All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition [Hardcover]

Donald S. Passman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2009 | Series: All You Need to Know About the Music Business

Since the advent of file-sharing technology in the late 1990s, the music industry has been challenged to reinvent itself. What has it done? How have the record labels repositioned themselves to cope with these massive changes? How does all this affect creative artists?

No one understands the music industry -- from the technology, to the legalities, to the new industry practices -- better than veteran music lawyer Donald Passman. In this completely revised and updated seventh edition of All You Need to Know About the Music Business, which the Los Angeles Times called "the industry bible" and which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies over the last eighteen years, Passman offers executives and artists, experts and novices alike the essential information they need not only to survive in these volatile and exciting times, but also to thrive.

Drawing on his unique, up-to-the-minute experience as one of the most trusted advisors in the industry, Passman offers new information on:

- The new 360 model of record deals, wherein record companies share in nonrecord revenue

- The Copyright Royalty Board's latest decisions regarding online transmissions

- The developing customs on new technologies such as streaming on demand, ringtones, and digital downloads

- Updates on recording and publishing deals, as well as film music

He also gives guidance on fundamental issues, such as how to:

- Select and hire a winning team of advisors -- personal and business managers, agents, and attorneys -- and structure their commissions, percentages, and fees in a way that will protect you and maximize these relationships

- Master the big picture and the finer points of record deals

- Navigate the ins and outs of songwriting, music publishing, and copyrights

- Maximize concert, touring, and merchandising deals

Everyone in the business -- musicians, songwriters, entertainment lawyers, agents, promoters, publishers, managers, record company executives -- is scrambling to figure out what's going to happen in the future, and Passman is in the thick of these changes. Anyone interested in a music career will need this comprehensive and crucial guide to making it in one of the world's most dynamic industries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Should be required reading for anyone planning or enduring a career in the biz." -- Rolling Stone

"Any creative person who's considering working in the music business should read this book." -- Jimmy Lovine, chairman, Interscope Geffen A&M Records

"I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the music business." -- David Geffen

"I've spent ten years trying to get Don to open up like this to me. Never has he been so eloquent, so patient, or so thorough. It cost me a fortune to get these diamonds from Don: Now you can have them. For your own. At a fraction of the cost." -- Tom Waits

"This man is so knowledgeable that it's difficult negotiating with him. The book is terrific and a must-read if you want to know how the music business works." -- Joe Smith, former president and CEO, Capitol Records/EMI Music, Inc.

"I almost hesitate to recommend Don's book -- it gives away more inside information than it should." -- Mo Ostin, chairman of the board, DreamWorks Records

"An entertaining and professionally written primer on the music business." -- Michael Eisner, former CEO, the Walt Disney Company

"I highly recommend Don's book to anyone who has ever been interested in the music business. His experience and insight into the inner workings of the music world make this an indispensable work." -- Quincy Jones

"If I'd had this book when I started, I'd be ten times richer and would have saved a fortune in legal fees." -- Ed Bicknell, manager, Dire Straits

About the Author

Donald S. Passman is the author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business, and a graduate of the University of Texas and Harvard Law School. He practices law with the Los Angeles firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, and has specialized in the music business for over thirty years. He has lectured extensively on the music industry at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, USC Law School, UCLA Law School, the Los Angeles Copyright Society, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association. He is also the author of two novels, The Visionary and Mirage, published by Warner Books. Passman has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for over twenty years, as well as in the Top 100 Lawyers in California, the Top 500 Attorneys in America, Hollywood Reporter’s Top 100 Entertainment Attorneys, and Southern California's Super Lawyers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 7 edition (November 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439153019
• ISBN-13: 978-1439153017
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Business
  • #16 in Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Communications

More About the Author

Donald S. Passman is a graduate of the University of Texas and Harvard Law School. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children and practices law with the firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Passman has specialized intensively in the music business for more than thirty years and is frequently cited as one of the most influential people in the entertainment industry. His clients include major entertainers, publishers, record companies, songwriters, industry executives, film companies, managers, producers, and other participants in the music industry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the holy trinity of music business books, December 12, 2009

By 

Randi Reed "MusicBizAdvice Editor" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition (Hardcover)

Speaking as a music business consultant, if I had to recommend only one music business book for someone who wanted to break into the music industry, this would be it. Donald S. Passman's All You Need to Know About the Music Business is one of what I refer to as the Holy Trinity of music business books, along with This Business of Music and Mark Halloran's Musician's Business and Legal Guide.

Passman is well respected within the industry, with musicians and music industry executives alike. He explains complex concepts and legal terms well and is adept at breaking down the complexities while maintaining terminology music industry professionals need to know.

While This Business of Music remains the comprehensive music industry Bible, its legalese can intimidate those new music business concepts or those who are unfamiliar with contract language. Therefore, Passman's All You Need to Know About the Music Business serves as a great starting point to the concepts and terminology of the music industry. I especially recommend it as a prerequisite to This Business of Music.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but know what your looking for...., October 13, 2010

By 

sdarr - See all my reviews

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition (Hardcover)

This was a great book, and I would be outright wrong if I said it didn't provide a comprehensive overview of the music industry. The author does a great job keeping the reader intersted with humor and easy to understand examples.

The only thing I will caution is that it focuses MUCH on the recording industry and how they could mess you over and all of the contracts etc...but not enough on starting your own buisiness and small independant label. This book is great for those of you lucky enough to be at the point with big time label and publisher recognition, but not so much for us indie artist's wanting to start our own LLC or Sole Proprietorship. There are other books out there if the latter is what your looking for that would better serve you and hopefully when I get signed I'll be able to reach again for this book.

Overal great book, but in my case I wouldn't be writing this review since I just recently ordered "Music Law" which I'm hoping will go into more detail of where this book left off with the actual side of running your own buisiness/partnership.

Happy reading, regardless it's good that your reading any music law book since it's a little sad how nasty the recording industry is. Don't get too caught up in this stuff and don't forget to get down in the basement and write a couple of good songs if your a musician!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal, December 17, 2009

By 

W. Simonetti "Mantis" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Seventh Edition (Hardcover)

An incredible thorough explanation of all sides of the music business. You will find some info incredibly fascinating, other pages you won't want to look at, but the author does a tremendous job of allowing the reader to move from section to section without losing continuity or flow.

A great pickup if you are interested in learning more about the music industry as a potential career path. I interviewed with a finance guy at Warner Music Group, and he said this was "The Bible" of the music industry; I see his point now.