About.com Music Careers

Record Label Profile Week: 53rd and 3rd

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:42:22 +0000

Hey, guess what! It's Record Label Profile Week! I know, I know, it's already Tuesday and this is the first you've heard about this record label homage week thing. Fair enough, but go with me here. Oh yes, I also know that record labels are oh so�pass� these days, but A) I don't believe that and B) I can't think of anything more inspirational as a music fan or music industry person than a good old story of a good old influential indie label. Oh, and C) these stories are also often instructive.

Oh yes, I said "inspirational" AND "instructive".

OK, so we're all on board? Good. Let's get this thing started with this 53rd and 3rd profile. Wow, I'm so excited. Seriously, you have no idea how much I love this stuff. Anywho...

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Record Label Profile Week: 53rd and 3rd originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 08:42:22.

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How to Find a Manager

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:23 +0000

As promised, we have a guest blogger on deck today talking about the all important task of putting together your team. This�blog is part two of a three part series by Rick Goetz on finding strategic partners for your music career. The first part, which focuses on hiring an entertainment lawyer, is on MusicianWages.com.� The third part about finding a booking agent will appear on Rick's blog MusicianCoaching.com in the next few weeks.� This article is about how to attract an accomplished music manager.�

In part one of this series I described my background as an A&R executive for major record labels like Atlantic and Elektra.� What I didn't mention was, my initial start in the music business was playing bass and managing a band I was in during the early 1990s.�� Back then I would often attend the exact types of conferences and panels as an aspiring musician on which I would later be asked to speak on as an industry expert.� Ironically I learned more about how to build a following for a band because of my experiences playing in, managing and booking my own projects than I ever did in the role of a so-called expert.� No matter where the conference was or what they called the panel it was always focused on some aspect of how to make it in the music industry.

I never wanted to manage bands, but when the first "real" band I was a part of was just starting out, no one wanted the job.� I wound up taking over the management responsibilities for this project (adding insult to injury, it was an eight piece group) because I became frustrated when numerous missed opportunities fell through because we didn't have a clear-cut understanding of who was responsible for what in our business.� It was that frustration and the feeling that I was less talented than many of the other band members that led me to compensate and take up the role of band manager.�� It's funny when I think about it now, because it was that split-second decision to manage that project at age nineteen that would completely change the course of my life; and this decision was also what would later lead me to work in the industry. But I digress...�

When I ask someone - "How is your music going?" I am dismayed by the pure volume of people who say something to the effect of "It's good... I am really just waiting to get a good manager." I think the majority of people who say they need management have a misconception of what an artist manager can really do and in most cases have not even come close to exhausting all of the possibilities for marketing and promoting themselves.� The questions I think that all artists have to ask themselves today are "Do I have a project that needs management?" and "If I were a music manager,� why would I want to manage me?"

Weekly Music News

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:04:19 +0000

And you think copyright issues are complicated now. Just wait until the US Copyright Act of 1976 expiration rules start kicking in. Well. This should be fun. Read more on Wired.
You may remember that a few weeks back Lily Allen took a stand against file sharing and scolded musicians who have said that they don't mind the practice one bit. Now, she has explained herself a little further.� It seems she doesn't care if someone burns a copy of her album and sells it. She just doesn't want her music given away for free. So, basically, the one thing she IS ok with is for you to engage is the very clearly illegal activity of reproducing a copyright protected work and selling it for profit. Yes, don't share for free. Commit a federal offense instead. I think the bottom line here is that you should never, ever take legal advice from Lily Allen. Read more on the dreaded Perez Hilton.
Let's be clear about something. Going to jail doesn't help you sell more records. Going to jail simply prevents you from being able to record, tour, promote and all of those other things that are involved in actually selling music. While we're on the subject of who not to take advice from, don't ever take legal OR career advice from Lil Boosie.
On Musician Wages this week: How to Find a Music Lawyer. This very helpful article, written by Rick Goetz (check out his site), is part one of a three part series on how to find the right partners for your music career. Part two will appear here tomorrow. Part three will be on Rick's site next week. Enjoy!

Weekly Music News originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 10:04:19.

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Weekly Forum Poll: Do Full Length Albums Still Matter?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:38:56 +0000

It's weekly forum poll time again! First, the results from the last week. The question was: Should Labels/Musicians Still Press CDs? The results came down mostly in favor - 68% said yes, 21% said no and 11% said it depends. Interesting. It's not to late to share your thoughts about the question, or indeed the results, so let me know what you think!

And now, this week's question:��Do Full Length Albums Still Matter? Vote now!

Weekly Forum Poll: Do Full Length Albums Still Matter? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 16:38:56.

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Music Jobs: Pros and Cons

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:19:10 +0000

Which music career is the right one for you? Check out the pros and cons of some common industry jobs to see which ones sound right up your alley and which ones would send you running. Got pros and cons of your own to add about music industry careers? Let me know!

