20 Pop Culture Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]
Interested in starting a pop culture business in 2024?
We put together 21 of the best pop culture businesses you can start in today.
For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other pop culture businesses to help you see what it really takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Become a music band manager
A music band manager is a professional representative and advisor to a musician or a band. The main duties of a band manager include negotiating contracts on behalf of the band.
The music band manager earns a commission of what the music band earns from gigs. To maximize earnings, the manager should act as a liaison between bands and the key players in the music industry and secure the best contracts and deals.
How much you can make: $40,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)
A former attorney has successfully transitioned into managing musical artists, producing live events and recordings, grossing approximately $40,000 per month - all based on his lifelong passion for music, clients and employee's passion-led performance.
2. Design a wearable for musicians
Imagine a device that can revolutionize how musicians practice and perform. Wearables for musicians aim to do just that. These smart gadgets can provide real-time feedback on a musician's performance, track practice patterns, and even suggest techniques for improvement.
This business idea involves using technology to create wearables equipped with sensors that capture various aspects of musical play—from tempo and rhythm to finger movement and posture. Musicians, both amateurs and professionals, could benefit from this innovation, making practice sessions more efficient and insightful.
The development of such a product requires collaboration between tech experts and musicians, extensive testing, and user-friendly design. If you have a passion for music and technology, this concept provides a unique opportunity to bridge these fields and create something truly beneficial for the music community.
How much you can make: $280,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 540 days (?)
Soundbrenner raised $1.6M on Indiegogo and sold close to 100,000 smart wearables for musicians, featuring a vibration metronome that can be felt, rather than heard, and released a full smartwatch for musicians; the company's mobile app is the world's most popular metronome with over 6 million downloads and over 600,000 musicians that use it every month.
3. Become a music blogger
A music blog covers different topics of interest among music lovers. With the music industry so popular in 2024, it is a great time to start a music blog. A music blog offers you a chance to get as creative as possible and is also a precious tool to help you promote and publicize music genres.
Starting a music blog is as easy as selecting a music niche. Identify topics of interest and create shareable content.
How much you can make: $100 — $996/month
How much does it cost to start: $55 (?)
How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)
Learn how DJ Tobander created a successful niche info-product business generating $1,000 a month through selling collections of DJ sets for special occasions and working with affiliates, with only modest costs and simple tools like WordPress, AWeber, LeadPages, and Digistore24.
4. Start a fashion accessories business
If you love fashion and clothing design, you may want to start a fashion accessories business. As a fashion accessories consultant, you help clients develop and adapt personal and professional styles.
Fashion accessories are decorative items that supplement one’s outfit. They include jewelry, gloves, belts, scarves, watches, sunglasses, bow ties, leggings, suspenders, and tights. To work as a professional stylist, collaborate with clients to understand their needs, and tailor styles and aesthetics to each individual’s preferences.
How much you can make: $150 — $190,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 230 days (?)
Woodies, a wood sunglasses brand founded by Cory Stout, reached over $3.5M in revenue in 2018, despite starting with only $15K from a failed business and has succeeded through Amazon sales, spending $50K monthly on PPC and keeping ACOS at 30%.
5. Start a teaching business
A teaching business involves providing educational services to students of all ages, either in a group or individually. This can include tutoring, teaching language skills, music lessons, or providing educational workshops or classes.
To run a successful teaching business, it is important to have a strong background in the subject matter you will be teaching. This may involve obtaining a degree or certification in a particular field. Additionally, practical communication skills and the ability to adapt to different learning styles are essential in teaching.
Marketing and networking are also vital to growing a teaching business. Building relationships with schools, community centers, and other educational organizations can help to attract more students. Social media and other online platforms can also help promote your services and reach a larger audience.
Another tip for running a successful teaching business is to be organized and efficient with your time. Creating lesson plans and keeping track of student progress can help ensure that you provide the best possible education for your clients.
Overall, a teaching business can be a fulfilling and lucrative venture for entrepreneurs with a passion for education and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
College student, Whitney Bowen, launched Fem 'n STEM during the COVID-19 lockdown selling STEM boxes for kids between the ages of 8-12 and has earned $1.5k in monthly revenue within the first month of launch using social media to advertise and using WIX to create an online store.
6. Become a costume designer
A costume designer designs costumes for a film, stage production, or television show. The costume designer works with directors, producers, writers, and production designers to contribute to the look and storytelling of the film. As a costume designer, you will work to ensure costume choices not only fit the character but also enhance the overall feeling of the scenes involved.
