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Summary: Musicians can help protect themselves with this book.
Review: A comprehensive, in-your-face music business book. A valuable tool for the novice as well as the platinum artist. This book is a map through the jungle that is the music business.
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Summary: Essential
Review: A great insiders overview of production, recording and other areas of music. My only complaint would relate to the need for more structure when explaining contractual issues, or perhaps some high level diagrams that lay out what the text explains. Regardless, it is worth a read if you ever plan to step into a recording studio.
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Summary: Spinal Tap meets Donald Trump
Review: A must read for anyone hoping to navigate the rocky shoals and slimy trenches of the music industry.
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Summary: Will make you less of a sucker
Review: A very good book with excellent information to avoid getting caught in scams. And fun to read. Will successfully destroy all your ideals about this business.
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Summary: Will make you less of a sucker
Review: A very good book with excellent information to avoid getting caught in scams. And fun to read. Will successfully destroy all your ideals about this business.
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Summary: Blows away any illusions about the business.
Review: Although the internet is rapidly changing the nature of music distribution, and it is difficult for any author to keep up with new developments, this author will blow away any illusions you've had about the traditional record business. Get it just to clear your head of any misconception before you enter the business. It is a strong wind that disperses the much of the fog that enshrouds the industry.I bought it on the recommendation of a musician friend in New York. I thanked him. Information is power. This book focused me on my own approach and steered me away from the traditional path.
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Summary: A must read for those new to the business
Review: As a songwriter of many years but a relative novice when it comes to the "business" this book is a must read. It covers the topics that are important for people to know like publishing. It arms the reader with the knowledge that gives you the power of confidence when dealing with the business side of the music business. I can see why the lawyer left a less than favorable review. The book gives away some of their secrets and and makes you aware of some of their behaviors that manipulate deals in your favor and not. I can see why the lawyer would take issue. Too bad. The author calls it as he sees it. Well written and keeps you interested chapter to chapter.
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Summary: A must read for those new to the business
Review: As a songwriter of many years but a relative novice when it comes to the "business" this book is a must read. It covers the topics that are important for people to know like publishing. It arms the reader with the knowledge that gives you the power of confidence when dealing with the business side of the music business. I can see why the lawyer left a less than favorable review. The book gives away some of their secrets and and makes you aware of some of their behaviors that manipulate deals in your favor and not. I can see why the lawyer would take issue. Too bad. The author calls it as he sees it. Well written and keeps you interested chapter to chapter.
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Summary: A good companion book for texts on the industry.
Review: Avalon's book is a solid primer on the structures and relationships in the industry, with a keen eye for the cleverly disguised ripoffs. Although the book contains a number of useless observations ("many recording engineers are addicted to Star Trek", "producers never have anything positive to say about demos they didn't make", and "control freaks often sport mustaches"), it also explains complex issues in a clear manner. If Avalon would just lighten up on the poison pen, it would be a great book; as is, it's just a good one.
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Summary: Wow..awesome breakdown of the music biz!
Review: Before reading this book I was very anxious to enter the music world as a producer, having a slight idea of what I needed to do to accomplish that goal. Well, I realize that I did not even know the difference between a Label, a record company and a distributor and the role each plays in getting a record to the shelves of Sam Goody or HMV at your local mall. Moses breaks down every aspect of the Music Biz, from writer, to artist, to producer, to session musician and even explains how each gets paid! He Even explains why you see so many logos on the back of every record you buy. It is an effort of many people and many different companies in direct collaboration with each other. This is very valuable information for anyone in the Music Biz. I feel that I am better prepared now than I was 4 days ago..the time it took me to read this book I simply could not put down once I started reading. Mr. Avalon explains all the "Industry Jargon" in plain simple english anyone with at least a high school level education can understand. The best part of the book is how he even breaks down the "dirty" scams that everyone tries to impose on an artists/producer or writer. I Pity the fool who signs a contract with a major record label for 3 Million dollars and 5 albums w/o reading this book. They will, like TLC, file for bankruptcy after selling 11 million records..find out why...
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