May 18 2005
Some Excellent Marketing and Biz Books
Instead of posting the “knowledge” that pours out of my brain, occasionally I like to inform my readers of other resources out there. Today it’s going to be a few books that I find highly informative and useful.
This Business of Music: Marketing and Promotion – Oooooh boy is this a good one. I use it as the textbook for a number of my music business classes at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. My students tell me all the time how amazing it is. I have used my first copy so much in structuring my business that I had to buy a second copy!
The Musician’s Handbook – If you are a musician looking to make it, this might just be your new bible. Written by a world renowned artist, he tells you all the mistakes to avoid. The cost of this book can be offset 1000 times just by following some of his contract and royalty advice. Amazing!
The Indie Bible – I know I hype this every couple of weeks, but that’s for a reason – I use it every single day! No matter what genre you work in, as an artist, a promoter, a startup, or just someone who sees the value in having the contact info for THOUSANDS of websites, radio stations, and publications that will play, review, and promote independent music (whew!) this book IS FOR YOU. I wouldn’t be where I am today without this book – I’d still be sitting in front of my computer gathering all this info the slow and tedious way – one site at a time.
All You Need To Know About The Music Business – This is the legendary book by the legendary Donald Passman. If you are even CONSIDERING a career in the music industry, you need this book. If you are already in it and don’t have it, get ready for the knowledge to take you to the next level. Enough said.
and last but not least…
Confessions Of A Record Producer – Hands down the most entertaining and fascinating book I have ever read on the music industry. Well, Have Gun Will Travel, The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records might be a close tie, but I digress. Either way, this book shows just how people on the business end scam musicians left and right – with REAL numbers and real life examples. I have read my copy 10 times, and I catch something new each time. Seemingly unbelievable until you meet people that do the EXACT things in this book.
