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#810434 05/15/24 04:23 PM
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There's some useful information here. Of course, they're trying to sell you but it's a useful read.

The Guide to a Successful Album Release

If you want to get into depth, this is the only book I know that is close to being up to date, meaning it's only 7 months old (no mention of AI and those issues). Don Passman is probably the best known music attorney practicing. I like the Kindle Edition.

All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Eleventh Edition by Donald Passman


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I don't know the first book but I have a copy of This Business of Music by Shemel & Krasilovsky 4th Edition. Not sure if it's the same book as you're referring too. That is a book everyone who's serious about this business should have on their shelves and should have read at least once, to get a good understanding of the basic business practices in the music industry. It's handy to refer back to it on occasion as well. I actually had 2 copies at one time but gave one of my copies to a young musician who was asking me a lot of questions so I figured he would benefit from the book and I didn't need two copies on my shelf.

I think This Business of Music is out of print now.


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Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
I don't know the first book but I have a copy of This Business of Music by Shemel & Krasilovsky 4th Edition. Not sure if it's the same book as you're referring too. That is a book everyone who's serious about this business should have on their shelves and should have read at least once, to get a good understanding of the basic business practices in the music industry. It's handy to refer back to it on occasion as well. I actually had 2 copies at one time but gave one of my copies to a young musician who was asking me a lot of questions so I figured he would benefit from the book and I didn't need two copies on my shelf.

I think This Business of Music is out of print now.

I know the book and many others. My problem with This Business of Music by Shemel & Krasilovsky is that the 5th Edition was published in 1985 and the 10th Edition was 2007.

Everything about the music business has changed except for the merch table. Even what was once consiidered bedrock info about Copyright registration and the PROs no longer applies.

For years, my #1 recommendation was Making It With Music: Kenny Rogers' Guide to the Music Business written after his bands broke up and before his solo career took off. It's still a good book on how to manage the business end of a band and not blow through all of your money and songwriting credits but as a guide to anything outside that bubble, it's useless. It's still entertaining and he told some great stories about long ago and far away.

The Brabecs' (2018) and my distant cousin's (2017) are far newer but still beyond obsolete. Peter Thall's What They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business: The Myths, the Secrets, the Lies (And a Few Truths), while a good read, hasn't been updated since 2017.

No, I can't recommend any of them except the Passman which is too bad. I hope he puts out a supplement in the fall instead of waiting a few years to do a major update.


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Originally Posted by Mike Halloran
If you want to get into depth, this is the only book I know that is close to being up to date, meaning it's only 7 months old (no mention of AI and those issues).
According to Amazon it includes "the latest on music created by AI".

I'm gonna grab the Kindle version based on your recommendation. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Mike Halloran
Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
I don't know the first book but I have a copy of This Business of Music by Shemel & Krasilovsky 4th Edition. Not sure if it's the same book as you're referring too. That is a book everyone who's serious about this business should have on their shelves and should have read at least once, to get a good understanding of the basic business practices in the music industry. It's handy to refer back to it on occasion as well. I actually had 2 copies at one time but gave one of my copies to a young musician who was asking me a lot of questions so I figured he would benefit from the book and I didn't need two copies on my shelf.

I think This Business of Music is out of print now.

I know the book and many others. My problem with This Business of Music by Shemel & Krasilovsky is that the 5th Edition was published in 1985 and the 10th Edition was 2007.

Everything about the music business has changed except for the merch table. Even what was once consiidered bedrock info about Copyright registration and the PROs no longer applies.

For years, my #1 recommendation was Making It With Music: Kenny Rogers' Guide to the Music Business written after his bands broke up and before his solo career took off. It's still a good book on how to manage the business end of a band and not blow through all of your money and songwriting credits but as a guide to anything outside that bubble, it's useless. It's still entertaining and he told some great stories about long ago and far away.

Good points on how quickly the business end of music is changing and that while these were/are great books to have, it's equally as important to keep up with the changes in the way things are done because of the new technology and trends. What is pertinent today, is old news in a few days and outdated by next year.

BTW: I have that book from Kenny Rogers you mentioned and This Business of Music is in fact the 4th edition with the latest copyright date of 1979. I'll have to re-read that Rogers book if only for the stories.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Originally Posted by Guitarhacker

BTW: I have that book from Kenny Rogers you mentioned and This Business of Music is in fact the 4th edition with the latest copyright date of 1979. I'll have to re-read that Rogers book if only for the stories.

Were it not long out of print, I wouldn't give any spoilers but I really liked when he talked about practical investing. Telling about all the worthless land he owned in Texas and pointing out that, had he invested in a restaurant and a dry cleaners, he could eat and get his laundry done during the hard times.

I still quote the Kenny Rogers Rule: A person must contribute 25% or more to a song to receive credit.


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