| You are here: | About>Careers>Music Careers |
![]() | Music Careers |
Music Careers: Most Popular ArticlesThese articles are the most popular over the last month. Sending a Demo Ever wondered how to get labels to hear your music? The right approach to sending your demo to record labels will get your songs into the hands of the people who need to hear them. Artist Manager Love music, but can't play? Artist management may be for you. Find out what a day is like in the life of a band manager and how to get started in this field. Music Promoter Promoters work hand in hand with agents and bands to make shows happen. They get the word out about upcoming events and make sure there is a full house to hear the band. Find out what being a promoter involves and decide if this job is right for you. MySpace Music Some people think that MySpace Music has turned the music biz on its head while others think it is one more nail in the coffin of good music. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it, so find out if MySpace might be able to help you. Make a Music Video Music videos used to be the exclusive domain of major labels, with the mega budgets to shoot the videos and the pull to get them on MTV. That has all changed. Not only can you shoot a music video yourself for very little investment, there are plenty of new ways you can get your cheap music videos to your fans. Find out how to become your own best music video director and follow this step by step guide to recording a music video. Self Promote The ability to self promote your music can make the difference between playing to a packed house and a lifetime of musical obscurity. Find out how to make sure your music is getting heard by being your own best promoter. Choose a Music Career If you love music, there are plenty of music careers from which you can choose. The question is - which one is right for you? Learn how to choose a music career so you end up with a job in music you love. Record a Demo Learn how to record a basic demo that showcases your talent without breaking the bank! Manager Contract Before your sign a music manager contract, there are a lot of factors you need to consider. Signing a bad contract can have repercussions for a long time. Before you consider signing, consider the advice laid out here. Music Agent If you want to be the one who makes the tours happen, then the job of a music agent may be for you. Agents work with promoters and bands to make sure concerts get booked - find out more about how this job works, and how you can become an agent yourself. Create a Promo Package If you're going to get the attention of the media, labels, promoter, agents, or just about anyone else in the music industry, you're going to need a professional promo package. Learn how to create a promo package help put your album at the top of the listening pile. Find Musicians You've got the songs, now all you need are the people. If you're not sure how to start your band member search, these tips will point you in the right direction. Start a Record Label Are you thinking of getting into the record label business? Find out what you need to know before you launch that label, so you have the best chance for success. Get a Gig Playing live is the best way to build a loyal fan base for your band, but getting a gig can be hard work. With all of the competition out there for stage time, find out how to make sure your band makes it to the top of the heap. Also find out to get in front of the right audience for your music. Create a MySpace Music Page Many bands find that MySpace Music is the place to be for them. Find out how to cash in on the free MySpace buzz and create your own MySpace music page. Bands 101 If you want your band to be a success, you have to manage your career right from the start. Find the basic things that every band should do to get a shot at the spotlight. Gig Booking Step by Step Get over your gig booking phobia with this step by step guide that takes your from getting a promo package together to taking the stage. Demo Don'ts Have you been sending out demo after demo, but nothing seems to be happening? These demo no-nos could be stopping you from getting the record deal you want. Backline If you're an aspiring agent or manager, or if you're a band who books their own gigs, "backline" is a word you'd better get used to. Find out what it is, and whose job it is to worry about it. Big Four Labels EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group together make up the list of Big Four record labels, also known as major record labels. Find out more. Album Press Release Template If you want to sell records, you have to let people know the music is out there. A well written press release will help you get the word out. Door Split Door split is a term you might hear from a promoter when you're booking a gig. What does it mean, and what makes a fair door split deal? Promoter What are the responsibilities of a music promoter? A music promoter can be hugely influential to your music career, so understanding their role is key. Demo Dos You know the record demo don'ts, now learn the record demo dos. These tips will help you help yourself to the best chance of getting some label attention for your demo. Music Business Terms If you want to walk the walk, you have to be able to talk the talk. Use this crib sheet to brush up on your music industry vocab so you always sound like you're one step ahead of the game. Music Promoter Contracts Contracts are a good way for music promoters and bands alike to ensure their show goes off