Nobodys Going to Help You

Nobody’s going to help you. Does that encourage you or discourage you? by Derek Sivers sivers.org Nobody’s going to help you. It’s all up to you. Does hearing that discourage you or motivate you? The reason I’m asking is that a musician friend emailed me two questions last week (December 2008): How can I find a great/major booking agent? And how can I find an investor? I need someone to invest...

Music Business Conference Dos & Donts

by Allen Johnston Music Conferences today have become big business for the individuals and companies that put them on. Almost every conference created has an educational component, a seminar, panel discussion or technical workshop. Here lays the problem: Why pay good money to come to a conference with positive seminars and not attend? Every conference I have attended in the United States this year has had more...

The Ultimate Music Business Conspiracy Theory

by Bob Baker Whether it’s the second gunman on the grassy knoll, the alien mystery at Roswell or what really is hidden within the high-security confines of Area 51… conspiracy theories abound. Many of us are amused by the speculation, while hardcore buffs examine every nuance looking for clues to support their version of the story. If you’ll notice, all of these conspiracy theories involve some...

What’s Wrong with ‘American Idol’?

Bob Baker’s updated manifesto on how the popular show is creating widespread misconceptions about what it takes to succeed as a musical artist today. It’s one of the most popular TV shows of recent years, drawing tens of millions of viewers every week. Even I admit, American Idol is fun to watch. The show provides all the elements of good pop culture entertainment: passion, emotion, the thrill of...

Every Song Tells A Story… But Does It Need To Be An Abstract Novel?

By Sheena Metal For a musician, your songs are your art. They are the physical embodiment of your creative gifts. Every bit of anger, happiness, angst, joy, pain, elation, knowledge or humor goes into the story known as your song. You write and re-write it, scouring over each note and word…perfecting it for recording and live performance. But when you play it for others, you’re not getting the reaction...

Artist Management – Artists & Bands Seeking Representation

by Jeremy Rwakaara Indie Managers Association At least a dozen times a day, I receive a phone call or an email inquiry from an artist asking: “how do I find a manager to represent me?” or “do you know any managers in (pick a state) who can manage me?” or “how do I go about finding a manager?” I often respond that the appropriate question is: “when should I consider being represented by a manager?”...

8 Reasons Why a Band or Artist Needs a Manager

by Jeremy Rwakaara To most musicians, the enduring image of an artist manager is a caricature of a heavy-set, unkempt slob of a man, stuffed into a 2-sizes-too-small, off-the-rack department store suit, chomping on a cheap smelly cigar while sliding a greasy hand unceremoniously into the back pocket of a starving artist. Surely, somewhere in the vast landscape of the music universe, such malice exists. The vast...

Who Do You Sound Like? (And Why It’s Important)

by Bob Baker Admit it. Most musicians hate to compare themselves to other artists. Does this describe you? If you feel you are a unique, one-of-a-kind creative being, I wholeheartedly agree with you. But if you think you shouldn’t tarnish your musical identity with comparisons to other artists, I ask you to reconsider. Why? It has everything to do with this crazy little hunk of matter called the human brain....