skills.

Singers must quickly learn the vocal parts to the music and then perform them at a high level. They must master many techniques beyond just singing the parts, for example proper microphone technique, movement, and how to follow a conductor.

They also need to take good care of their voice, since their instrument is physically part of their body and needs to stay healthy to sound good. This means understanding how the voice works and how to overcome vocal health challenges by practicing proper breathing, posture, and other techniques related to producing a consistently pleasing sound without damaging the vocal cords.

Singers should also be musicians. This means understanding the basics of music theory, how music is arranged and produced, and the various performing techniques required of all musicians, such as blending their sound, counting bars and beats, and giving and following cues (signals from the conductor or other musicians).

They must learn how to communicate effectively with the other musicians and with their audience. With many techniques to learn, aspiring singers often choose to attend music school or take private lessons with an accomplished vocal teacher and coach.

Singers also learn to work with solo accompanists, or accompany themselves on an instrument. They learn all about how music is put together, so they can have input into the arrangement, figure out their best key for a song, and work together in groups with other singers, musicians, and producers.

Most singers specialize in a specific style of music, such as pop, jazz, rock, musical theater, or opera. Other singers cover many styles or sing on jingles (music for advertising). Certain singers specialize in background vocals, which is surprisingly more difficult than singing lead since they must be able to blend their voice well in a group of singers.

The most successful singers enjoy huge popularity with audiences, touring the world, working with prestigious musicians, producers, and orchestras, and winning accolades, recognition, and Grammy awards. They are also among the highest-paid musicians in the industry.

To learn about what it’s really like to build a career as a singer or singer-songwriter, we talked to artists from a variety of genres:

• Grace Davidson
• Violet Skies
• Lainey Wilson

Here’s what a typical day looks like for Skies:

• First thing in the morning, she answers emails from her manager about other artists wanting to record her songs, gig details, tour planning
• Late morning: go to the studio to work on music
• Daytime during show season: rest, run through her set, go to rehearsal/soundcheck
• Nighttime during dhow season: perform locally or gigs on tour

It’s difficult to pinpoint an “average” salary or earnings for a singer, especially if they are working independently in the music industry. There are famous singers everyone knows who are earning astronomical sums and become ultra-wealthy.

The music industry, like professional sports, is a winner-take-all business where the people at the very top take the lion’s share of the earnings. A singer’s pay could vary widely from year to year, depending on the amount of lucrative work opportunities coming their way.

Singers working as part of a band might get paid the same as other band members, based on the kind of gigs the band does. Other singers are paid for their session work on an hourly, daily, or per song basis, as “work-for-hire” (meaning they are not entitled to any royalties).

The most successful singers collect royalties from sales of their music, whether from file downloads, physical copies, or streaming. A singer might also receive royalties, or “synch rights,” when their song is used in a movie, TV show, or licensed for use in other visual media.

Most professional singers start out singing on sessions and gigs as a freelancer. They could be singing on demos for songwriters and producers, working towards launching their artist career, and collaborating with other songwriters in writing their own songs. When starting out, a singer might earn very little for their work, while holding down a “day-job” to cover their living costs.

They can also write songs for others. All these activities can offer paid opportunities, as could singing cover music at weddings, funerals, anniversaries, fundraisers, corporate and industry functions, on cruise ships, and at concerts.

An experienced singer will have a network of other music professionals to work with. They might be singing on their own releases, touring to support their artist career, and be in demand for all sorts of professional opportunities which consistently pay enough money to live from. Eventually they may not need a day job to support themselves anymore.

The money usually comes from a mix of paid performances, licensing fees, and royalties from their recorded works. Some professionals also teach students during the day to make ends meet.

At the highest end of the spectrum are superstars like Taylor Swift (who grossed $1.8 billion from concerts in 2023) and Ariana Grande (who raked in $72 million in 2020). Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has amassed a fortune of over $1.2 billion over his long career.

