The Business of Music Doesn't Matter?

By Phil Frazier

I've been communicating with musicians off and on the Net for quite a few years and many of them say the business part of the music business isn't interesting to them and that they don't wish to learn about it: they're more concerned with the creation of music, composing, lyric writing and recording than learning about the business end of things. And some have said they needn't deal with it because managers and attorneys will handle that part if and when this concern presented itself.

Most of the time, when this topic of business has been brought up on BBs, there are very few participants and the convos usually don't stick to the topic of music business. The participants statements tend to drift off into other indirectly related matters and mostly, nothing is ever resolved as the convo just drifts and stops.

I find this attitude astounding because in my view, that's precisely why so many musicians end up being screwed over on the business side.

Depending on managers and/or attorneys to take care of everything is just downright foolish from all that I've experienced and read.

A manager and/or attorney can get more problems for a musician than you canimagine. You only need to read a few zines articles involving the huge amounts of lawsuits in the music industry to get the drift on that.

The business of music is complex, but the basics can be learned through a little reading.

Some musicians have even told me they can't afford to buy books. That shouldn't be a propblem, however, since there are all kinds of books on the music business at most public libraries.

Then I've heard the reason - as I see it, lame excuse - that these books are boring. Another reason frequently given is that 'book learningis virtually because real life doesn't work the way books say it does. And I've heard many more reasons and excuses statements about why musicians don't study the business they claim they want to earn a living through: but they just don't wash for me.

In my view, if a musician is intent upon keeping music strictly as a hobby and is going to turn down any sort of offers regarding their music or performing music, then perhaps excuses that the business part isn'trelevant may suffice.

But anyone who has any notion of making money with music, even if it's only playing copy material, should acquire some business knowledge.

Artists on Dmusic can go to http://artists.dmusic.com/books/ for a good sampling of some of the books that you should be familar with...

I have Donald Passmans 'All you need to know about the music business' and found it an excellent read, its the kind of book you can pick up and read when you need it.
Anyone who thinks they do not need to know about the business of music because others will take care of it is living in a dream world. I recently heard of a young guy who signed a deal for 4% net. If only he had read up and got himself a decent attorney/lawer. I'm not saying all agents, record companies, managers and promoters are con artists but they are after all business people and the artists are their comodity, just look who's driving around in the flash cars and living in big houses

Yeah that book is excellent. There are a few good ones. If anyone cannot afford to buy a book or two the public library has books, ya know. ;0) btw Attorneys and Mgrs. are not always lookin' out for the Artist either. In the music business one must be sharp and look out for ones own self.

i tell you why .... alot of musicians are just plain fucking lazy and thats the bottom line... and then they say i just want to play music ... bullshit you want to just sit on your ass... but most of them dont make it anyway...

My high school band teacher used to tell us that evry day you miss practice is a day you will have to make up, for the rest of your life! Practicing one's music can at times be very hard work, 'specailly when ya frist start out, I would consiter reading up on legal matters, or studying other musical aspects just as important as practicing yer instrament. How much time do some guitar players spend on figuring out the right guitar/amp combo to buy, then where to buy from? Spending time looking into contracts, copyrighting yer band name, even reading the "fine print" at the site we love to post at is well worth it(I choose Dmusic as my home after reading the fine print at a few sites

aaaaYY MEN!!!