Music Business Bastards

How to do well in the music business without getting ripped off

Confucius once said ‘If you want to know what’s up the road ahead ask the man coming back down it’

Knowledge is both the key to not getting ripped off but it also unlocks the secrets of how to beat the opposition in a very competitive industry.

When you add tips on saving tons of money and still making an impact, Music Business Bastards is a very wise investment indeed.

When the original version of this book was released No.1 hit artists like Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Adam Ant, Bill Drummond (KLF) and others plus legendary Factory Records label boss (The late) Tony Wilson said the book was essential reading for any artist serious about getting on in the music industry. Even the first band that read the book ‘Soho’ got a top 3 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. (Hippy Chick)

Fast forward to 2013 and music industry has changed beyond all recognition so a new version of this book was much needed.

Information about how to stand out from the crowd, how to do things on a shoestring budget and compete with the major companies and what rip offs lie in wait, still stand up today. It also features the shock revelation that musicians are now being ripped off on two sides that will really open their eyes. That’s not to say the music business has lost its guile because the new 360 deals are sending shivers down many an artist’s spine.

But it’s the Internet that is the new shark on the scene. The web is ideally named because it captures its unsuspecting pray.

All is revealed in this new book as well as a look at how the music industry got in such a state. The book reaches a chilling conclusion but also gives an alternative way for things to go making it a very interesting read.

Bafta winner and Henry’s cat creator Stan Hayward did the cartoons and front cover.

So, what makes this book more authentic than others? The author has worked on all sides of the industry having initially been a successful record shop manager and international D.J he progressed to running his own influential record label and publishing company which started new music trends and new music genres and is still in business 20 years on. 2013 is the 20th Anniversary of Future Legend Records.

He wrote an influential fanzine now housed in the V&A. He has produced 250 tracks released worldwide and is listed on one website ‘The top 20 most innovative record producers of all time’. He is an established photographer and 15 of his photos will feature in a London exhibition this year ‘The most iconic rock photography of the last six decades’. He has been in a number of bands, written over 50 songs that have been commercially released. He has also been advisor to The BBC and DR. Martens amongst others. He was also early to embrace the Internet in 1991.

So in essence there is no substitute for first hand experience.

It may be the case that others want to go down the same route and just experience things first hand but as Confucius once said’ If you want to know what’s up the road ahead, ask the man coming back down it.

A smart person would do that because knowledge is the key to doing well in any business it also helps you not to get ripped off.