Good Books?

E

El Barto

New member
I'm looking for a good book on general music law/marketing subjects...a book that'll give me some idea as in what I need to do/know to manage my band...how to market CDs and such, how to give credit, copyright, etc. I've narrowed it down to two books, both of which sound like very good books. One is called Music Law : How to Run Your Band's Business (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/087337438X/ref=pd_sim_ftr/102-6158670-4056933) and the other is called All You Need to Know About the Music Business (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684870649/o/qid=976590023/sr=2-1/102-6158670-4056933). They both sound like really good books, and I'm kinda leaning towards the Music Law. Anyone have any experience with either book?
 
"All You Need" is a great book that has been around forever and is well respected.

If you're looking for gigs, check out "How To Be Your Own Booking Agent and Save $1000s." Everybody is talking about this book and it is excellent!

I am actually working on a new music biz book right now. Am interested to hear what people are looking for in books, so feel free to email me or respond to this message.

dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com

Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
 
Music Book

Hey ElBarto,
I found a really informative book. Actually it is wonderful. I haven't applied any of the knowledge yet because I was 20 years old when i bought it and haevn't had a band worth promoting or being in since then. Anyway, it is called "This Business of Music." I found it at Waldenbooks in a mall so it isn't hard to find. It is only available in Hardback (I think) but it is deffinitly thurough and RECENT. No examples that start with, "Well, when I wanted sign "Flock of Sea Gulls," first I asked them...." But it has everything from real copies of record contracts to distributing from the studio, to the press, to the stores. Even Over sea distributing and promotion. It is a nice book. Anyway, hope I helped.

Mike
 
"This Business of Music" is a great book (I used it in college) and has been around for about twenty years, but it is very detailed and boring.

If you can make it through it, great. Don't feel like a failure if you can't though. The stuff is important to know, but a lot of it is on a level of people like attorneys which you should be hiring out anyway.

dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com

Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
 
"The Self Promoting Musician" by Peter Spellman (Director of Career Development at Berklee) is excellent and up to date. Includes info on internet promotion, getting radio airplay, performance tips, putting together and shopping your demo, tons of resources, doing it legal and right, etc., etc. Haven't read the other books so can't compare them for you. I perform for a living since 1989 and this is my bible. Did I mention that I like this book?

http://www.berkleepress.com

Good Luck

Bob
 
I have a couple of books by Peter and they are great! I would definitely recommend anything he puts out.

Actually, I'd just say to read all you can. You can learn something from even the "bad books."

--
David Hooper
Kathode Ray Music
http://www.indiebiz.com/
 
David I have also checked out your site and it looks very interesting. Looking forward to hearing more in the future.

Bob
 
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