Get a head start!
The Rock and Roll Times - Music Industry Bible is a new book aimed, designed and written to inspire, educate and give insight to new young bands and musicians alike, and who wish to create a career in themusic industry.
If a band learns how the music industry works, they can then implement the same structure into building their public profile, fan-base and CD sales. The book covers in detail what A&R really think and how you should and shouldn’t approach them.
To what a music publisher does and why you will need a manager. Want to know how to get your music on iTunes and into 2000 shops across America? Then the chapter on digital distribution is for you.
A&R
When you approach a record company you are essentially approaching the A&R department. They are the ones who decide if you will get signed or not.
Publishing
The music publisher’s role is to seek out and exploit songs. Publishers are always hungry for new talent and with the never-ending slue of manufactured pop bands they need a never-ending supply of hit songs.
Management
Before we get into depth regarding what managers are for and what to expect from them, having a good manager in place is a must for any band wanting a professional career playing music.
Music Agents
The Agent’s role is to book shows for bands. Not just shows, but entire world tours.
Promoters
Promoters exist to promote live shows. Promoters organise the shows as well as liaising with music agents to book bands.
Legal Advice
The role of a lawyer can be paramount to a band in the minefield that is the music industry.
Why form a band?
Being involved with music is a life-long journey. Forming a band and keeping it running is no easy task
Songwriting
I think that whilst you can study the science of songwriting it’s a whole different arena to actually to write a good song.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are more important than some bands and artists think.
The Recording Studio
There has been no better time for bands. The digital age has given bands the freedom to record top quality recorded music for relatively little finance.
Websites
Every one knows how important websites are. It has to be in the top three of getting things done before you enter the public arena.
Gigging and Touring
It’s not enough to just sit back and hope for the world to come and buy your music: you need to get out there and tour.
CD Pressing
There are many CD and DVD media pressing companies throughout the UK. Most deliver the goods for around the same price, depending obviously on specific requirements.
Distribution
Any unsigned band seeking distribution to get their CD into the shops are going to find it very difficult, if not impossible. That’s because distributors deal solely with record labels and not bands directly.
Merch
Merchandise is a very important income stream for a band. The way things are shaping with record deals and recoupment it seems that most bands will make more money from T-shirt sales and touring than selling CD’s.
Press and PR
A band should consider themselves like the Revolutionary Warfare Wing of the SAS. Each person in the team is trained to a high standard in a particular field and this field in particular is press.
Making Your Video
Making videos used to be out of reach for most bands. But once again our friend the digital technology revolution has enabled all of us to make videos, whatever quality, for next to nothing.
Setting Up A Record Label
Creating a record label is an easy thing to do. It’s the money making that’s the hard part. You need to eat, live and reinvest to continue what could be a dream come true to any one who dares to go down this road.
How To Set Up A Festival
What’s wonderful about life is that sometimes it can surprise you. In the context of this book I had a blueprint set out to cover a variety of subjects. Not all of those subjects made it, some were cut, and some were added. This chapter was the one real surprise I never would have dreamed of including because setting up a new festival seems so outrageous.
Red Tape
Lets face it. Tax, accounts and bookkeeping are all very boring. When I think of these things my eyes glaze over. And to be honest the only glaze I want to see is on my doughnuts. Krispy Kremes please.
Seeking Funding
There are now some very good avenues for bands seeking funding. The first few options we shall be looking at are Internet based companies that raise investment from the public or patrons of the arts.
MCPS-PRS
Whilst doing the research for this subject I was concerned with the lack of understanding shown by bands when it came to MCPS-PRS.
Music Industry Shindigs
In the City is the annual UK music convention. Bigwigs from the music industry descend on Manchester every year to talk about and normally cry into their favourite beverage over the state of the music industry and how digital downloads are killing them.
For Those About To Rock
So here we are at the end of the book. Oh my God! It’s a strange feeling reaching the end, but I hope I achieved what I set out to do, which was to help you understand the workings of the music industry.
The Rock and Roll Times
This book will show each band that instead of chasing ghosts, they can manifest a reality, build their temple, and show the world who they are. We are looking at the creation of thousands of record labels being born. That’s the future of the music industry. It’s in the hands of the new bands emerging from the streets. The days where bands rely on traditional record labels are gone.