Customer Reviews

Off the Charts: Ruthless Days and Reckless Nights Inside the Music Industry

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Haring has brought the music business into a chilling new light with Off The Charts. Even people in the business 10+ years will be astonished at the scams and politics running rampant in the upper echelons of the music industry. Haring details key episodes in the evolution of music as big business, many with retrospective commentary from the big players themselves and from those close to the action. While the book may leave you stunned and disillusioned, it is encumbent on the reader to arm him/herself with this blood and guts reality before planning a strategy to reach the difficult goal of acheiving success in the music business. Great book, especially for independent label owners and independent artists.

This book sure makes the record biz look crooked!! Chief culprits appear to be moguls like Charles Koppeman, who inflated the "value" of their companies before selling them at incredible profit and political-animal/corporate types who never gave a hang about the music, but only the bottom line. If all Bruce Haring writes is true, it's one heck of a cesspool filled with sharks - no wonder I don't get anywhere near the royalties to which I'm entitled!! This book chronicles a VERY sick industry! Makes putting out your own CD on your own label seem like the only sensible thing to do, if you don't want to get eaten alive!!

I was expecting a book that examined the faults and failings of the music business in general. While this is an excellent example of reporting the business deals that went down in the mid to late 80s, it focuses on EMI primarily. I would have liked learning more about David Geffen's dealings, and the CBS/Sony merger. However, Haring shines some much-needed light on a shady business. Given the notorious secretiveness of the industry, this is probably the best we can hope for.

This book "photographs" only the worst parts of the music industry, detailing the bad guys and forgetting all bout the good parts. The industry is presented for what it is, a pool filled with sharks and other predators that are just waiting for the rookie in the biz to make a mistake. You'll find real stories of people that have survived the sharks, and revealing information about the so-called good guys, that eventually turn out to be rotten and corrupted. If you want to have any chance in this industry then look for this book, it will be an eye opener.