without a hitch. Find out how to write a contract that is fair to both parties and covers all the important points. Find Distribution Distribution is the key to getting your album in the stores, but finding it easier said than done. Find out how to get started and what to look for in a distributor. Indie Label Contracts Being a small label is never a good reason for being a label without a contract. Indie label contracts don't have to be complicated, and they protect bands and labels alike. Find out how to come up with an easy contract that will help make sure everyone involved in a deal is on the same page. Sonicbids Sonicbids acts as gatekeeper for just about every music festival and trade show imaginable, not to mention tons and tons of music promoters. Learn more about the company, including the controversy surrounding them. What is a Session Musician? Session musicians take part in many tours and recording sessions. Understanding their function, and how they should be paid, can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Digipack Digipack sleeves may look nice, but they're not the answer for every release. Find out more about this style of CD packaging. Touch and Go Records Touch and Go Records is one of indie music's biggest champions. This fiercely independent record label has grown tremendously over the years, and along the way, Touch and Go has been committed to giving a leg up to other indie labels that share their ethos. Learn more about this indie music success story. Pay for Opening Bands? Many bands get their start as opening acts. How much should you make when you play, and what kind of deal should you avoid? Indie Label Indie Record labels are self funded label not connected to one of the Big Four labels. Q&A with Sound Engineer Kas Think that sound engineering might be the music industry career for you? Seasoned sound man Simon Kasprowicz (aka Kas to his friends) shares some insight into the job and his advice for getting started. Music Business Rules The music business is highly competitive, and getting a foot in the door can be notoriously difficult. If you have music business aspirations, however, there are a few things you can do to make yourself stand out from the competition. Following these rules can help you get noticed for all of the right reasons - give them a try if you want to get ahead. Music Careers - HowTos An index of HowTos for the Music Careers guide site. Should I Self Release My Album If the labels aren't biting, a self released album could be the way to go. However, self releasing a record isn't as easy as it sounds - could it be right for you? MC Serch Talks New Project Hip hop icon MC Serch is as well known for his music as he is his committment to giving back to the community. From his work with Rock and Wrap It Up, a group that takes leftover food from backstage at gigs and delivers it to homeless shelters to donating 10% of his income to charities, Serch has always recognized the value of giving back. He recently took a new and ambitious project to raise awareness about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Peace in the Middle East, which he discussed with us. Band Member Contracts? Band member contracts are a tricky line to walk, and a lot of artists feel uncomfortable even considering them. These contracts, however, may be important for your band - find out why. Tour Press Release Template You want bums on seats for your shows? Then you need to let people know they're happening! A tour press release is what you need to get media coverage of your upcoming show - this press release template shows you how. Q&A with Scott of KFM Records KFM Records is one of Edinburgh finest labels. It's eclectic catalogue, covering indie, hip-hop, electronica and post rock, has been wooing fa,s and the industry, for the last 8 years. The label was founded and is run by by Scott MacDonald, musician, property developer and former world BMX Champion. We caught up with Scott for a wee chat about music, The Simpson and the death of the record label. Q&A with Francis Macdonald Need advice on how to start a label...be a manager...be in a band...promote you music..and well, just about every other music biz dream you could possible have? Then Francis Macdonald is your man. Get top notch advice that is just the right mix of inspiration and reality check from this music industry everyman. Q&A with Rod Hsiao of Live 365 Rod Hsiao of internet radio company Live 365 shares what it is like on the front lines of the internet radio royalty battle. Promo Emails for Bands People in the music industry get bombarded by emails all day, every day. To make sure your promotional email gets read, you need to have the right approach - straightforward, simple, and to the point. Warner Music Group Get this story behind Warner Music Group, one of the top selling record labels in the world. Find out smaller record labels this Big Four label is behind and see which artists call Warner Music Group home. 360 Deals 360 deals are becoming an increasingly common deal structure for major label contracts, but not every thinks they give the artist a fair shake. Learn more about these multiple rights deals and why they're so controversial. Sony BMG Profile of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, one of the so called "Big Four" music companies. Who Pays for Gig Promo Costs? Is it the bands responsibility to pay to promote their own shows, or does the promoter have to foot the bill? Learn how the cost of shows should be distributed. Serchlite Music Serchlite Music has