The costume designer must showcase creative imagination skills to perform on the job. You can earn creativity skills through professional development or higher education.
7. Start a musical festival promoter business
8. Start a t-shirt customization kiosk
One of the great things about starting a T-shirt customization business is that you only need a minimal overhead, and you could do it out of your backyard without issues.
However, before you ask how to start a T-shirt customization business in Mumbai, take a minute to consider why you want to create a T-shirt business. Probably the promotional products or uniforms niche is under-served in your area.
Before starting, you should outline your foray into the T-shirt customization business. Then, you need to identify the target market to understand better how you want to sell your customized t-shirts.
Once you have defined the niche market, you can develop custom designs as per the customers’ expectations. The following steps will be making the business legal and determining the overhead. Finally, market the business but do not overextend yourself financially.
9. Start an online studio business
Thinking about tapping into the digital economy? An online studio business could be the right move. In simple terms, it's a platform that offers virtual classes, workshops, and creative sessions conducted by experts in various fields.
Imagine curating a lineup of art classes, yoga sessions, or digital marketing workshops that anyone can join from the comfort of their home. Your role would involve setting up the online infrastructure, coordinating with skilled instructors, and managing the logistics of running a seamless virtual experience.
The draw here is flexibility and scalability—no need to invest in physical space, just a robust online toolset and quality content. It’s an attractive option if you’re keen to create a collaborative community while monetizing content. By selecting the right niche and high-quality instructors, an online studio can cater to a global audience and generate reliable income.
How much does it cost to start: $60 (?)
10. Become a theme song creator
11. Become a song writer
A songwriter is a musician who composes musical compositions and writes lyrics for songs. To become a songwriter, you must start writing songs regularly and improve your creativity.
12. Start a costume rental business
Costume rental businesses are one of the newest and fastest-growing industries. These businesses can be found in almost every city, town, and state across the United States. Although these costume rental businesses range in size, they all have one thing in common: they are a great businesses to own.
Costumes are not an everyday use but there are a lot of situations where people want to wear their favorite costumes for a given occasion. It's like people want to eat candy, salad, plates of seafood, and meat every once in a while. The same holds true for costumes and party rentals. A costume rental business also means no sewing and less stress.
13. Start an online custom tailoring business
Imagine offering the perfect fit every time without your customers ever stepping foot in a store. An online custom tailoring business provides personalized clothing solutions designed to fit each client's unique measurements and style preferences remotely.
Through a streamlined online platform, customers can submit their measurements, choose fabrics, and select styles to create bespoke outfits. This business addresses the common frustration of ill-fitting off-the-rack clothing by delivering high-quality, made-to-order garments directly to their doorsteps.
To get started, you’ll need a user-friendly website, partnerships with skilled tailors, and reliable fabric suppliers. Marketing your services via social media and fashion bloggers can help attract a niche market seeking customization.
If you have a knack for fashion and an eye for detail, this business offers the opportunity to blend creativity with practicality, making personalized style accessible and convenient.
How much you can make: $60,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Sewing Incubator co-founder Rocio Evenett started a $60k per month sewn product development and manufacturing business in January 2020, offering entrepreneurs and industry professionals the tools they need to launch an American product line, and has plans to create 10,000 jobs in LA while leveraging accessible technology.
14. Start a music classes business
15. Start a musical instrument sales business
Thinking about combining your passion for music and business acumen? Consider opening a musical instrument sales business. At its core, this involves sourcing a variety of instruments and related accessories for sale, either in a physical store or online.
The demand for musical instruments spans hobbyists to professionals, which means a steady customer base. You'll need to carefully select high-quality instruments, engage in effective marketing, and maintain excellent customer service. Building relationships with suppliers and staying updated with industry trends will be crucial for success.
If you've always dreamed of working with guitars, pianos, or drums, this business provides a fulfilling opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of music while generating income. It's hard work, but for music lovers, there’s nothing quite like turning your passion into a thriving business.
How much you can make: $550,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Flute Center of New York is the largest flute-centric company in the world, servicing musicians globally with an impressive retail level sales of over 7 million USD in 2019 by selling flutes and piccolos ranging from $500 to an astonishing $75,000.
16. Become a fashion influencer
Fashion influencer is a compelling career choice for those passionate about style and digital engagement. In simple terms, being a fashion influencer involves creating content around fashion trends, products, and personal style to engage and grow a dedicated online audience.
