Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
I originally included this recommendation as a footnote to a long-winded missive about copyright law and the alleged "borrowing" of Iron Maiden melodies by a certain other band (found here: http://forum.maidenfans.com/http://forum.maidenfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=175262#p175262), but I figured I'd move the recommendation to this board as its audience might actually care.
For those of you who have, or are interested in, a music career, I cannot recommend more strongly Donald Passman's book, All You Need To Know About The Music Business. Passman used to work at my law firm in L.A. -- long before I joined, so I don't know him and don't get any benefit from his book sales -- and he wrote this book specifically for artists trying to make it in the music business. It is written in plain English and with as little "legalese" as possible. It covers everything from picking managers, kicking out band members, signing your first record deal and touring, and has advice for everyone ranging from new artists playing small local clubs to artists with recording contracts on small independent labels to "superstars." It is very helpful, and I still refer to it from time to time in my job. (I'm a lawyer who represents a major music company -- and no, I don't have the juice to get you discovered). The LA Times, which is the major daily paper here, referred to it as the "industry bible." It is one of the two books on every music lawyer's bookshelf. The other is This Business of Music, by Krasilovsky and Shemel, which is written more for lawyers and record executives, but is also valuable if you are interested, though I would recommend you read Passman's book first. Both are available on Amazon (read the reviews of Passman's book if you are skeptical of my recommendation), and presumably elsewhere as well. Good luck.
For those of you who have, or are interested in, a music career, I cannot recommend more strongly Donald Passman's book, All You Need To Know About The Music Business. Passman used to work at my law firm in L.A. -- long before I joined, so I don't know him and don't get any benefit from his book sales -- and he wrote this book specifically for artists trying to make it in the music business. It is written in plain English and with as little "legalese" as possible. It covers everything from picking managers, kicking out band members, signing your first record deal and touring, and has advice for everyone ranging from new artists playing small local clubs to artists with recording contracts on small independent labels to "superstars." It is very helpful, and I still refer to it from time to time in my job. (I'm a lawyer who represents a major music company -- and no, I don't have the juice to get you discovered). The LA Times, which is the major daily paper here, referred to it as the "industry bible." It is one of the two books on every music lawyer's bookshelf. The other is This Business of Music, by Krasilovsky and Shemel, which is written more for lawyers and record executives, but is also valuable if you are interested, though I would recommend you read Passman's book first. Both are available on Amazon (read the reviews of Passman's book if you are skeptical of my recommendation), and presumably elsewhere as well. Good luck.