Rating: 
Summary: Much needed information
Review: This book takes you through almost every aspect of the music industry. He tells you of scams of entertainment lawyers to dirty tricks by the big labels. At the same time he opens your eyes to just how successful you have to be to make money of your recordings (more than you think). A must read for people even considering a career in the music industry. All this is done with a sense of humor and language you can understand. Complete with real life examples. Great book.
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Summary: No holds barred look at how the music busines really works!
Review: This is my new favorite book on the music business, and I've read a lot of them! It went straight to the top of my required reading list for anyone interested in a music business career. This book tells you what the other books won't. This is not a "how to" guide to music business success, but it will tell you what to watch out for, and makes you reconsider if going after the elusive Major Label Record Deal is really worth it or not. It breaks down the numbers of a typical recording deal in terms that everyone can understand and shows you how you most likely will never see ANY record sales royalties from a major label deal as a new artist. This book prepares you so that you won't get taken advantage of by anyone in the music business.
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Summary: Beginning of a cult following
Review: Unbelievable book even for those not in the biz
Rating:
Summary: Best Book on the Business I've Ever Read
Review: When I picked up this book I expected another boring book from some out of touch "has been" trying to make a buck. Instead I found a book full of insight. Half way through the book I was blown away with the amount of knowledge (and I still had half a book to go). Fact: the music business is full of weasels. They feed on the excitement of new (naive) artists, get them to sign a poor contract, and milk them dry. Well this book shows you the business from many including the artist, producer, label, and lawyers side (and more). From assembling your team of managers, lawyers, producers, to payola and kickbacks, to copyrights, publishing royalties, sneaking lawyers tricks Moses covers everything in great detail. Typically when a book is this thorough there are parts that you end up skipping as it doesn't apply, but Moses insights of the "squeezing", back stabbing, and shenanigans kept me glued to every page.
If you are thinking that life would be great if you could just get signed to a major label, you REALLY need to read this. Moses shows you how you can sell 1,000,000 records and still owe money (if you're not careful). He shows you every detail, and then brings it home by breaking down in a table format (making it easy to see exactly where the money goes). The section titled "A Major Label Deal is like having a Credit Card at 66% was extremely eye opening. OK, anybody can throw number on a page. So who is Moses Avalon? It turns out he has worked with Warner Brothers, Atlantic, and BMG. He has worked Grammy wining artists (he has worked on 5 platinum recordings). He is also a composer who has had his compositions used in commercials, and award winning independent films. If you are someone looking for management, or getting airplay now and on the verge of breaking, READ THIS BOOK. When snakes surround you, it pays to know which ones are poisonous. Dave Jackson
Musician's Cyber Cooler
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