Making Music Your Business: A Guide for Young Musicians [Paperback]

David Ellefson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

Being a successful musician takes more than playing well. This book helps musicians of all styles and levels manage the business side of their career. Megadeth bassist David Ellefson draws on 20 years of recording and touring experience to share his knowledge of how the music industry works - from the musician's perspective. Explores the key areas of management, recording, promotion, touring, and career image.

Editorial Reviews

Review

How can aspiring young musicians break into the music industry? With the help of this basic beginner's guide, which covers everything from record deals and royalties to promotion, merchandise deals, and working with a management team. Ellefson, bassist for Megadeth, provides practical business tips for making it in a cutthroat industry. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: Miller Freeman Books (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087930460X
• ISBN-13: 978-0879304607
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative Guide To The Music Business, April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Music Your Business: A Guide for Young Musicians (Paperback)

This book isn't about teaching you to write extraordinary songs. It's not about teaching you techniques or anything similar. This book is a guide to the music business and as such a very good book. David knows his way around the music business and this guide is the best I've read on that subject.

The book is easy and fun to read and it really gives you inspiration when it comes to actually making it as a professional musician. It's only down is that it's a bit short.

Check it out!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent overview of the business for beginners, March 27, 2005

By 

Z. William Arkosy (California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Making Music Your Business: A Guide for Young Musicians (Paperback)

Ellefson gives us a brief overview of how the music industry operates and gives us a few words of advice along the way. Given the amount of success he has achieved with his band Megadeth, he is a credible source. This book is targeted at the amateur musician, since the chapters on each section are usually limited to about 2 pages, which makes them very superficial. Those that have been performing/playing music for a while will most likely see this book as old news. Chances are you won't become successful by reading this book alone, but it's a good place to start & further reading on the subject will most likely also be required.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starting point for musicians, October 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Music Your Business: A Guide for Young Musicians (Paperback)

This what it says a guide for young musicians. It is a quick and easy read pertaining to management, attorneys, booking agencies, bussiness management, recording, promotion, touring teaveling, gear and copyrighting. Although this an excellent starter, if you already know about music law then you probably won't read anything new. In fact there are several books that specialize in contract and dealings that this only covers briefly. Yet nonetheless a short read (130 pages) that give beginners insight into starting and being prepared for the long road ahead.