25 Years In The Life Of A Bedroom Producer.

Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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Saturated genre (trance) vs. unsaturated genre (orchestral/ambient - always has an audience). Also, @Magdelayna remixed Hans Zimmer, who has a much bigger worldwide name recognition than The Thrillseekers and Solarstone.
That being said, Magdelayna is probably getting a lot of views and subscribers from people who like Ambient and Hans Zimmer. The Thrillseekers and Solarstone get subscribers from their fans. That is evidenced by the difference in Facebook likes that Magdelayna talked about in the comment above.

Thats true,if theyre gigging around the world they will get a lot of social media followers - that explains that.

Another strange thing ive noticed,if you take their two biggest tracks - Synaesthesia & Seven Cities - the top played videos of them are uploaded by random people...you normally see a bands biggest tracks uploaded by their own channel,and then be the top hit on Youtube for that track.

I keep thinking some of the biggest Trance producers have missed a trick with their Youtube channels - id also point to MIKE,Airwave and Lange who also have relatively very low subscriber numbers.
 
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dmgtz96

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Jul 13, 2020
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Thats true,if theyre gigging around the world they will get a lot of social media followers - that explains that.

Another strange thing ive noticed,if you take their two biggest tracks - Synaesthesia & Seven Cities - the top played videos of them are uploaded by random people...you normally see a bands biggest tracks uploaded by their own channel,and then be the top hit on Youtube for that track.

I keep thinking some of the biggest Trance producers have missed a trick with their Youtube channels - id also point to MIKE,Airwave and Lange who also have relatively very low subscriber numbers.
Yep, Seven Cities (Solarstone Pure Mix) with 2.5 million views was also uploaded by Armada.
I agree in that trance producers missed the Youtube boat back when Youtube started. A lot of classics with millions of views were uploaded back in 2006-2009 by random people who really like electronic dance music. For example, The Orange Theme has 3.5 million views, but it was uploaded 14 years ago by a random Youtuber :p
That being said, you're doing well.
 
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Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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West Yorkshire,England
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soundcloud.com
Yep, Seven Cities (Solarstone Pure Mix) with 2.5 million views was also uploaded by Armada.
I agree in that trance producers missed the Youtube boat back when Youtube started. A lot of classics with millions of views were uploaded back in 2006-2009 by random people who really like electronic dance music. For example, The Orange Theme has 3.5 million views, but it was uploaded 14 years ago by a random Youtuber :p
That being said, you're doing well.
And some of these 'random' people will be getting away with earning quite a lot of money if they avoided a copyright.

Youtube is by far the biggest music platform by far,with the biggest worldwide reach - so its continually surprising these big Trance producers arnt taking full advantage.
 
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NJRoddy

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Jul 22, 2020
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Interesting read however, I must admit I was a little dissappinted when I opened the thread. I was hoping for an essay on your journey written as an article covering your insirations, highs/lows, how it impacted other parts of you life, financials, sacrificies you made, regrets, how the scene has changed in terms of popularity, digital music etc. I would be really interested to read your story...
 

Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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West Yorkshire,England
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soundcloud.com
Interesting read however, I must admit I was a little dissappinted when I opened the thread. I was hoping for an essay on your journey written as an article covering your insirations, highs/lows, how it impacted other parts of you life, financials, sacrificies you made, regrets, how the scene has changed in terms of popularity, digital music etc. I would be really interested to read your story...

I can save that for my autobiography haha
 
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Magdelayna

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This is really interesting - i scoured all Trance producers Youtube channels,and saw i was in the top 10 regarding plays. Thats a bit crazy. You also see what i mean about legendary producers like MIKE,Airwave,Solarstone,Thrillseekers etc have really missed a trick with Youtube - surely they would have millions more plays with the classic tracks involved - if they had them exclusively on their channel!

I tell you what,Armin has some management & PR behind him!!

Let me know if ive missed any obvious ones!