To become a fashion influencer, you'll focus on building a strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. This means regularly posting photos, videos, and blogs showcasing outfits, accessories, and beauty tips. Collaborations with brands for sponsorships and promotions will play a significant role in monetizing your influence.
Start by curating a unique personal style that sets you apart. Invest in a good camera, learn basic photography and editing skills, and stay updated with the latest fashion trends. This business requires consistent effort, creativity, and the ability to connect with your audience authentically. If fashion is your passion, becoming an influencer could be a rewarding venture both personally and financially.
How much you can make: $4,000/month
Learn how one entrepreneur built a million-person audience across various digital channels while generating $10-15k in monthly revenue through advertising brand partnerships, digital products, and affiliate programs with his digital media brand focused on helping shorter men dress better.
17. Start a tech youtube channel
18. Start a video game streaming channel
Looking to turn your love for gaming into a business? Consider starting a video game streaming channel.
In this business, you’ll broadcast yourself playing video games live to an audience on platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming. Your content can range from gameplay walkthroughs and tutorials to live commentary and community engagement.
With the rising interest in gaming and esports, there's plenty of opportunity to cultivate a dedicated audience. But be prepared: building a successful channel requires consistent content creation, community interaction, and a solid understanding of your chosen platform’s tools and monetization options.
For those passionate about gaming and willing to invest the time, video game streaming offers a unique blend of entertainment and entrepreneurial potential. It's a chance to transform a hobby into a career, provided you bring dedication and creativity to the table.
How much you can make: $150,000/month
Streamloots is a marketplace where viewers can buy real-time interactions with live streamers, allowing content creators to monetize their audiences and earning over $1M in just the last quarter with a community of more than 12K active streamers.
19. Become a fashion influencer
Fashion influencer is a compelling career choice for those passionate about style and digital engagement. In simple terms, being a fashion influencer involves creating content around fashion trends, products, and personal style to engage and grow a dedicated online audience.
To become a fashion influencer, you'll focus on building a strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. This means regularly posting photos, videos, and blogs showcasing outfits, accessories, and beauty tips. Collaborations with brands for sponsorships and promotions will play a significant role in monetizing your influence.
Start by curating a unique personal style that sets you apart. Invest in a good camera, learn basic photography and editing skills, and stay updated with the latest fashion trends. This business requires consistent effort, creativity, and the ability to connect with your audience authentically. If fashion is your passion, becoming an influencer could be a rewarding venture both personally and financially.
How much you can make: $4,000/month
Learn how one entrepreneur built a million-person audience across various digital channels while generating $10-15k in monthly revenue through advertising brand partnerships, digital products, and affiliate programs with his digital media brand focused on helping shorter men dress better.
20. Become a beauty blogger
Want to turn your passion for beauty into a business? Consider starting a beauty blog. A beauty blog is a digital platform where you share tips, trends, reviews, and tutorials related to skincare, makeup, and haircare products.
You’ll need to create engaging content, from written articles and product reviews to video tutorials and social media posts. Building a strong online presence and a loyal audience takes time and consistency. You’ll research the latest trends, test products, and create content that resonates with your audience.
Monetization can come in the form of affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or even launching your own product line. The more authentic and knowledgeable you are, the more trust you’ll build with your audience, which can lead to brand partnerships and other opportunities. If you’re passionate about beauty and willing to put in the work, this business idea can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding.
How much you can make: $8,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Delilah Orpi's blog "The Holistic Enchilada" is making up to $7,000 a month in revenue through sales of digital products, display ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts in the niche market of clean beauty and curly hair, with a focus on retaining customers through email marketing and SEO.
21. Start a sports youtube channel
Have a passion for sports and a knack for storytelling? Starting a sports YouTube channel could be your next venture. This business idea revolves around creating and sharing engaging content focused on sporting events, athletes, and sports analysis.
To get started, you'll need a decent camera, good lighting, and the ability to edit videos. But the real challenge lies in consistently producing high-quality content that hooks your audience.
From game highlights and athlete interviews to sports commentary and behind-the-scenes footage, the possibilities are endless.
With a growing audience, you can monetize your channel through ad revenue, sponsored content, and merchandise.
For those willing to put in the work, a sports YouTube channel offers a dynamic and potentially lucrative business opportunity. Make sure to stay updated on sports trends and engage with your community to keep your channel thriving.
How much does it cost to start: $400 (?)
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
