Rating: 
Summary: It works
Review: Plain and simple. I have used the book for 3 years and I have sold over 17,000 CDs and 4,000 cassettes. Judge a book about what it does for you. Not the words of people who don't want to do the work and will critize anything because they are lazy.Take it from someone who didn't even sell 200 copies of his first CD until he used this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Two stars because it lacks recent changes to the industry.
Review: Sweeney knows what he is talking about if you fit into a certain mold. If you are touring or playing living shows on a regular basis, this book has some really good advice. If you don't, skip it because playing live and selling CDs at your shows is all this book talks about. I first read it four or five years ago and liked it. I just read it again and I think it is out of touch with what is happening now. For example, this book doesn't mention the Internet and how it has affected independent musicians at all. There are better books out there. This one needs a major update.
Rating:
Summary: Clear, Concise, and Comprehensive
Review: Sweeney provides all the inside information you need for successfully producing an indie record, and his concise writing style allows you to avoid wasting your valuable time. I generally followed his advice in producing my political parody CD ("Bill Clinton -- Vast Bubba Cons"), and now my record is getting airplay and quickly moving up the Amazon sales rankings. I noticed that the people who are critical of this book refuse to provide their names and email addresses, which suggests to me that they may be affiliated with his less successful competitors.
Rating: 
Summary: I would have given 5 stars, but it's a little outdated...
Review: The best book of it's kind.
A little expensive, but the information is priceless.
A good, fast, condensed read- full of exactly what I needed to know when I needed to know it.
Bottom line:
Look for it used.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Basic Primer &Business Plan
Review: The book is relatively short and thus, technically-speaking, overpriced. However, it is very useful for anyone releasing their first record. It's very easy to understand and very practical. It provides a very basic business plan for the typical performing musician. Artists who do not plan to support their CD by extensive performing may find it less useful, however.
Rating:
Summary: A valuable learning tool
Review: This book can really help do-it-yourselfers. I got some badly needed knowledge from this book. However keep in mind that HIS game plan doesn't have to be the ONLY way to go about releasing a CD. Some of his ideas were overkill. Example: Getting a reseller's licence (to save $160) was way too much of a pain in the butt for me. Wait until your next bigger batch of CD 's. Other game plans of his weren't right for my project. Example: It worked better for me to promote to radio FIRST (before finding distribution). I will also note that Mr. Sweeney NEVER replied to the "Free Evaluation" cut-out that I sent in to him. Still a good book though. Better than Kashif's book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book has opened my eyes to alot of new ideas and given me a new outlook on my music career.The other posts however are true,the internet has given musicians new ways of promoting and selling your music that the book doesn't touch on.Buy it used!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat helpful, but OVERPRICED and poorly made
Review: This book is severely overpriced for what it contains. It is riddled with misspellings and typos. The information it contains is useful, but it can all be gathered from Simple Machine's Guide to putting out records, CD's and tapes, free over the internet, or about $5 from them. Save yourself the money and aggravation and find other sources- Moses Avalon's Confessions of a Record Producer, or other, cheaper, more informative guides.
Rating:
Summary: Out of date, but...
Review: This book mentions nothing about the Internet or file trading. However, it does have some good advice if you are playing clubs. I go back and forth on this book. I loved it six years ago when it came out. This is 2002 though. We need an update!! I recommend it to those who play out a lot, but don't get it if you just hang out online or don't play on a regular basis.
Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction
Review: This is the book you should read before you quit your day job and embrace the life of a record label owner. The advice is solid, well written and practical. It's a little old now (not much on-line marketting info) and its kinda rock oriented (not that it matters much). If you haven't put out a succesful release yet you need this book. Its a good guide for those just starting out. I wish I had read it 5 years a go
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