Making and Marketing Music: The Musician's Guide to Financing, Distributing and Promoting Albums [Paperback]

Jodi Summers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This complete and industry-savvy guide helps musicians of all levels make the album that best compliments their skills and meets their career objectives. From pre-project strategies to the glossy hit CD, this book reveals the who, what, where, when, and how of album making and the tools to sell and prosper in the business. The book explains what it takes to break into radio, TV, and print media, and shows how to take advantage of the growing opportunities to promote, market, and distribute music online. Interviews with top industry professionals and in-depth case studies give invaluable insight into every aspect of the business, making this an indispensable reference for all emerging and performing musicians.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Summers, a music industry journalist and the president of World View Media, shows "the easiest, most economical ways to make an album and get it heard." She walks the musician through the myriad detailsAwho and what you need to know, raising money, getting an album deal, making and releasing a record, and marketing itAin an easy-to-understand, almost conversational way. In addition to numerous well-orchestrated interviews with artists, record company executives, and music industry insiders, Making and Marketing Music includes pertinent "Commit It to Memory" and "Keep in Mind" sections plus "Warning" tips. Chronicling album production from start to finish in an inexpensive, handy volume, this book will be a great addition to public and academic libraries alike.AJanet Brewer, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

If I could tell you why we were successful, I'd write a book and sell 2 million copies. I can't, but this book can. -- Scott Stapp, Vocalist for Creed

The best vehicle I have found for providing insight into the intimate intricacies of music industry -- Andy Secher, Editor, Hit Parader Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581150156
• ISBN-13: 978-1581150155
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,529,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T BUY THIS BOOK, March 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making and Marketing Music: The Musician's Guide to Financing, Distributing and Promoting Albums (Paperback)

While this book contains a few helpful suggestions on confronting the business of music, much of the information presented is simply common sense. If you are 15 and just bought your first guitar, this book might be for you. Otherwise, you might find it insulting to your intelligence.

Summers' demographic is pre-pubescent, as the following excerpt will help you understand:

"What it takes to make an album is good songs. Think about whether every song is the caliber of 'MMMBop' or 'Sympathy for the Devil.'"

By refering to young teen bands like Hanson she is trying to appeal to a very yound crowd. I suppose this is why Summers tries so hard to be hip, using slang here and there. But not only does her slang confuse the writing, it comes off sounding akward and embarassing, like when your mom tries to use the slang of your generation. The book is a jumble of obvious and vague statements written in akward ways.

Take a moment to review Summers' credentials:

Jodi Summers is President of World View Media, an international company supplying entertainment and new technology material to magazines, newspapers, Web sites, and online services. Summers' work has appeared in virtually every music magazine around the world. She lives in Los Angeles California.

Notice "has appeared in virtually every music magazine around the world." This statement is so vague it makes think she is avoiding the fact that she hasn't been published by a remotely noteworthy newspaper or journal. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I am skeptical. Credentials aside, the quality of writing suggests that Summers is more like a soccer mom driving around the valley in her SUV than an industry pro.

I emplore you to hesitate before buying this book! Those are hours of my life I will never get back.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not the book you need, February 6, 2001

By 

"bobinscotland" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making and Marketing Music: The Musician's Guide to Financing, Distributing and Promoting Albums (Paperback)

This is not so much a book... more a collection of magazine cuttings. There are far too many short stories about other bands, mainly used in my opinion as a name-dropping exercise. There is very little actual information of any practical value, other than a few obvious references to writing better songs and presenting them to the right people. There was no indication of how to write a better song, or who the right people are, or even how to go about finding them. So much for marketing information.

The writer goes on to explain that someone DID market their own album successfully. May as well have said that someone DID land on the moon, but no indication of HOW to go about preparing your music (or your spaceship) to do the same.

Very disappointing all round, or maybe my expectations were a little high, which is also possible, isn't it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Interesting, August 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Making and Marketing Music: The Musician's Guide to Financing, Distributing and Promoting Albums (Paperback)

It's obvious why Billboard Magazine gave Making and Marketing Music such a great review. It's full of interesting stories on how so many different platinum bands from so many areas of music succeeded.

If you're looking for step-by-step instruction on how to market and promote your album - this book is incredibly helpful!