El Estepario Could Be Making Millions—Here’s What He’s Missing
Here's his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R60YFOwYbbg&t=608s
El Estepario is one of the most successful online drummers on the planet, but he showed us the math and is basically broke. Here’s my breakdown.
Within just five minutes, I calculated how El could be making millions per year with a few strategic mindset shifts and by developing his business skills. You can be the best in the world at what you do, but without business skills, financial success will always be out of reach.
Hard work + talent ≠ money.
Hard work + talent + business skills = financial success.
In this video, El focuses solely on growing an audience as a content creator and influencer. While audience growth is important, this alone is not business. If you want to make money, you need to follow and learn from the top players in the business world. I wouldn’t take financial advice from musicians or content creators who are only speaking from their own experience—because often, they haven’t mastered the business side themselves.
I teach musicians every day how to generate real income from the music industry. Everything he’s saying in the video is true from his perspective, but there are countless business opportunities he’s overlooking. Some would call them missed opportunities, but in reality, they’re untapped potential.
Once you’ve built an audience, the next step is monetization. And with El Estepario’s massive audience, he has serious leverage. He doesn’t need more followers—he needs to turn that following into revenue. This is a common issue for YouTubers and social media influencers.
Here are 10 ways El (or anyone in his position) could monetize his audience and leverage his influence:
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Paid drum covers – Bands will pay to have him cover their songs for massive exposure.
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Signature products – Custom drumsticks, drumheads, cymbals, or even his own drum set.
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Merchandise – T-shirts, hats, exclusive or limited-edition items.
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Drum Masterclass Course – High-ticket lessons covering technique, speed, endurance, and more.
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Original music & content – YouTube pays for original content—he could create albums, EPs, or viral drumming content.
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Drumless tracks – Selling backing tracks for drummers to practice with.
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Live performances – Drum clinics, workshops, or even guest performances.
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Sponsorships & brand deals – Clothing, music gear, energy drinks, or other brands aligned with his image.
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Online drum school – A full-scale video course platform for drummers.
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Short touring opportunities – High-paid session work or fill-in gigs for top bands.
I put together this list because I make millions using these strategies in my own career—and I don’t even have the audience size that El has built.
So, if this video made you feel like making money in music is impossible—don’t be discouraged. The truth is, financial success in music comes down to three things:
👉 Leverage (your audience & influence)
👉 Hard work (creating and delivering value)
👉 Business skills (negotiating, branding, and monetization)
Master these, and your music career won’t just be a passion—it’ll be a thriving business. 🚀
If you are looking for more information, the grab a free consultation call with me here https://KjSawka.as.me/student-consultation