Million Dollar Mistakes - Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines (Softcover) [Paperback]

Moses Avalon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

Everyone knows the success stories of the music industry — how Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" blew the roof off and how Clive Davis helped orchestrate Santana’s stunning comeback. Million-Dollar Mistakes presents the stories of when people in the music business were dead wrong. The book details some of the most expensive mistakes ever made by artists, as well as by the record executives, managers, and producers who’ve worked with stars such as Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Beyoncé, Kurt Cobain, Ricky Martin, Dido, LA Reid, and dozens more. From contract and copyright screw-ups to sheer arrogance and lying, Million-Dollar Mistakes includes tidbits such as the pitfalls of employing a family member, the marketability of suicide, and the industry’s accepted levels of mendacity and thievery. Some of these mistakes are so embarrassing that the people involved would only speak off the record.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Moses Avalon writes under a pseudonym because of the sensitive nature of the material his books cover. Avalon is a music industry consultant and advocate. He has produced and engineered records for Warner Brothers and BMG, and his work with Grammy award-winning artists has earned him five Platinum records and several Billboard and Ampex Golden Reel awards.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879308273
• ISBN-13: 978-0879308278
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone in the business should own this book, December 16, 2005

By 

Seth Glassman "Musician" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Million Dollar Mistakes - Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines (Softcover) (Paperback)

I've made my living in the music business for my entire adult life. Many times I've walked away from total disasters scratching my head and wondering how something that looked so good could turn out so bad right before my eyes. Moses Avalon has a remarkable gift for explaining and illustrating why and how people make decisions they regret, and why and how music business relationships implode. His interviews are with very experienced industry professionals, and hearing what they have to say is unusual - they don't talk in public much. As I read the book I felt like I was reading the story of my life. I recognized many of the mistakes I make out of habit, and I began to grasp some of the bizarre baggage that I've detected in other people I've worked with. You will learn to identify some of the blind spots that can cost you dearly, and recognize the blind spots of others before you get involved with them. You will learn how some folks' behavior is a warning sign to steer clear. Most importantly, I think, you will have a much clearer idea of which career risks are worth taking and which are not. I wish I'd had this book twenty years ago.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Eye Opening Read on Pitfalls, March 8, 2007

By 

MusicMaven - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Million Dollar Mistakes - Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines (Softcover) (Paperback)

Whenever I feel like adding some gas to the tank, I read this book. It does a great job of capturing the dark ugly mess we call the music industry. This is a great book for anyone thinking of joining the industry and provides real life examples of pitfalls that other artists have endured over time.5 stars!

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of useful information, December 19, 2011

By 

Steven (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Million Dollar Mistakes - Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines (Softcover) (Paperback)

A little bit of it seemed like common sense to me, but were things I had been thinking about for quite a few years; so it's not common knowledge.

Great stuff. I'll have to re-read the copyright chapter a few more times to fully understand it.