Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan offered unconventional career advice to struggling musicians during a recent appearance on the Let Me Ask My Dad Podcast.
The discussion arose when a fan asked about balancing financial stability with musical aspirations. The 26-year-old musician had been trying to support herself solely through gigs for two years. She was considering getting a traditional job.
“I’m 26 and a musician and have been trying to pay my bills through only gigs for the last two years so I could put my all into it,” the fan asked. “It’s been honestly so hard. At what point should I give in and just get a money job and do music on the side?”
Bryan’s response included a surprising suggestion about alternative income sources.
“I have a question about that,” Bryan said. “She said she makes money on only gigs. Is that a new kind of thing, only gigs like OnlyFans? You know what? Get an OnlyFans. It goes along with the only gigs.”
The veteran musician then offered more traditional encouragement about pursuing musical dreams.
“I would say the one thing about pursuing a dream is that the only definite that you ever will get is you definitely won’t get your dream if you don’t try,” he continued. “That’s a definite. Otherwise keep trying. 26 is still young.”
Bryan concluded by acknowledging the financial challenges musicians face. He suggested flexibility in income sources.
“It’s hard to make money in bands,” he said. “There’s other ways to get money part-time so you still could play.”
Bryan’s unconventional advice reflects a broader shift in how musicians are exploring alternative revenue streams in today’s challenging music industry landscape.
KraftGeek reported that musicians are increasingly using OnlyFans to share exclusive tracks and behind-the-scenes footage. This provides an alternative revenue stream beyond traditional gigs. The platform has evolved beyond its initial reputation to become a legitimate space for various content creators, including artists seeking financial stability.
The financial potential of such platforms is significant. Social Rise found that some creators on OnlyFans earn substantial amounts annually, ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. This earning potential represents a stark contrast to the financial struggles many musicians face when relying solely on live performances and traditional music sales.
The platform’s growing popularity supports Bryan’s suggestion about its viability as an income source. SimpleBeen revealed that OnlyFans has over 3.5 million active creators. Traffic surged to nearly 478 million visits in January 2025. This massive user base indicates a vast potential audience for musicians looking to monetize their content through exclusive releases and fan interactions.
The trend reflects the broader challenges facing musicians in the digital age. Streaming revenues often fall short of providing sustainable income. Bryan’s advice, while unconventional, acknowledges the reality that modern artists must diversify their income streams to pursue their musical dreams while maintaining financial stability.
