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As writers, it’s often difficult to be objective about writing and any aspect related to writing and creating the demos that are used to shop songs. As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, I can tell you that with all of the vast array of talent and gifted writers, only a [...]

Who’s been signed this time, was a common question and theme at William Morris Agency while I was there as an agent. While the agency was always on the lookout, of course with the major heavy weight record labels, knowing which artist would ultimately get the deal was not always an “in the bag” known [...]

Have you ever wondered what exactly artist development is, what it’s not and why acts need it? With all of the artist press kits, new artist showcases and cd,s that I’ve either attended, listened to, or was asked to evaluate, I can tell you that not many young artists understand what artist development is. You [...]

What exactly is the “X factor?” You hear professionals in the entertainment industry referring to it. You hear artists alluding to it, but you rarely hear anyone defining “it.” If you are an aspiring music artist or an entertainer, it’s important that you know what “it” is because in the mind of the most seasoned [...]

Every time I speak at a conference or conduct my popular FACE THE MUSIC! workshop which offers a commercial critique of songs, I’m constantly asked what A&R professionals look for when it comes to evaluating and choosing artists they want to sign. While I can’t tell you specifically why any A&R person signs a particular [...]

So you’re ready to start getting down to the business of music, but you’re slowly starting to realize something awful: you don’t know the first thing about making it in the music business. After all, you’re a musician, not a record exec. But what kind of impact will it have on your career as a [...]

So you want to be a multi-platinum selling rock star making millions. Woo hoo! Great goal! But these days DIY (You-It-Yourself) has become mainstream, a way of life for many independent artists. So those dreams of getting signed to a major label are so far beyond the horizon it is really not an option anymore. [...]

I just returned from the second annual Hyperfest Music Conference & Festival. It was a lot of fun but makes me think of plenty of do’s and not to do’s. It’s interesting how many indie musicians have good intentions but don’t have a game plan in place when attending these conferences. I have some helpful [...]

(For the purpose of this article I am going to make a couple of assumptions before I go any further. They are that you have a little bit of vocal or musical instrument knowledge and that you also have a fledgling network of friends and contacts)
Starting up a band is a very exciting time in [...]

In the Music Biz, marketing makes the difference between artist and musicians succeeding or failing.
There are a few marketing key terms that you should know to be able to market your music successfully. This article deals with the first and most important marketing technique - branding.
Branding involves creating symbols that potential fans or “target’s” will [...]