Dirty Little Secrets of the Record Business: Why So Much Music You Hear Sucks (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: fake science, record business, independent promotion, New York, United States, Warner Bros (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Music journalist Bordowitz (Turning Points in Rock and Roll) delivers a concise summary of the current state of the record business, with fascinating details delivered in a no-frills style ("The RIAA has compared the practice of downloading songs 'without permission' to shoplifting, but whose permission do the downloaders need?"). Unless you are a Britney Spears fan, Bordowitz presents a fairly convincing argument that current music "sucks" by looking at "how the system that turned music into a commodity ultimately failed, trivializing its product and the user of that product." He presents an inside look at how the music business works, from artist management to production and distribution, as well as current music technology. And a section on "The Messy Suicide of Commercial Radio" is an excellent overview of the change over the last three decades from the free-form radio formats of the 1960s to the homogenized niche corporate radio stations of the '90s and today. In the end, this is an eye-opening look at why, as Bordowitz quotes music mogul David Geffen, "If Joni Mitchell were just starting out today,... she'd have trouble getting radio air play." (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"An accurate and well-researched exposé of the surreptitious, undisclosed, and covert activities of the music industry."   —Tony Bongiovi, producer

"To understand how recorded and broadcast music arrived at their sorry state, this is the book to read."  —Larry Fast, keyboardist for Peter Gabriel and Foreigner

"Brilliantly written, insightful, a good history, and a great read."  —Jack Ponti, songwriter, producer, manager, and record company president

"This is the book that any one who once did time in the music business wish we had written."  —Hugo Burnham, drummer for Gang of Four, former manager and major-label A&R executive

"Engaging and enlightening . . . a solid primer to today’s Byzantine music industry."  —Billboard

See all Editorial Reviews

---

Product Details Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Chicago Review Press (January 1, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 1556526431 ISBN-13: 978-1556526435 Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

---

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Hank Bordowitz Page

Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fake science, record business, independent promotion

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, United States, Warner Bros, Clear Channel, Sam Goody, Todd Rundgren, Time Warner, Columbia Records, Payola Isn't Dead, Only Three Months, Atlantic Records, American Bandstand, Alan Freed, Artie Ripp, Universal Music Group, Walter Yetnikoff, Los Angeles, Power Station, You're Kidding, Guys Does It Take, Music Boulevard, Steve Ross, Joe Smith, Are You Sirius, Percent of Revenue

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	50% buy the item featured on this page: Dirty Little Secrets of the Record Business: Why So Much Music You Hear Sucks 4.2 out of 5 stars (4) $16.47
	19% buy Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business 4.5 out of 5 stars (26) $11.53
	14% buy Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age 3.7 out of 5 stars (31) $18.72
	11% buy The Label: The Story of Columbia Records 4.2 out of 5 stars (13) $23.96

Explore similar items

---

Tags Customers Associate with This Product  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people. Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.  music business(5) radio(2) education(1) internet(1) music(1) payola(1) pop(1) rock(1) See all 10 tags... Your tags: Add your first tag