had a hand in everything from the production of Nas' groundbreaking [i]Illmatic[/i] album to compiling CD comps for ESPN magazine readers, and many things in between. Get the story about this music production/promotion powerhouse company headed by MC Serch and CC Smooth. Agent Agents - you've heard about them, but what do they actually do? Find out what to expect from an agent as a band - or what to expect to be doing if you think you might want to become an agent. Lyor Cohen Profile Lyor Cohen is an unlikely pioneer of hip hop music, but he is one nonetheless. He has been instrumental in the careers of many of hip hops biggest stars and has also been one of the most successful and revolutionary thinker in the major label music industry. Sub Pop Records The name Sub Pop Records will forever be synonymous with Nirvana, but there is much more to the record label than that. Sun Pop is a model of how indie labels can make it big with innovative thinking and working hard to court their fans. Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago offers hands out experience for budding music industry pros. Their faculty is award winning and the location offers tons of opportunities for students to get their hands dirty in the real world. Find out if this could be the school for you. EMI A look at the history and the future of EMI, one of the world's largest record labels. Trace the label from its early days to its glory days to its complicated future. Rough Trade Records Rough Trade Records has been an indie music success story for more than 20 years. The label has a habit of discovering "the next big thing" - a golden touch that hasn't dimmed over the years. Find out how Rough Trade has made it all work and what you can learn from how they have done things. Universal Music Group A brief history and profile of the world's best selling major record label, Universal Music Group. This mega label plays hosts to many of the biggest names in music, but their past is not without controversy. News Press Release Template When you get some good news about a project you have been working on, don't keep it to yourself! Make sure you share that news with the media to get some extra press coverage. This template will help you spread the good word. Pay To Play? When you're trying to book shows, you may come across promoters who offer to put on a show for you, if you pay a fee to play. Is this a good idea? Is it ever OK for a promoter to charge you money to play? Find out. Join BMI or ASCAP Royalty collection groups like BMI and ASCAP can make sure you get what you are owed is someone uses one of your songs. Find out how to sign up to get the protection you need. Become the Opening Band Playing as the opening band at a big show is a fast way to get your music to a larger audience. Find out how to get that coveted support band slot. Spot a Bad Deal Unfortunately, the music industry is rife with people looking to make a quick buck off of your dreams. Spotting a bad deal will save you a lot of heartache down the line. Learn the signs of a deal that should have you running in the other direction. PR Music PR is a big part of promoting your album - it's how you get those reviews that make people want to check out your music. Learn more about music publicity and when you should shell out for it. Who Pays for Recording? Should the band pay for recording costs, or is that the responsibility of the record label? Find out whose name should be on that studio invoice. Tour Manager Tour managers are there to make life on the road go more smoothly. Learn more about their responsibilities and what the job entails. Q&A with Lauren Barberena Publishing is an often overlooked, but every important part, of a musician's career. With her legal background and her experience building her own publishing company, Lauren Barberena knows this too well. Get the scoop on the publishing world from the inside. How to Promote a Gig Good promotion is the key to a good show, but if you are a first time promoter, the job can seem so large you may not know where to start. This guide will help you make sure you don't leave any promotional stone unturned. Publishing Of all of the subjects in music, song publishing is probably the most complex. Get a handle on the basics, because though it may be complex, music publishing extremely important for musicians. Start a Band First things first - before you can do anything else with your music, you need to form a band. Putting your band together means building a foundation that you can work from to get your music heard - and making the wrong choices can lead to oh-so-much hassle. Learn more about starting your new favorite band. When to Send a Press Release You know that you need a press release if you want the media to talk about your new album or your upcoming show, but WHEN you send that press release also plays a role in the coverage you get. Find out when to send your press releases for maximum exposure Band Photos - Color or B&W? Good band photos are great for your website, and they also help you get more press coverage, but they can be expensive. Having the right kind of band photos, however, is crucial to getting the most bang for your buck. Find out how to make your band photos work for you. Guest List Dos and Don'ts Everyone is your best friend when you have control of the guest list, but managing it properly is important to building good relationships and getting your music heard by the people who can help you. Does My Label Owe Me? Your album is selling, but you haven't seen a dime of profits