Of course, for top stars, money may not come exclusively from singing, but from merchandising, licensing, and other streams.

Skies points out that the money will be close to non-existent in the beginning.

“…Money is often very small at the start…” she said. “But once you start to build up a catalog and your gig fees get higher, this is what can happen: if you’re a Session Musician, you’ll be paid by other people to sing in their band, and those fees can really differ across the board.”

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There’s a persistent but misguided belief that anyone with a great natural singing voice could instantly become successful as a performer in the music business. This is simply not true. What might look like a “big break” is always the culmination of many small breaks.

It’s extremely rare and unusual that someone would just wake up one day and be a professional singer without serious and prolonged training. There is certainly some natural talent and ability required, but most, if not all aspiring singers will go through rigorous and lengthy training in order to achieve success.

Wilson said it will take work to make singing your career.

“Singing for fun and singing for a living are two very different paths,” she said. “Yes, singing is fun and it should be, but it’s going to take some blood, sweat, tears, and years to make it a career.”

A singing career at the outset can feel rather thankless as there is much to learn and precious little recognition or money to be had. To find out if professional singing is in your future I’d strongly recommend getting some real training (more on this below). The next step is to make some recordings and then play them for music industry insiders to get their honest reaction.

Like anything, becoming a professional singer requires a lot of hard work. There’s always a lot of strong competitors and to be successful ultimately requires a long-term commitment to doing the work and staying in the game.

Davidson said singing is a great career if you’re willing to put in the work.

“From my personal experience,” she said, “it has been a good career but it’s hard work and you have to be prepared to work hard and travel around the world doing auditions, performances, and recordings.”

That said, if you enjoy it and are are good enough, you will have opportunities to spread your wings and fly with the best of the best. Training, studying, practicing, and rehearsing are serious work, but when you hit the stage and get that tremendous audience response, it’s worth all the time and effort you put in.

Be realistic and understand your commitment to doing the hard work is your price of admission to the profession. It really does take long hours of practice to reach the top.

Make a good plan and follow it so you make steady progress. You’ll be rewarded by hearing the results of your hard work, and this will make you want to work at improving your skills even more. Those with talent who work hard will go much further than the ones who are too lazy to put in the work.

The good news is that there is a good career in singing for the right person, with a little bit of luck. Personally, I don’t believe you can make your own luck, but I do believe you can maximize your benefit from the “good” luck, and minimize the negative impact from the “bad” luck, by working hard and smart, while keeping a positive attitude and an open mind.

There’s a way of looking at things where you don’t make a quick judgement of whether it’s good or bad. You may not know the ultimate outcome until much, much later. The key is to be as prepared as you can be for everything and anything.

Choosing a career in the arts is not “easy,” but then nothing ever really is. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it! It takes years of hard work and dedication to “make it” and you will need a lot of little breaks to add up to the big breaks in your career.

Networking is an important skill for singers to master. The more industry people you meet, the higher your likelihood of getting connected with the right people who can really boost your career.

Whether music and singing are a good career for you is a highly personal question. Be careful not to compare yourself to others, although it can be very useful to learn from them or even copy them. Notice which parts of singing you like and dislike and consider where singing rightly belongs in your life.

There are plenty of people who make a living singing or sing semi-professionally part-time. Singing can be a side hustle to make some extra spending money, or just a great hobby and pastime. Or it can mean being in the spotlight of the Big Time.

To get on the path to a singing career it makes good sense to start with some training. To find the right teacher, ask around for recommendations from others and try out some lessons with a few different people. Some teachers will offer the first lesson for free.

Get some books about music careers and read some biographies of successful singers. You can learn a lot of useful things from books. You can buy most books used for a few bucks on eBay or Amazon, so you don’t need to invest a lot of money.

Follow articles in the news about the music industry. Attend a lot of concerts–this is an important way to learn, and should also be fun! Visit some industry conferences or take some classes in school or at a community music center. Learn all you can about singing, music, and how the music industry works.