Armin van Buuren 1.8B
Above & Beyond 330M
Robert Miles 261M
Gareth Emery 210M
Paul van Dyk 164M
Markus Schulz 85M
Ferry Corsten 64M
Magdelayna 38M
Giuseppe Ottaviani 29M
Cosmic Gate 28M
Sander van Doorn 26M
Chicane 25M
Aly & Fila 23M
Andrew Rayel 21M
Paul Oakenfold 12M
Arty 10M
Orjan Nilsen 8M
MIKE Push 6M
Lange 6M
Solarstone 5M
Gabriel & Dresden 4M
Soundlift 4M
The Thrillseekers 3M
Bryan Kearney 3M
John O'Callaghan 3M
Oliver Lieb 2M
Dennis Shepard 2M
Menno De Jong 1M
Mark Sherry 1M
Signum 1M
Sean Tyas 1M
Roger Shah 1M
Darren Porter 1M
Will Atkinson 643K
Airwave 345K
 
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dmgtz96

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Jul 13, 2020
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So, what's next, @Magdelayna ?
Do you plan to continue producing trance? Are you going to focus your efforts fully on ambient instead?
Will you "play it by ear" and produce whatever you want, whenever you want?

I'm also interested in hearing how your trance production has bled into your real life. Do the people around you know you're super passionate about producing music? What impression do people have when they find out you produce electronic music? What happens when they find out your music has been been listened to millions of times?
 
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dmgtz96

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Jul 13, 2020
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I think it's mainly Magdalayna's ambient/chill style which simply isn't seen much in the trance scene. Combined with a quite good production quality!
I also think your sound is something that a lot of people want to hear, but isn't really available much elsewhere.
Yeah, this stuff is perfect for studying or working. It's soothing and relaxing while not boring; it's catchy, yet not overwhelming to the point that it distracts you from whatever you're doing.
 
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Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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West Yorkshire,England
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So, what's next, @Magdelayna ?
Do you plan to continue producing trance? Are you going to focus your efforts fully on ambient instead?
Will you "play it by ear" and produce whatever you want, whenever you want?

I'm also interested in hearing how your trance production has bled into your real life. Do the people around you know you're super passionate about producing music? What impression do people have when they find out you produce electronic music? What happens when they find out your music has been been listened to millions of times?

Cheers for the comment! When you say Ambient,i still class everything i make as 'trance' whether in Uplifting or Chilled form. The last couple of years ive kind of ditched the labels,im not making music now with labels 'in mind'...im just making tracks when i feel like it as a real hobby now. You could class it as a bit of 'semi-retirement'....i dont feel i need to prove myself or impress anyone anymore - im just really making the music out of a love of Trance,and hoping other people like it aswell.

Most of the tracks i make now are in the chilled style - i make normal Trance now and then,but its really only a couple of tracks a year. Ive found myself getting too 'perfectionist' about that 4/4 style,im taking so long completing projects in that style hehe. I used to absolutely churn them out around 10 years ago.

About my family and friends - yes,they know about my music and how well its going plays wise - although i wouldnt say most of them are really fans of Trance music. Some just dont get it hehe. But its always interesting telling a new work colleague about my 'hobby'.

As for the future,all my concentration is going into my Youtube channel atm....im coming up to 40 Million plays,which is mindboggling for a bedroom producer. Im doing a 'retrospective' set every 2 weeks,playing my old tracks from every year...i enjoy this as you can engage in the live chat which happens when i premiere the set. Ive just finished a brand new chilled version of Gouryella - Ligaya,which is coming up to its 20 year anniversary of release - that premieres next Wednesday!
 

Magdelayna

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I just want to bring up a post i created recently on the Trance Producers page on Facebook - talking about BANDCAMP.

''Following on from the discussions about labels and signing tracks...ive myself pretty much ditched labels and release my productions myself on Bandcamp. I dont sell many on there,but the pic below shows you the potential,you can sell your discography for a discounted price for example. Plus they only allow WAV format,so youre releasing in the best possible quality,as supposed to compressed MP3s.

Of course theres drawbacks,such as potential lack of DJ support. But its just something i wanted to mention for any producers on here,who have those questions in their head.''


Screen Shot 2021-10-11 at 19.13.15.png


''This is what ive earned on Bandcamp so far,ok its not a load,but after over 10 years of having releases on indie labels,ive earned ZERO,due to high thresholds mainly...ive not been paid a penny. This may be useful for an artist if you feel you can earn a little bit from what you do. Its appreciation from your fans aswell.''

Screen Shot 2021-10-11 at 19.13.55.png
 

Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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Ok...lets talk Youtube monetization. I wanted to post this to maybe help out any producers who are starting a channel or feel they want to maximise the monetization.