yet. Your label must be ripping you off, right? Not necessarily. Performance Rights Groups Performing rights agencies make sure songwriters get paid when people use their work. Learn about the different groups out there and find out who should sign up. Mechanical Royalties Understanding mechanical royalties can get a little complicated for bands, labels, and publishers alike. Learn the basics and find out who should be getting what. Performing Rights Royalties What are performing rights royalties and who should get them? Find out. Midem Profile of one of the most important events on the music industry calendar, Midem. Q&A with Ed Pybus SL Records is like the little indie label that could, doing what often seems like an impossible task in the music industry - running a great indie label, releasing great music that you love and keeping the whole thing running year in and year out. Here, Ed Pybus of SL Records shares how he's managed to pull this whole thing off and some advice on how you can do it, too. Who Pays Mechanicals? Who is respsonible for footing the bill for mechanical rights royalties and how are they distributed? Manager Artist managers run the day to day business side of things for musicians. Factory Records Factory Records managed to have a tremendous impact on the music industry in spite of bankruptcy and questionable business plans like losing money on every copy they sold of their most popular release. Factory Records might not have had the world's best business plan, but the label certainly knew good music when they heard it and they certainly knew how to get people excited about it. SXSW All the information you need about America's premiere music festival Licensing vs. Distribution Many smaller labels are faced with a decision between licensing and distribution, especially when it comes to getting their albums out in foreign territories. What's the difference, and which one is better for you? Find out the ins and out, and the pros and cons. Coachella A relatively recent entry into the world of music festivals (it was founded in 1999), Coachella has made a hugeh splash in that short time. Coachella has a knack of bringing together cutting edge bands from now and long ago and pulling off the "never thought that would happen" reunion shows. Learn more about the Coachella music festival and how the bands are booked. Berklee Berklee College of Music is one of the oldest and most respected music degree programs in the world. Discover what is on offer at this Boston based school and see if this college could be part of making your musical aspirations come true. One Sheet One sheets are sales tools for new releases, and the name gives a very important clue about what form they should take. Find out more about music one sheets. Q&A with Jay Flanzbaum Booking a show that runs smoothly from start to finish is a Herculean task - many people simply don't know how much there is to get done. Thankfully, help has arrived in the form of Onlinegigs. Jay Flanzaum, creator of Onlinegigs shares a little about the creation of the company, shares a little bit about what the website has to offer. Do I Need a Contract? You're working with a lot of people in your career - bandmates, labels, agents, managers, promoters - do you need a contract for each one? Should I Quit the Band? Bands are like any relationship - sometimes they just don't work out. Find out when you should jump ship and when you should stick around to work things out. Sound Engineer Sound engineers make sure the songs the bands are playing sound great to the audience. Learn more about this job and if it might be right for you. CMJ Music Marathon The CMJ Music Marathon gets circled on the calendar by music industry types and music fans alike. It has all of the panel discussions and networking events that the other trade shows have, but the main focus of CMJ is the music, with tons and tons of bands filling venues across NYC nightly. Do I Need a Work Permit? Touring can take across many national borders, but what about the legality of those border crossings? Depending on your circumstances, you may need a work visa in place before you play. Find out how entertainment work visas apply to you. Advance your Gig Want to make sure show night goes smoothly? Then you need to advance your gig. Find out how to make sure everything is set to go off without a hitch. Distribution Distribution is the key to getting an album into the shops. Find out what is involved and what kind of distribution deals are common. payola A look at the music industry issue of payola. Popkomm Germany's Popkomm music trade show and festival brings together bands and music industry workers from all over the world. Popkomm is part networking and part artist showcasing and has gone up and down in popularity over the years. Find out if Popkomm should be on your music calendar. Benicassim Boasting a line up that gets better every year and a beautiful festival site in Spain, Benicassim is hard to beat. The Benicassim Music Festival, or FIB, is just about as popular with bands as it is with fans for its laid back, good time vibe. Find out why a trip to Benicassim is a must. Q&A with David Rose KnowTheMusicBiz is dedicated to giving budding musicians the straight dope on life in the industry, warts and all. David Rose, founder of the site, shares a bit about KnowTheMusicBiz and his insight into the issues facing the music business. Music Disappointments Working in creative industries can be fraught with disappointments, and the music industry is no exception. The trick is to