Mr. Passman has been in the industry for a LONG time, and he breaks things down here for those of us that need a crash course. Some of them do and some of them don’t. A lot of them are just completely dedicated to their music career, even to the detriment of their family and personal life. But you get that in any business. If you read the Steve Jobs book, you’ll see that his family wasn’t his top priority. I don’t think that’s unique to the music business. Some people have a lot of interests, others are more focused on one thing. Start with three of the most popular books about the music business, written by authors who all speak from experience and offer a road-map to success, based upon their own unique perspectives. Certainly in the beginning, whether you’re going to do it entirely on your own or attach to a label, you have to build a fan base, a presence and an audience.

Everything You Need to Know about the Music Industry Everything You Need to Know about the Music Industry

PDF / EPUB File Name: All_You_Need_to_Know_About_the_Music_Busin_-_Donald_S_Passman.pdf, All_You_Need_to_Know_About_the_Music_Busin_-_Donald_S_Passman.epubAnd that passion element is really interesting. I work in marketing, so I talk to people all the time about what really makes them unique. “Dude Releases Record” isn’t really press worthy. Of your most successful clients, would you say that most of them had interests and passions outside of music that they also pursued? An understanding of the music business world isn’t the only thing you should be familiar with. You should also take some time to study the legal aspect if you want to run a business smoothly. I was also told that Van Halen actually didn’t have a lawyer during their biggest touring years. This allegedly cost them millions of dollars. Herstand walks you through everything here from the ground up, citing his own personal experience, quitting his barista job and diving in fully to be an independent musician. The book explains the importance of things like establishing a constant presence on social media, getting songs placed in film and TV shows, and building a grassroots fanbase. And of course, earning money to keep your career going for the long haul.

MUSIC INDUSTRY GUIDE - The British Library MUSIC INDUSTRY GUIDE - The British Library

There you have it. My top 10 essential readings when it comes to the music business. Of course, there are many more to read, including various articles and online courses. But these, I feel should empower you a lot and come to your aid when you step into the music world.

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Don has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for more than twenty years, as well as the Top 100 Lawyers in California, the Top 500 Attorneys in America, Billboard’s Power 100, Hollywood Reporter’s Top 100 Entertainment Attorneys, Billboard’s Music’s Most Powerful Attorneys, and Southern California’s Super Lawyers. Heritage artists are mostly making their money off touring. It’s very difficult if not impossible for them to get on the radio, because their audience is older and not that interested in new music. They will have some success with it, but not at the level they enjoyed in their heyday. They also make money off their catalogs, which still sell quite well and make some money for them as well. The only downside to the book is nothing you can't imagine: with industries like music, things are changing quite a bit. Streaming is now how most music is consumed, and that has disrupted the business model quite a bit. There's, for example the advent of Fan Powered Royalties by SoundCloud, which was an ideal at the time he wrote the book (2019), but became a reality in early 2021. But this doesn't take away from the usefulness of the book. It’s an unprecedented era for artists right now. Home-recording is easier and more accessible than ever, as is interacting with fans from a phone, and building a following from your bedroom studio. If you’re making music and hoping to make it big, definitely add these to your reading list. 1. How To Make It in the New Music Business The book was first published in 1991. It is now in its tenth edition. Over the years, it has charted the extreme change that the music industry has undergone. From the addition of MTV to the MP3 revolution and now streaming services, the book has updated itself to the point that it’s still very relevant.