To any musician who feels overwhelmed by the craziness of the music industry – you are not alone! Learning how to navigate your career and market your own music is a daunting task. But there are SO MANY resources out there for you, full of useful tips and advice. Of course, sometimes even the advice can seem overwhelming. Who should I listen to? Does anybody really have all the answers? Which of these countless books do I read?
That’s why I’m starting a new series – #MusicBizBooks – featuring and reviewing some of the best books about the music industry that the world has to offer.
I’ve been working in this business for more than 20 years, and have got a few books of my own under my belt. But I’ve also got lots of friends and colleagues who have written incredible tomes for musicians looking for success in the modern industry. For #MusicBizBooks, I’ll curate some of my favorites for you 🙂
First up – Musicpreneur: The Creative Approach to Making Money in Music, by Aaron Bethune, the founder of Play It Loud Music.
Aaron poured his years of experience into this book, and consequentially it is a masterpiece of accumulated information. Written for working musicians, and absolutely packed with practical tips on every aspect of the industry, it is now used as a textbook at several universities and music institutions worldwide.
In nine detailed chapters, Bethune gives you a step-by-step guide to Fan Profiling, Branding, Music PR (featuring an interview with yours truly!), Social Media, Tours, Music Copyrights & Publishing, Music Licensing, and Radio Promotion. All in all, a pretty thorough examination of the industry.
Written in a friendly, conversational voice, Musicpreneur feels like a good friend guiding you through the hurdles to a successful career. Read the section where Aaron interviews me HERE, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for my next installment of #MusicBizBooks!