The important thing is to get some kind of training. People don’t just open their mouths to sing and become successful at it right away. Consult the experts on how to improve – this will save you time and energy. Let them guide you along the path to success as a singer.

You might join a band or start your own to gain valuable experience with the stage and studio. You could also learn to use recording software and hardware, so you can experiment with capturing the full richness and beauty of your voice by making your own recordings.

Next, record some songs professionally and make a music video, to test out the waters. You might team up with a music producer for this. Eventually you will need a team, including a manager, agent, publicist, and other music intermediaries. You might as well start looking for those people early.

Skies suggests building your career independently rather than rushing into a bad record deal.

“These days it pays to be independent,” she said. “It pays to try and learn to record your own music. It pays to work with your friends, and it pays to wait. You don’t need to sign anything.

“Managers who pressure you to sign things are wrong,” she continued, “and it’s exactly the same with publishers and labels. When you sign a publishing deal or a record label deal, that’s how you make money. But that shouldn’t be your sole focus for income because often that’s just money they pay you as an advance.”

Develop a social media following on the platforms where you think your fans are likely to hang out. Upload your music to streaming services like Spotify and get placement on some high-profile playlists. You might start a YouTube channel, or put your songs on SoundCloud.

An artist development consultant can help you define the next stage of your career, and to assemble a full-fledged pro production team. Your goal early on is to get some feedback from industry players and proof that there’s an audience for your music. This might take some research and time to figure out.

For those who are college bound, there are some terrific programs with a track record of graduates launching successful singing careers. Having a music degree can give you a “stamp of approval” so that people are more likely to take you seriously. Plus, college is one of the best places to learn and to network.

Along your path to becoming a successful singer you’ll meet some roadblocks and will need to develop strategies to overcome the inevitable challenges. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel; look at what others have done in similar situations and learn from them.

Beyond sheer determination, talent, luck, resilience, and hard work, aspiring singers must have persistence and drive. Think long-term; it’s so important to stick with it and keep getting back up whenever you fall.

Rejection is a part of every artist’s career, so learn to embrace it. Some Broadway singers go to a hundred or more singing auditions each year, just to land one part. You can’t give up, because your breakthrough might be just around the corner.

Smile in the face of adversity, and learn to welcome each rejection as an opportunity to learn and improve. This is the attitude of all successful people, especially in the arts.

Know in your heart what you have to offer the world, and believe in yourself even when no one else will. Understand that music is a business and there is no easy business in the world. Give your art the attention it deserves, and never give up. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change your approach or consider new information as you learn about the demands of a singing career.

Be careful about advice. Though it may be well-intentioned, it might not always apply to you. Singers, like all artists, need to find their own compass and guiding light of inspiration. Having the right skills definitely helps. When you are really, really good, it’s hard for people to ignore you.

There are lots of ways one can get noticed in the music industry. Building a social media presence, touring and concertizing, creating and selling merchandise, and collaborating with other high profile music industry professionals (such as songwriters and producers) will allow you to build a fan base that will blow up your career.

Skies said you need to post online, go to gigs, join music clubs, and attend songwriting courses and camps.

“You need to meet as many musical people as you can and someone will eventually recognize you from that,” she said.

Keep in mind that these things all take time and persistence and that you should develop a strategic career plan that includes a publicity and marketing proposal for your music.

And you need to do this in a way that is unique to you, according to Wilson.

“I think the biggest key to getting noticed in the music industry is focusing on being one-of-a-kind, unique, and bringing something to the table that no one else can,” she said. “When you own what you do, the passion shows, and people take notice.”

To promote your singing career you will need an electronic promo kit (EPK) containing your recordings, videos, artist bio, pictures, and any press clippings to show managers, agents, and executives in the music industry. If you have compositions or have written songs, you might seek a publishing deal, and if you have great recordings, you might be able to secure a record deal with a music label.

