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The music business is one of the most competitive industries out there. For decades, the best a good band could hope for was to tour extensively, praying that a talent scout was at one of their shows or somehow got their demo (and actually listened to it) and then signed them to a label deal. But to say times have changed is an understatement, as big as the business itself.
With an endless pool of talent out there — not to mention countless ways to share and release your music — what does it take to break in?
Start with three of the most popular books about the music business, written by authors who all speak from experience and offer a road-map to success, based upon their own unique perspectives.
How To Make It in the New Music Businesstells the real-life inspirational story of Ari Herstand, from his narrative, quitting his day job and supporting himself as an independent musician ever since. The book lays out a clear path of steps to take if you want to build up a following and earn royalties from getting your tracks into television and film. It’s a fun and informative read for every artist out there looking to live off their creative craft.
The Realist’s Guide to a Successful Music Careerpairs a successful indie musician, Umphrey McGee’s Joel Cummins, with author Matt DeCoursey. The book pulls no punches when it comes to practical steps to becoming a professional, with testimonials from celebs like Robbie Williams and Huey Lewis.
Finally, All You Need to Know About the Music Businessisn’t told by a musician at all, but rather a lawyer who’s worked in the business. The book has been consistently updated for over 20 years, and offers both current and timeless advice for anyone looking to make it in this fiercely competitive field.
All three may offer different viewpoints, but one key driver of success they all share: hard work. Talent is necessary, but will only get you so far. The rest relies on focusing your efforts on the right places — like establishing a constant presence on social media — playing frequent shows, and building a strong and loyal fan base from scratch.
It’s an unprecedented era for artists right now. Home-recording is easier and more accessible than ever, as is interacting with fans from a phone, and building a following from your bedroom studio. If you’re making music and hoping to make it big, definitely add these to your reading list.