deal with the disappointments without losing track of your goals. Find out how to handle some common music biz bummers. P.D.s Per diems, or PDs, are the way bands cover their living expenses while on tour. Find out more about music per diems and how much they should be. Ferris State Music Management Ferris State University's Music Management degree program is designed to train students to be ready to take on many different roles on the business side of the music industry. Find out if this degree program could be right for you. M&D Deals These kinds of deals are getting harder to find, but for an upstart indie labels, they can give you a real leg up on getting your business off the ground. Get the details on this kind of distribution deal. Rider Riders are an important part of any gig promotion contract. Find out what exactly it is, and what you can expect to get. Domino Records Domino Records has grown to become one of the most influential indie labels ever. Find out how they made it happen and how they keep their place on top. Matador Records Matador Records is about as close to a major record label as indie label can get. In fact, the label has been under the major label umbrella more than once in its lifetime but has always gone back to indie ways. The story of Matador is interesting not just for the success the label has had but for the way it illustrates to the difference between the indie and major label music worlds. Q&A with Erin Copeland Are you wondering what a music degree could do for you? Get the lowdown from someone who has been there - a grad from one of the top music school. Apply to Music School Music industry related degrees can be hard to come by, and good programs are even fewer and further between. Before you devote your time and money to a music degree program, learn what to look for so you'll come out with the best education possible under your belt. Creation Records The Creation Records story is a good contrast in indie music and major label music, and the difficulties many small labels face when their bands become bigger than the label. Success was both saved and destroyed Creation in equal measures, and there's a lot to learn from how their story. Find out more. Payola Paying radio stations to play songs NYU Steinhardt Dept of Music Interested in a music or music business degree? Then the Steinhardt School at NYU may be the place for you. Get the lowdown on what the school has to offer and how you can get a chance to study there. Radio Plugger Radio pluggers bridge the gap between record labels/musicians and the producers and DJs who are the gateway to the airwaves. Learn more about what they do and how a radio promoter can help get your songs on the radio. Q&A with Juan Chavez Juan Chavez shares a little bit about life as a Berklee College of Music student and his accomplished salsa band, Dile. Digital Distribution Many people think that it is just a matter of time before digital music distribution surpasses traditional, physical distribution. Learn more about this music distribution option. Jewel Case Jewel cases are one kind of CD packaging. Learn more about them and your other options when it comes to designing your CD packages. Do I Need a Demo? With the changing music industry, the role of music demos are changing, too. Do you really need a music demo? The answer depends on what your goals are. Find out if you should start recording music or if you should go demo free. Clive Davis Clive Davis is something of a rock star among major music execs and thumbs up or thumbs down from his had made or broken many a career. He's always something of a controversial figure, but there is no denying he has spotted some of the biggest selling artists in music history. Should I Ask for a Big Advance The lure of a big advance check can be pretty tempting, but is it really all it is cracked up to be? Advances have pros and cons; find out how to make the best choice for your band. Demo Recording Costs? A music demo is a demonstration of your songs and your sound, and it is your calling card when you're trying to land a record deal, find a manager/agent, get a promoter to put on your show. A record demo is an important thing to have, but does that mean your demo recording costs have to be through the roof? Find out. Postcard Records Profile Postcard Records was short lived, but extremely influential. It helped cement Glasgow's reputation as a music city, and the bands on Postcard Records paved the wave and inspired the sounds of succesful acts that thrived long after Postcard Records had closed up shop. Get the story behind the music. Seymour Stein One of the most important tastemakers in the music industry, Seymour Stein hasn't so much reacted to trends as making them himself. He's discovered artists as diverse as The Talking Heads and Madonna and has managed to survive decades in the music industry - no mean feat. His story is a model for all aspiring label types out there. Amie Street Review Amie Street was one of the first distributors to hit on the "let the fans set the price" format, and it helped them grow to one of the most popular digital music distribution companies. A lot of artists have found success on Amie Street - is it right for you? Find out. Holiday Music Career Boosts The holidays can be a hard time for independent bands and labels to get attention in the press, but that doesn't mean that all is lost. You can use the holidays to connect with your fans, while having fun and generating some interest from the press - find out how. Herts Uni Music Degree University