Going Independent: Music Business Tips for the Unsigned Recording Artist

Series Summary

The music business doesn't work as most businesses do. It is constantly changing and evolving because what we are looking for in music as a society is constantly changing and evolving. And recording artists have to pay attention to trends and shifts in their industry: as a new way of bringing music to market emerges and becomes popular, more and more independent musicians are expected to make shifts in that direction. These days it is not enough to have a great song, a great sound, or a great band. In the highly competitive music industry today, understanding the business of music is just as important—if not more important—than the music itself.

In these free do-it-yourself videos for unsigned bands and musicians, learn how to succeed in the music business as an independent recording artist. Get tips on how to get your songs heard, how to do album cover art and packaging, why using a recording studio is important for your first record, how to make a press kit, how to take a band photo, why persistence pays off, and other important pieces of advice. Watch these clips and you’ll be well on your way to making it as a working musician or band.

Video Transcript

"I'm Chris Knab for Expert Village. There are a lot of changes in the music business these days and that is why I co-wrote the book "Music is Your Business" now in its 3rd edition. My co-author is entertainment law attorney from Portland Oregon. His name is Bartley F. Day. When we researching this book, we had obviously to take a look at the state of the business today and that means the new millennium era arrived and how are things changing and what is going on now that is different that had been going on in the past. If you are a musician who wants to put out your own music, the first thing you need to realize is that we are in an era of more competition and more people are putting out their music than ever in history before. I am going to give you one quick example of that. In the year 2006, the recording industry major labels and independent labels released 75,000 new records to the public. You have to kind of pause for a minute and think about that. That is a lot of music compared to 30 years ago when the industry put out 3,000 records or more. So what does that mean for you? Well it's like the title of the book "Music is your Business" and you need to know what record label does and study what you need to do because you become these days your own record company, your own record label. So my job is an adviser and expert in the field of promoting and marketing and selling your own music and the book again, is there to help you as a guide to set up your label, learn about some legalities involved with being musicians responsibly making their own record and putting out to the public and then giving you tips along the way about how to promote it, market it and sell it in any way you can. "