Hot Hits, Cheap Demos: The Real-World Guide to Music Business Success [Paperback]

Nadine Condon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

If you are a musician, you need this book, which is rooted in real-life music business experience, not classroom theory. It reveals the secrets of artist development using the creative process as the foundation for success, and provides solid direction for you to plan and evaluate your path to success. Hot Hits, Cheap Demos shows you how to: jumpstart your career * create a press kit and develop sure-fire marketing strategies * contact clubs and alternative venues * produce and promote your own shows * make an eye-catching web site * create a standout song, find a producer, and even package a CD. Written by Nadine Condon, a 20-year music industry veteran who's been instrumental in the success of such acts as Smash Mouth, Stroke 9, Third Eye Blind and Train.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879307625
• ISBN-13: 978-0879307622
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,006,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than "How To"... a "You Can Do It" Book for All Artists, November 13, 2003

By 

Mike Roberts (Rockford, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hot Hits, Cheap Demos: The Real-World Guide to Music Business Success (Paperback)

The average "How To" book supplies information, but leaves motivation up to the reader. It assumes the reader is motivated enough by the simple fact that they are reading the book. But I found that Nadine Condon leaves nothing to chance in "Hot Hits, Cheap Demos", as she not only shares a wealth of insider tips from a prolific background in Rock & Roll promotions and artist development, but goes the extra step to diffuse the myths and misconceptions that often frustrate and ultimately de-motivate the aspiring artist, myself being one of them. My impression is that Nadine set out to affirm and encourage aspiring artists as much as to inform them.

On the INFORMATION side, Nadine's career has included working with Jefferson Starship, Melissa Ethridge and Smashmouth (just to name a few, there are many more). Plus, she regularly hosts a major showcase event in the San Francisco area that draws labels and record execs from all over to see new talent. Nadine knows her stuff. And she has the gold and platinum albums from grateful clients to prove it. She knows the business, the industry, the market, and she shares those insights abundantly.

Most of all, she knows artists--how they work, how they think, how they feel. It is that familiarity with artists that creates the MOTIVATIONAL aspect of the book. From the start, anyone who reads this will feel appreciated for whatever their current status and aspiration is in music. Whether they simply want to perform at the local open mic or take the nation by storm, they will find that Nadine is in their corner. She provides specific steps to take immediately to move beyond frustration and get to the process of making your dreams come true. I have already begun to put into practice some of the specific steps she recommends.

I appreciate the fact that "what is ultimate success" is left up to me, the reader, and Nadine's role is to simply help me get there, wherever "there" is. Her encouragement is inspiring and affirming, and her advice is proven, specific and do-able.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, May 19, 2006

By 

Crystal "www.MusicContracts101.com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hot Hits, Cheap Demos: The Real-World Guide to Music Business Success (Paperback)

This amazing book will show you the darker sides of music producing and recording, things you will not see in other book, in living colors and with dozens of photography and along the good side, it presents the failures in music industry and details the motives for the fall. Real life cases are presented and the evolution is followed from the first demo tapes up to stardom, the process and steps that the musician must take to become noticed, almost all of these steps taking years to complete .

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally something I can use!, October 17, 2005

By 

J. Barra - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Hits, Cheap Demos: The Real-World Guide to Music Business Success (Paperback)

It's not often you come across anything related to the music industry that is practical and insightful at the same time. "Hot Hits, Cheap Demos" is a must read for musicians at any stage in the game. Nadine's an insider who shares stories of how successful bands broke through from the inside perspective and in doing so offers opportunities to compare your own progress to the biggies. But what I found most helpful was the "band timeline" that explicitly maps out your career from garage to arena with amazing accuracy! Highly recommended.

Justin
Smith Point
[...]