Product Description

For fifteen years, All You Need to Know About the Music Business has been universally regarded as the definitive, essential guide to the music industry. Now in its sixth edition, it has been completely revised and updated with crucial, up-to-the-minute information on the industry's major changes in response to today's rapid technological advances and uncertain economy. Veteran music lawyer Donald Passman is in the thick of this transformation and understands that anyone involved in the music business is feeling the deep, far-reaching effects of it. This latest edition of what the Los Angeles Times called "the industry bible" will lead novices and experts alike through the fundamental practices as well as the new, uncharted territory of one of this country's most dynamic industries.

In the music business, the key to success lies in knowing how to protect yourself. To do that, you need the best and most up-to-date advice available. Whether you are -- or aspire to be -- a performer, writer, or executive, Passman's comprehensive guide to the legal and financial aspects of the music world is an indispensable tool. Drawing on his unique professional experience as one of the most trusted advisors in the industry, Passman offers authoritative information on how to:

• Select and hire a winning team of advisors -- personal and business managers, agents, and attorneys -- and structure their commissions, percentages, and fees in a way that will protect you and maximize these relationships
• Master the big picture and the finer points of record deals
• Navigate the ins and outs of songwriting, music publishing, and copyrights
• Maximize concert, touring, and merchandising deals

This latest edition also includes information on:

• Music downloads, webcasting, streaming-on-demand, and podcasting
• The new video streaming services
• How royalties are computed in the digital age
• The latest developments in deals with independent labels, including upstream deals
• Updates on all the traditional industry matters, such as royalties, advances, video budgets, and copyright law

In All You Need to Know About the Music Business, one of the industry's most influential figures shows you how to thrive in the most exciting business in the world. It's a book that no musician, entertainment lawyer, agent, promoter, publisher, manager, record company executive -- anyone who makes their living from music -- can afford to be without.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1837 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-14
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From Library Journal
An entertainment lawyer whose clients include many from the top of the music charts, Passman has written a book that sets out to give musicians, performers, and songwriters the tools to hire advisers, market their careers, protect their creative works, and generally cope with a complex industry in a state of flux. Passman explains boilerplate language, the complexities of royalties and advances, and label and distribution deals; a section on record deals begins with an overview of the business and works through all the steps. The "Adventures in Cyberspace" chapter is a helpful summary of the way CD-ROMs and the Internet are affecting the business. Included here is information on recent legislation and a look at how digitizing music delivery will continue to change things. Packed with illustrations, sample calculations, and definitions, All You Need To Know is humorous and accessible enough for those who just want to understand the business while being detailed and documented enough for those who make a living from it.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Should be required reading for anyone planning or enduring a career in the biz."-- Rolling Stone

"Any creative person who's considering working in the music business should read this book."-- Jimmy Lovine, chairman, Interscope Geffen A&M Records

"I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the music business."-- David Geffen

"I've spent ten years trying to get Don to open up like this to me. Never has he been so eloquent, so patient, or so thorough. It cost me a fortune to get these diamonds from Don: Now you can have them. For your own. At a fraction of the cost."-- Tom Waits

"This man is so knowledgeable that it's difficult negotiating with him. The book is terrific and a must-read if you want to know how the music business works."-- Joe Smith, former president and CEO, Capitol Records/EMI Music, Inc.

"I almost hesitate to recommend Don's book -- it gives away more inside information than it should."-- Mo Ostin, chairman of the board, DreamWorks Records

"An entertaining and professionally written primer on the music business."-- Michael Eisner, former CEO, the Walt Disney Company

"I highly recommend Don's book to anyone who has ever been interested in the music business. His experience and insight into the inner workings of the music world make this an indispensable work."-- Quincy Jones

"If I'd had this book when I started, I'd be ten times richer and would have saved a fortune in legal fees."-- Ed Bicknell, manager, Dire Straits

Review
Michael Eisner Chairman and CEO, the Walt Disney Company An entertaining and professionally written primer on the music business.

Customer Reviews

Nothing special
This book is not too useful, but not useless, either. At least one can see, that the author enjoyed his life in the music business. And this is something. From a professional point of view the reader does not get much to work with.

The bible of the music business
Don't get taken for due your du-diligence and read this book whether your putting out your own record or shopping for a record deal. This book is a must. Need I say more.

Kind of cool and has some okay tips
Has some insight about how to get put on, but not much more than I already knew about.