Search Products Tagged with   See most popular tags

---

 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 7 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Music Fans & Musicians, June 5, 2007 By  dwood78 (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews I came across this book at my local library. After looking through it, I decided to check it out. This book, written by someone who works in the music biz is a must read for not only musicians but music lovers as well. The author, a veteran of the music biz shows why music sales are down & why blame for that goes to the music biz itself. From forcing VERY bad music down our throats to briding radio stations to play this music. Also forcusing only on the youth despite the fact that they make up only a small % of those who actually buy music (fact is most music buyers are older folks & 60% of all music sales are back-log catalog or reissues). It's not surprising that people have either stopped buying music altogether or go online to look for the music they want. Broadacst radio is also in the same boat as we see more & fewer stations being owned by fewer and fewer owners, there's a decrease in musical diversity on-air. Thus causing an exdous of people towards satelle & internet radio. Then there's the record companies screwing over their artists. One artist in the book went from going Gold (selling half a million copies) to flipping burgers. I can keep going, but you're find out more in the book. Also "The label: the story of Columbia Records" by Gary Marmorstein is also worth reading. 4.0 out of 5 stars MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILED, May 31, 2008 By  Elizabeth Plese (Amagansett, NY) - See all my reviews IN READING "DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF THE RECORD BUSINESS" I COULDN'T HELP MAKE THE CONNECTION TO DON BRUNS'S FICTION SERIES, FEATURING MICK SEVER, A MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST. SO MANY OF THE FICTIONAL ADVENTURES IN BRUNS'S SERIES RELATE TO HANK BORDOWITZ'S NON FICTION, EYE-OPENING INSIGHTS. THE LATEST BRUNS' MYSTERY, "ST BARTS BREAKDOWN", SEEMS LIKE IT'S RIGHT OUT OF CURRENT EVENTS. FOR ANY ONE INTERESTED IN THE UNSEEMLY OR SEEDY SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, I'D RECOMMEND "DIRTY SECRETS" AND "ST BARTS BREAKDOWN". 7 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Shot In The Foot, April 29, 2007 By  Book & Music Lover (Louisville, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews Scam, scam, scam, one cut sounds good, on a CD of say ten cuts, and then things like "Junk Music" you know electronic this, and electronic that, and bogus lyrics about nonsense subjects. Then there comes the lyrics that are outrageous, where women are refered to as bit**hes and hos', the kind of thing that got Imus fired. So let us also fire the recording excutives who allow these lyrics to be in the music in the first place. No matter how one tries one cannot justify the constant use of these terms. For artistic expression, or otherwise. So no wonder people go to the internet to download their music just to get what they want, and leave the fill in garbage behind. The recording industry has indeed shot itself in both feet, and instead of looking at itself, they blame everyone else. Including the public they have so misused over the years. Here is a book turning back the veil and giving everyone a look see at what lies beneath. All the scams, aganist the artists, and the buying public as well. Then there is something called market friendly music, somewhat cookie cutter music, instead of the true expressions of the artists. Recording excutives telling you what you want to listen to instead of music which may or may not determine how long said artist's career will be. Let us not speak of independant recording companies, there are very, very few, if any they are all owned by Universal, Sony, or some other big company. Again designed to have absolute control. Thinking of a recording career make this book a must read, to give you a heads up.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars I Was Hoping For More. While DLSOTRB:WSMMYHS is an entertaining and at times fascinating read, I found little new information. Read more Published on May 25, 2007 by Garry C. Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

---

Customer Discussions

This product's forum Discussion Replies Latest Post No discussions yet Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight Start a new discussion Topic: First post: Receive e-mail when new posts are made Prompts for sign-in   Guidelines Active discussions in related forums Discussion Replies Latest Post science Global warming is nothing but a hoax and a scare tactic 3712 55 seconds ago music let's show the 60's some love too! 1913 4 minutes ago science Problems with the Natural Chemical "Origin of Life" 214 5 minutes ago music Favorite "final" albums 20 9 minutes ago radio Tivoli Audio 4 6 days ago radio Radio/TV combinations 43 6 days ago internet Amazon search problem and How to report a web site problem to Amazon? 0 8 days ago Search Customer Discussions Search all Amazon discussions

The Radio community Latest activity 10 hours ago 2,613 customers have contributed 1,610 products, 67 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community The Music community Latest activity 1 hour ago 21,855 customers have contributed 25,704 products, 1,023 discussions and more... › Explore the community The Internet community Latest activity 14 hours ago 2,627 customers have contributed 1,810 products, 141 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community Related forums internet (10 discussions) music (1023 discussions) music business (1 discussion) radio (5 discussions) science (1023 discussions) Explore more › See all Customer Communities › Your communities

---

Listmania!

For the Rock Music Fan: A list by Conspicuous Chick "Conspicuous Chick"   Business, Management and Economics: A list by Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist"   books I have read in 2009: A list by P. Sciver "reading is fun" Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

---

So You'd Like to...