You could perform at conferences and industry events to get exposure. Catering to a niche market can also be a good strategy for some singers. Even the best singers are always looking for their next opportunity to sing.

Whatever you do, it may take some time to build your career.

“Nothing happens overnight,” Wilson said. “And even though I make a living singing, I am still learning and growing every day.”

A singer is a musician and needs many of the same skills. Besides learning about vocal performance, singers should play an instrument, understand music theory, know how music is arranged and produced, plus be able to read music. Not every singer has all these skills, but it certainly helps when they do.

Being easy to work with calls for emotional intelligence (EQ). Nobody likes to work with a difficult person. Although it makes a great storyline, being a diva really won’t help you to advance your career as a singer. On the other hand, you have the right to uphold your musical and artistic standards. Singers need interpersonal skills, or soft skills for teamwork and collaboration.

As a vocal coach and longtime music director, I have auditioned thousands of singers in my career. Here are some specific vocal performance skills I look for in the best singers:

• Intonation: Are you singing “in tune?” (Different people sometimes hear this differently.)
• Diction: Can we understand the words?
• Vocal Quality: Is your voice pleasant to listen to? Are you controlling your breath, posture, and other aspects of vocal production to get a good “sound?” Does your voice sound healthy, or is it constrained and thin sounding?
• Stage Presence: Do you seem comfortable on the stage? Are your attire, movements, and facial expressions all appropriate for the song and the musical setting?
• Rhythmic Interpretation: Does it “swing?” Is the groove or rhythmic feel correct for the musical style and tempo?
• Dynamics: Are you using them to advantage? Dynamics is not only loud and soft; it includes articulations and transitory elements such as vibrato, glissandos, or cadenzas. It’s basically a catch-all term to describe that special “something” that is hard to put your finger on but keeps you listening and engaged.
• Song Choice and Prep: Is the song a good song for you to sing? Is it a good audition song? Are the lyrics memorized? Do you have it in the right key, and is it arranged to fit the time allotted for the audition?

Adding these together, it’s possible to rate different singers on their vocal abilities. It’s also possible to isolate and work on each element separately, for example with a vocal coach.

There is more. Another special skill for singers is microphone technique. Proper use of a microphone is not as easy as it might seem. There are special techniques and different mics singers use for different kinds of singing.

For example, belting out a high note versus singing quietly and low in your range require different approaches. Making a studio recording presents different demands from the concert stage.

There are different types of microphones available, and singers should know their favorite models and how to use them for each situation. Singers don’t always get to choose their microphone, but most professional singers know which models and types will showcase their voice in the best way.

Personal preference plays a role in microphone choice, but also requires some knowledge of the technology and its application. For example, do you know the difference between a dynamic microphone (e.g., a Shure SM-58) and a large-diaphragm condenser microphone (e.g., an AKG C414), and which would be better for the studio or stage?

Modern musicians have a certain trade “lingo” which is laden with technical terms, and it’s never fun to feel like you’re left out of the conversation. While anyone can learn the jargon, it takes some patience and perseverance. Never be afraid to ask the meaning of a term you don’t understand. If you don’t ask, you won’t learn.

While some people have obvious talent for singing, they won’t get very far without the habit of building and maintaining all their musical skills. Natural talent alone will not lead to a career as a vocalist.

To give one example, reading music is a great skill to have which doesn’t come naturally to most people. Even the most talented singers find sight-singing notes off a page challenging. This is a specific skill that takes regular practice to learn and to maintain.

Almost everyone has some singing ability. Regardless of this innate ability, singers need to study and train just like any other professional. Developing your trademark sound can take years. Everyone has something unique in their voice, and the best singers know how to bring that to the forefront.

A few people have become successful as singers by singing in an unusual way. They seem to transcend the expectations, developing a signature style that makes people want to listen.

