Customer Reviews

Label Launch: A Guide to Independent Record Recording, Promotion, and Distribution

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Let me start out by pointing out the good things about the book. It is well written and covers every aspect critical to the successful launch of a record label.

Unfortunately, the book is not very thorough. In fact, the book is barely more than just a superficial laundry list just listing all the things that you need to be aware of. But at all times, the author completely fails to provide a well-researched, indepth treatment of any subject that it covers.

For example, it mentions that you need a music attorney to make sure nobody steals your copyright and negotiates your contracts. Well, that's common sense, I don't need to spend money on a book to tell me such basic things. I wanted to find out how to go about launching a label. Well, the authors recommends that I incorporate and think about the difference of LLC. and C-Corporation. She wastes 2 pages (= 1% of this very thin book) on basic knowledge that many other brilliantly written books about business law cover at much greater depth. Why did she even bother? She wastes another 20 pages on such generalities and topics that are mostly common sense.

Will she get to the good stuff? How do I promote a record? How do I go about approaching a DJ, a radio station, a music reviewer? Her answer: hire a good promoter. Duh. Come on, this book is cheap, but I did pay money for information. Why not explain how radio promotion works? That's one of the critical subjects of them all...In short, the book is too superficial and basic to be of any value to anyone serious about starting a label. Avoid and check out the many other wonderful books here on Amazon.com instead.

Good stuff. If you've done the indie-label thing before, it may seem like common sense, but that's because you've done it before and have already made the common mistakes. There are many other books dealing with major-label workings and the more specific music trades -- song publishing, recording, mastering, promotion, etc. -- but this is a solid quick read that will force you to re-do your startup checklist. And it's a fine guide for those non-music-biz people joining you on the indie-label train (investors, your musicians, etc.). What I'd like to see is a revised edition dealing more with Net distribution (a chapter on CDBaby?) and more tales from actual indie labels.

This book should either be revised or discontinued. It was published in 2002 and a lot of the information is no longer useful or relevant.

I little bit outdated now, but, the book is really good and gives plenty of insight to the way some things are in the music business and the way some things use to be. Definitely a good how to guide for anyone wanting to start their own label.

This is an excellent resource guide for those interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

This book is a good basic overview of the industry from the journalist's perspective. Covers such issues as licenses and trademarks, business plan and contracts, releases and promotion. The intro seems a little long-winded, but one could skip over that. Roni does answer one question clearly, though: "For most indies, BMI proves the preferable performing rights organization since it monitors college and public radio stations which are more apt to play indie records." Read the book, but don't buy it - check it out from the library.

Could have been much better but ill get it some credit that i did learn a pionter or two. I highly recommend books purchased from Musicbrains.net entitled the Indie label Kit on Amazon, Music business 101, Future of music and Guide to releasing an independent record by Tim Sweeney.

Them music industry is a complicate and harsh environment and it is easy to fail at starting your own business. Fortunately there are books around that can help you reach your goal faster and with much more ease, and this is one of them. It covers a lot of the aspects, twists and turns in the music industry but it misses out on some very crucial points which are presented in "Ty Cohen's Secrets to Making Money in the Music Industry (3-Piece Mega Audio CD Set)" by Ty Cohen " , a better and more detailed book about the subject, and an easier one too.

its ok it help with so things any things you read on this biz can help