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Music Jobs: Pros and Cons originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 08:19:10.

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Interview: Erik Peterson of Plugola

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:05:33 +0000

As a former record store employee and lifetime dedicated record aficionado, I know exactly how disastrous the collapse of so many independent record stores is for indie music. Record stores that are staffed by music fans who spend their days making sure their customers are discovering all of the hidden gems bubbling below the surface can be instrumental�in local bands/indie musicians building a fanbase.

Despite the incredible resources record stores can be, the small stores have gone under in droves. What's a fan to do? That's where Erik Peterson and Plugola come in. Plugola is designed to be the digital version of your favorite record store - a place where you can discover new music and a place where musicians can get their music directly to fans. In this interview, Peterson discusses setting up Plugola, what services are offered on the site and how he thinks it can help musicians and fans cope with the new music industry reality.

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Interview: Erik Peterson of Plugola originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 09:05:33.

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Review: All You Need To Know About The Music Business

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:52:10 +0000

I'm a real cynic when it comes to music industry books. I often wander over to that (small) section of the book store and come away largely frustrated with what is on offer. Of course you can find plenty of pontificating about the "new music industry" - because hey, publishers love buzz words - but as far as I'm concerned, presenting hypotheses about what the music industry may or may not becomes is a very, very poor substitute for real, actionable advice and information for someone trying to learn about the business. Throw in the books by people who clearly have never worked a day in music in their lives and the books that are essentially self help books, and you'll see that cherry picking the good stuff is hard work.

The book here is one of the cherries. Full confession - I had read and loved and an earlier edition of Donald S. Passman's All You Need To Know About The Music Business. When I received the seventh edition for review, I knew not to be put off by the title, which seems like it could only be setting you up for a fall (it doesn't). I knew not to let recommendations by the likes of Randy Jackson and Jimmy Iovine make me write this book off as yet another one about the big money, dying dinosaur music industry that has little relevance to most people working in music - let alone a novice trying to learn the ropes. I knew already, but I understand you may need convincing. So let me try.

What I love about this book is the wealth of practical information. This new edition is updated and revised to reflect the new issues in the business, and like the rest of the info in the book, this new material is presented without the hype or the buzz words or anything else. Instead, you get concrete info about how deals are made, what considerations factor into deals, royalties, copyrights, publishing, merchandising, promotion - you name it, and you can find clear and specific explanations and actionable advice in this book. And while I certainly know all about being miles away from these kinds of things, making 1000 sets of 7" art by hand and trying to do big things with small money, the knowledge you get from this book will make you more creative with your shoestring.

So yes, this book - it has made a believer of the cynic in me. Read more, and if you've read it or earlier editions, share your thoughts.

Review: All You Need To Know About The Music Business originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 09:52:10.

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Music Industry Vocab: Returns

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:50:02 +0000

And your music industry vocabulary word for today: returns. There mere mention of the word sends shivers down the spine of record labels everywhere. Why? Because returns are the big bubble bursters of the album selling business.� Here's how it works - a record store stocks your album. Great! Score! Time to start shopping for a bigger house! Drinks on you tonight!�And then...a little while down the road....that record store sends your album back. It didn't sell. Your distributor is subtracting that sale from your sales sheet. Maybe you're not moving any time soon after all.

Returns. No fun, but important to know about. Learn more.

Want a general music industry vocab brush-up? Check out the glossary.

Music Industry Vocab: Returns originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 08:50:02.

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Weekly Music News

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:22:13 +0000

Billboard reported this week on IMU, a new UK based company hoping to match music from indie labels with licensing opportunities. Licensing can be a great way to earn some money, and indies traditionally have a very hard time accessing these opportunities. Good luck to all involved. Read about it here.
Speaking of Billboard, big changes to the way the charts are tabulated. Out the window is the 18 month rule for the Soundscan/Billboard Top 200 chart. Now, if you sell the most records, you make the chart - no matter when your album was released. Learn more.
Excellent and extremely helpful info about how SoundExchange works, right from the horse's mouth, over on KnowTheMusicBiz.com this week. Definitely required reading - I certainly learned a lot! Check it out.
I am NOT a believer that streaming is the saviour of all things music and that it will end file sharing, but I do think it has a place. To that end, the Future of Music Coalition had a very interesting blog this week about streaming, the impact of Spotify in Europe and the path to the US for Spotify. Read more. What do you think?

Weekly Music News originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 16:22:13.

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Weekly Forum Poll: Should Musicians/Labels Press CDs?

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:38:53 +0000

Before we get to this week's poll, let's look at last week's results. The question was: Are Record Labels Obsolete? The results were not quite as close as I was�expecting�- 64% said no while 36% said yes. Thoughts?

This week's poll is another sign of the times kind of question: Should Musicians/Labels Press CDs? Vote Now!

Weekly Forum Poll: Should Musicians/Labels Press CDs? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 07:38:53.

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