Updated Articles and Resources

By Heather McDonald, About.com Guide

How Can I Fire Someone In My Band Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Firing someone in your band is always a big deal, and the stakes just get higher the further along you go in your music career. Despite how difficult parting ways with a player may be, however, som..
Signs You Should You Fire A Band Member Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Is your band dealing with a little dead weight? How do you know when it's time to fire a band member? Breaking up the band is hard work, and getting rid of a member is never going to be fun. Someti..
Signs You Should Fire Your Band Manager Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Are you feeling like your relationship with your band manager is not turning out quite as planned? How do you know when it's time to fire your band manager? If your management relationship is on th..
How Do I Fire My Band Manager Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Parting ways with a manager is never easy, but sometimes musicians find themselves in the position where they have to fire their band manager. If your relationship with your artist manager isn't qu..
Questions To Ask Before You Choose a New Band Member Created: Sunday, April 29, 2012 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Whether you want to start a new band or are looking to replace a player that has just quit your band, finding the right band members makes the difference between success and failure for many music ..
How Do I Know I Am Ready To Play My First Music Show Created: Sunday, April 29, 2012 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Playing live is one of the biggest parts of a musician's career, but how do you know when, as a musician, it's time to play your first music show? When you play your first concert, you're going to ..
What Is The First Thing I Should Do To Start My Music Career Created: Friday, April 27, 2012 Updated: Friday, April 27, 2012
If there is one thing every new musician asks at some point, it is
Five Things To Do Before Your First Concert Created: Thursday, April 26, 2012 Updated: Thursday, April 26, 2012
If you're a musician, few things are as important - or intimidating - as your first show. Even though you may not be able to keep the nerves entirely in check, there are things you can do to make s..
Q&A with Ed Pybus of SL Records - Indie Label SL Records Created: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 09, 2012
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 kee..
Music Industry Myths: Five Myths About Playing Live Created: Thursday, March 29, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
It's easy to have misconceptions about the world of live music, but putting those music industry myths to bed is important if you're trying to make it in the music business. Get the real scoop behi..
Music Industry Myths: Four Myths About Artist Management Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
In this Music Industry Myth installment, bust you misconceptions about what it means to have - or to be - an artist manager. Do you have to have a band manager to be taken seriously? Is it a bad id..
Music Industry Myths: Four Myths About Record Labels Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Are record labels big beasts out to swindle musicians out of their money? Do you need a record deal to make it in the music industry? There are a lot of stories out there about record labels - some..
How Much Do Band Managers Get Paid Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012
So, you've decided to hire a manager - now comes the hard part - how much should a band manager get paid? What exactly is a fair percentage for an artist manager to request, and how much should you..
How Does a Record Label Decide What Advance To Pay Me Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012
If there is one thing musicians look forward to when they sign a record deal, it is getting an advance check - but how do record labels decide what kind of advance to pay a musician? There are lots..
How Much Experience Does My Band Manager Need Created: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
When your music career is going in the right direction, you're bound to hit the point in the road where you can't do it yourself anymore - enter the band manager. The trouble is that often the poin..
How Do Greatest Hits Albums Work Created: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Greatest hits albums are simply a collection of an artist's best material, right? What seems so simply on the outside can get a mite complicated behind the scenes if you're a musician with a record..
Seven Things To Do When Your Band Plays Live Created: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Acing a live music show involves so much more than just playing a good set. Sure, your fans want to hear you playing your best, but convincing those fans to come back time and again requires a litt..
Music Industry 101 Guides: Radio Basics Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Want to get your song played on the radio? It's possible - but only if you take the time to really understand the world of radio and what they're looking for in a song they're adding to the playlis..
What is the Difference Between Commercial Radio and Non-Commercial Radio Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
In the world of radio, there are two very distinct kinds of stations: commercial radio and non-commercial radio. Knowing the difference between these two types of radio is the most basic part of pl..
Five Things To Do When a Music Show Gets Cancelled Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Canceling a music show is never any fun, but controlling the damage is a must. If you're a music promoter who has to call off an event or a band facing a show pulled at the last minute, here are fi..
How Should I Choose My First Music Single Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
You've got your album recorded - now you just have to choose which music single to release. Picking a first single from your album is a tough job, and it's not unusual for musicians to get feedback..
How Can I Get My Song on The Radio? Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
It's often said in the music business that reviews don't sell music - radio does. It's for good reason, then, that many musicians want to know how to get their songs on the radio. The path to radio..
What Are Radio Station Markets Created: Saturday, February 25, 2012 Updated: Saturday, February 25, 2012
When you're planning a radio promotion campaign, you're likely to hear a lot of talk about radio markets. What is a radio market, and how does it impact your chances of getting your songs played on..
What is a Radio Add Date Created: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
If you're planning a radio promotion campaign, a radio add date is going to be one of the most crucial decisions you'll make. What is a radio add date? Learn about radio add dates and what they mea..
Five Things You Should Know About Commercial Radio Created: Friday, February 17, 2012 Updated: Friday, February 17, 2012
For musicians and labels planning a radio promotion campaign - especially smaller labels and indie musicians - commercial radio is the great white whale. The vast world of commercial radio needn't ..
Performing Rights Groups Created: Saturday, June 23, 2007 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
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.
Midem Music Industry Convention Created: Thursday, December 21, 2006 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Profile of one of the most important events on the music industry calendar, Midem.
Glastonbury Music Festival - Glastonbury Profile - Profile of Glastonbury Music Festival Created: Monday, May 12, 2008 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
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 abou..
Othaz Records - Profile of Hip Hop Label Othaz Records - North Carolina Othaz Records - Waleed Coyote Created: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
North Carolina based independent hip hop label Othaz Records has sales figures that would make many major labels jealous, and they're just getting started. Learn more about Waleed Coyote's Othaz Re..
MySpace Music - Profile of MySpace Music Created: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
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..
David Rose of KnowTheMusicBiz.com Created: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
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 insigh..
Music Business Terms - Music Industry Vocabulary Created: Sunday, April 27, 2008 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
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.

Explore Music Careers

Must Reads