Solve the music crisis: A guide by Zac   Be a Millionaire Rock Star!: A guide by Carla Lynne Hall "Supernova Singer"   Be a Working Musician: A guide by Carla Lynne Hall "Supernova Singer" Create a guide

Search Guides

---

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

---

Look for Similar Items by Category

• Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions
• Books > Entertainment > Music > Business
• Books > Entertainment > Music > Recording & Sound
• Books > Science > Technology > History of Technology

---

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:
Music industry
Music trade - History
Sound recording industry - History
Economic Aspects Of Music
Sound Recording And Recordings
Music
Music/Songbooks
Business & Economics / Industries / General
Business Aspects
Industries - General
Music / Business Aspects
Recording & Reproduction
History
Music and technology
Music trade
Sound recording industry
Popular Culture & Media: General Interest


i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Ad feedback

 

Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? Is there any other feedback you would like to provide? Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

› View and edit your browsing history

Get to Know Us Careers Investor Relations Press Releases Amazon and Our Planet Make Money with Us Sell on Amazon Join Associates Self-publish with Us › See all Let Us Help You Shipping Rates & Policies Amazon Prime Returns Help

Canada | China | France | Germany | Japan | United Kingdom  And don't forget: Amazon Windowshop | AmazonWireless | Askville | Audible | DPReview | Endless | IMDb | Shopbop | SoundUnwound | Warehouse Deals by Amazon | Zappos Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556526431
• ISBN-13: 978-1556526435
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Music Fans & Musicians, June 5, 2007

By	dwood78 (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I came across this book at my local library. After looking through it, I decided to check it out. This book, written by someone who works in the music biz is a must read for not only musicians but music lovers as well.

The author, a veteran of the music biz shows why music sales are down & why blame for that goes to the music biz itself. From forcing VERY bad music down our throats to briding radio stations to play this music. Also forcusing only on the youth despite the fact that they make up only a small % of those who actually buy music (fact is most music buyers are older folks & 60% of all music sales are back-log catalog or reissues). It's not surprising that people have either stopped buying music altogether or go online to look for the music they want.

Broadacst radio is also in the same boat as we see more & fewer stations
being owned by fewer and fewer owners, there's a decrease in musical diversity on-air. Thus causing an exdous of people towards satelle & internet radio.

Then there's the record companies screwing over their artists. One artist in the book went from going Gold (selling half a million copies) to flipping burgers.

I can keep going, but you're find out more in the book. Also "The label: the story of Columbia Records" by Gary Marmorstein is also worth reading.

4.0 out of 5 stars MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILED, May 31, 2008

By	Elizabeth Plese (Amagansett, NY) - See all my reviews

IN READING "DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF THE RECORD BUSINESS" I COULDN'T HELP MAKE THE CONNECTION TO DON BRUNS'S FICTION SERIES, FEATURING MICK SEVER, A MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST. SO MANY OF THE FICTIONAL ADVENTURES IN BRUNS'S SERIES RELATE TO HANK BORDOWITZ'S NON FICTION, EYE-OPENING INSIGHTS. THE LATEST BRUNS' MYSTERY, "ST BARTS BREAKDOWN", SEEMS LIKE IT'S RIGHT OUT OF CURRENT EVENTS. FOR ANY ONE INTERESTED IN THE UNSEEMLY OR SEEDY SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, I'D RECOMMEND "DIRTY SECRETS" AND "ST BARTS BREAKDOWN".

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Shot In The Foot, April 29, 2007

By	Book & Music Lover (Louisville, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews

Scam, scam, scam, one cut sounds good, on a CD of say ten cuts, and then things like "Junk Music" you know electronic this, and electronic that, and bogus lyrics about nonsense subjects. Then there comes the lyrics that are outrageous, where women are refered to as bit**hes and hos', the kind of thing that got Imus fired. So let us also fire the recording excutives who allow these lyrics to be in the music in the first place. No matter how one tries one cannot justify the constant use of these terms. For artistic expression, or otherwise. So no wonder people go to the internet to download their music just to get what they want, and leave the fill in garbage behind. The recording industry has indeed shot itself in both feet, and instead of looking at itself, they blame everyone else. Including the public they have so misused over the years.

Here is a book turning back the veil and giving everyone a look see at what lies beneath. All the scams, aganist the artists, and the buying public as well. Then there is something called market friendly music, somewhat cookie cutter music, instead of the true expressions of the artists. Recording excutives telling you what you want to listen to instead of music which may or may not determine how long said artist's career will be.

Let us not speak of independant recording companies, there are very, very few, if any they are all owned by Universal, Sony, or some other big company. Again designed to have absolute control.

Thinking of a recording career make this book a must read, to give you a heads up.