of Hertfordshire launched their Music and Entertainment Industry Management degree in 2006 with a focus on training entrepreneurs who have both a deep knowledge of basic business skills and specialized understanding of the rather unique world of the music business. It boasts the most varied music business curriculum in the UK and draws students from around the world. Promo A music promo is primarily used to generate press coverage or obtain radio plays for a new release, but there are other uses. Find out more about music promos and how they differ from music demos. Tour Support Touring is expensive, but if you're lucky enough to have some tour support behind you, some of the burden can be lifted. Find out how music tour support can help you. Playlist If you have a new single out, being on the playlist can be like winning the lottery. Learn more about coveted playlist spots and how they can help you. Should I Go All Digital? With CD sales falling, many bands and labels are wondering if a digital only release is the way to go. Find out the pros and cons to see if this is the solution for you. Promo Package If you're going to make in this business, you need a good promo package. Find out what exactly a promo package is, and what should be in yours. Bonnaroo Created in 2002, Bonnaroo Music Festival has quickly become a must-attend event for music fans from all over the world. From the unlikely location of Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo hosts some of the biggest names in music over four days. Find out more about Bonnarro, including how to apply to Bonnaroo so you can be up the stage. Gatefold Sleeves Want to make your records look even cooler? Then a gatefold sleeve might be in order. Gatefold record sleeves look great, but they can get pricey. Find out if they're right for you. DRM Controversy The internet has changed the way the music industry functions, and some would say the industry has been slow to catch up with the technology. Digital Rights Management systems are one way that many record labels try to keep control of their catalogs online, but the system does not have many fans among music lovers. Why the controversy, and who is right? Get the facts. Music Careers - Profiles An index of Profiles for the Music Careers guide site. Demo A music demo is one of the most basic tools of the music industry. Find out what a demo is and how one is used. eMusic Review eMusic is one of the largest online distributors, bar none, so that fact that they only work with indie labels means that they are well positioned to help small music businesses get a shot. But just how open are they, and does your music belong on eMusic? Find out. CD Baby Review CD Baby offers an easy option for indie labels to get their music into the hands of their customers, without having to worry about a more traditional CD distribution deal. It gets lots of praise, but is it worth the hype? Find out. Music Career Resolutions New year, new music career. Make this the year that you accomplish all of your music career goals - this article will give you the help you need to get everything on track. Tech Spec [p]If you play live, music tech specs are part of the game. Learn more about the role that tech specs play in gigs.[/p] Tray Card CD tray cards are an important part of your liner notes and CD packaging. Find out what they are, where they go and what your options are when you make them. Internet Radio Royalties? You've no doubt heard a lot about the internet radio royalty debate, but you might not know the basics. Learn the facts so you can make an informed decision about this issue. Hire Music PR? Music PR can be extremely helpful in getting the word out about your band, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Find out when you should stump up the cash for a professional and when you should try to do your own music promotion in house. Tray The tray is the part of your CD case that holds your CD in place. Learn more about the different types available. Net Neutrality Net neutrality is a term more and more musicians are talking about. Find out what it means, and how it could affect you. Longbox If you work in a distribution or in a record store, longboxes are bound to be a big part of your life. Find out what they are and how they can help you add up your CD count. Music Careers - Issues An index of Issues for the Music Careers guide site. Music Careers - Articles An index of Articles for the Music Careers guide site. Q&A with Jay Flanzbaum Booking a show that runs smoothly from start to finish is a Herculean task - many people simply don't know how much there is to get done. Thankfully, help has arrived in the form of Onlinegigs. Jay Flanzaum, creator of Onlinegigs shares a little about the creation of the company, shares a little bit about what the website has to offer. Music Careers - Before You Buy An index of Before You Buy Articles for the Music Careers guide site. Music Careers - GuideReviews An index of GuideReviews for the Music Careers guide site. Glastonbury Music Festival Glastonbury is one of the largest and oldest outdoor music festivals in the world. Every year, up to 900 acts entertain crowds of 100,000 music lovers in the English countryside. Find out more about the history of Glastonbury and how you could get a chance to play. |
|
All Topics | Email Article | | | ![]() |
| Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help | Our Story | Be a Guide |
| User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | ©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. |