I’m thinking of artists like Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Sade, Björk, Janis Joplin, David Bowie, Neil Young, Al Kooper, Louis Armstrong, Kurt Cobain, Billie Eilish, Adele, and many others who’ve made a name for themselves with unique singing styles.

Wilson said it comes down to getting as good at singing as possible.

“I feel like the amount of time spent on perfecting and crafting your art are the only qualifications you need,” she said. “If you want to get technical, then I’m technically not qualified. I’ve never had a voice lesson. I learned to sing in the back of the truck and at the kitchen table. But I have put in the hours and I think that makes me kind of ‘qualified.'”

Skies said that “if you’re turning down hanging out with friends to sit in your bedroom and write songs, or to practice for your next singing exam, or just learn songs, then you’re probably on to something.”

“If you’re not willing to give up some of that stuff,” she said, “then you probably don’t want it as much as you think you do.”

Most professional singers began singing at home, in the car, in the shower, in church, in school, or wherever they could. They had music lessons from a young age and were coached by vocal trainers. They took dance classes to learn how to move. They may have sung in their high school choir, chorus, jazz combo, or in a rock band.

While they had an early start, others came to singing later in life. It doesn’t matter when you start learning, as long as you are learning. Having a teacher gives you the advantage of professional guidance but isn’t the only way to learn.

Davidson said it can be very helpful to take singing lessons, along with following the teachers recommendations for taking care of your voice.

“Having regular singing lessons will improve your voice,” she said. “Good vocal hygiene, drinking lots of water, and avoiding too many spicy foods and dairy foods will also help. Listening to artists live and in recordings that you admire can be a positive thing, too.”

YouTube videos can teach you about singing, how to warm up your voice, vocal training exercises, and give you tips on how to perform with other musicians. There are some very good books that will teach you all about vocal techniques.

College and university music programs offer top-notch training for singers. Most lead to a diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s, and there are even doctorates in singing. Singers who want to become teachers can study music education and vocal pedagogy.

Getting training from the best teachers and coaches is highly beneficial. A big advantage of a college or university music program is that you will be surrounded by many like-minded musicians, giving you the contacts you need to launch your career.

Adult education courses are also fine, and local colleges have extension programs where you can take voice classes and learn music theory and other music skills. For those who don’t go to college or take classes, studying with a private teacher is the best choice. A good teacher can point you in the right direction and help you develop your skills and knowledge.

Training for singers focuses on how you use your voice to produce beautiful music. It should address all technical areas of vocal production, such as breath support, posture, diction, and vocal health. It’s crucial for singers to learn how to warm up their voice and also how to “warm down” after singing.

A full music education also includes subjects like music theory, arranging, music production, ensemble, music history, ear training (musicianship), composition, songwriting, music business, and career planning. Liberal arts courses help you learn to develop the artistic side of singing. Participating in groups and performing with orchestra or choir teach you how to blend with other musicians and work with a conductor or accompanist.

There’s a joke about a man who asks a passerby in Times Square how to get to Carnegie Hall. The passerby replies: “Practice, practice.” It’s a funny joke because it’s so true. Professional musicians know the importance of regular practice. While it may never lead to perfection, it’s one of the proven keys to success with singing.

If you don’t work at improving yourself, you won’t improve, it’s as simple as that. Rely on expert advice to know what areas of singing you should work on. You can get that advice from different sources.

Consult with voice teachers and working pros. Read or watch interviews with top singers. Try some classes and lessons. Rehearse and perform with other musicians. These are all great ways to improve your singing and music skills.

It’s very important to maintain a healthy singing voice; this should lead you to learn all about your instrument, your body, and yourself. For example, getting enough rest, staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and eating a healthy diet are all things that professional singers swear by.

For singers with vocal health challenges, it might help to consult with a voice or speech-language pathologist. The Voice Foundation can help.

With careful preparation, good learning habits, natural talent, expert guidance, hard work, and a little luck, achieving a career as a singer or vocalist should be possible. It’s worth exploring as you consider your future music career goals.