This might be controversial me posting this,but i kind of see it as a big **** you to all those labels on which i havnt earned a single penny on after 15 years of releases!

And it also proves YOU can make money from making Trance in your bedroom if you can manage a Youtube channel right. I will just point out that i have over 300 videos on my channel so far,and maybe half of them are BLOCKED on monetization due to copyright and labels. So a lot of my videos dont make any money.

So as you see in the image,ive earned over £12K in the last year...and you can see 'up and down' the revenue is,its something you cant really rely on. That is down to seasonality and maybe things that happen in the world like lockdowns recently for example. There are times in the year where you know the revenue will be better,Black Friday for example and the run up to Xmas as advertisers pay more for those slots,and you get a bigger cut! But when January comes,the revenue takes a big hit,and then it grafually builds again until the first peak in May/June.

Ive had my channel going since 2009,and for years and years it didnt make anything,its only just started making good money in the last few years. I was lucky as one of my remixes went viral and made it onto the front page on Youtube it seems.

Ive never produced music with making money in mind at all,this is just a nice bonus at the end of the dat,and you may aswell maximises while you can!!

If you have any questions about all this,let me know...
Screenshot_20211214_082822.jpg
 
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LostLegend

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Dec 5, 2020
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Liverpool, UK
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www.beatport.com
Ok...lets talk Youtube monetization. I wanted to post this to maybe help out any producers who are starting a channel or feel they want to maximise the monetization.

This might be controversial me posting this,but i kind of see it as a big **** you to all those labels on which i havnt earned a single penny on after 15 years of releases!

And it also proves YOU can make money from making Trance in your bedroom if you can manage a Youtube channel right. I will just point out that i have over 300 videos on my channel so far,and maybe half of them are BLOCKED on monetization due to copyright and labels. So a lot of my videos dont make any money.

So as you see in the image,ive earned over £12K in the last year...and you can see 'up and down' the revenue is,its something you cant really rely on. That is down to seasonality and maybe things that happen in the world like lockdowns recently for example. There are times in the year where you know the revenue will be better,Black Friday for example and the run up to Xmas as advertisers pay more for those slots,and you get a bigger cut! But when January comes,the revenue takes a big hit,and then it grafually builds again until the first peak in May/June.

Ive had my channel going since 2009,and for years and years it didnt make anything,its only just started making good money in the last few years. I was lucky as one of my remixes went viral and made it onto the front page on Youtube it seems.

Ive never produced music with making money in mind at all,this is just a nice bonus at the end of the dat,and you may aswell maximises while you can!!

If you have any questions about all this,let me know...View attachment 816
The hardest part of course is getting your channel to meet the monetisation requirements in the first place. I meet all of them at the moment with the exception of the number of subscribers (I need another 700 :oops: )

Getting that initial kickstart can be very difficult, although I've been lucky this year as one of my remixes must have been snared by the algorithm (It certainly works in mysterious ways) and has amassed 70k views so far this year.

I've been thinking of maybe expanding into making tutorials as well to raise my demographic, but really need to put some time into learning to edit video better first.

Have you ever considered doing something like that yourself? I'm sure there's plenty of people around who'd love to learn your secrets! :LOL:
 

Magdelayna

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Jul 13, 2020
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West Yorkshire,England
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soundcloud.com
The hardest part of course is getting your channel to meet the monetisation requirements in the first place. I meet all of them at the moment with the exception of the number of subscribers (I need another 700 :oops: )

Getting that initial kickstart can be very difficult, although I've been lucky this year as one of my remixes must have been snared by the algorithm (It certainly works in mysterious ways) and has amassed 70k views so far this year.

I've been thinking of maybe expanding into making tutorials as well to raise my demographic, but really need to put some time into learning to edit video better first.

Have you ever considered doing something like that yourself? I'm sure there's plenty of people around who'd love to learn your secrets! :LOL:

Ive just created a post on the trance producer fb page about this..offering to answer questions about it and offer tips..but i got a load of abuse saying i shouldnt be earning money from unofficial remixes haha! The copyright is out of my hands.
 
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Archon

Gagi
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
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Talking about YT monetization for artists can also get some views as well, if you want to maybe start earning more.
 
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