The Plain and Simple Guide to Music Publishing, 2nd Edition [Hardcover]

Randall Wixen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2009

Publishing is one of the most complex and lucrative parts of the music business. Industry expert Randall Wixen covers everything from mechanical, performing and synch rights to sub-publishing, foreign rights, copyright basics, types of publishing deals, advice on representation and more. Get a view from the top, in plain English. This updated and revised edition has been prepared in light of the ever-changing landscape of music publishing, taking into account factors like illegal downloading and recent announcements from the Copyright Royalty Board. With an added "DIY" chapter, the author demonstrates why the playing field has changed for the traditional copyright adminstrators, and how musicians just starting out can protect their own work until they hit the big time.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard; 2 edition (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423468546
• ISBN-13: 978-1423468547
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Business

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expert Tells Songwriters and Musicians How To Avoid Pitfalls, March 20, 2006

By 

John Klawitter (Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Plain & Simple Guide to Music Publishing: Foreword by Tom Petty (Book) (Hardcover)

Randall Wixon rose though the ranks of music publishers to become the largest independent in the business, known for his integrity, insight and sharp wit. Here he provides us with an easy-to read guide that makes common sense out of the seemingly complex financial side of the Music Business. No one could make this subject easy--Randall does as good a job as humanly possible to make it interesting and digestable. Anyone with a financial stake in a song, a lyric, a recording, will count this as must reading, even if they then go out to hire professional representation. I am a member of ASCAP with about 10 songwriting credits garnered over the years as a professional writer in Hollywood (Mostly at Disney Studios and Warner Bros), and yet I was embarrassed at how little I actually knew about my own rights. So anyone from a beginner to a semi-irregular song writer like myself to a prolific musician with hundreds of credits can and will profit from a careful reading of this book.
John Klawitter
writer/producer/director

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE PLAIN AND SIMPLE TRUTH: IT'S GREAT!, December 5, 2005

By 

Gian Fiero (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Plain & Simple Guide to Music Publishing: Foreword by Tom Petty (Book) (Hardcover)

Over the years I have conducted numerous lectures and workshops on the subject of music publishing. It's the only subject matter that I've tackled in a seminar environment that creates more questions with each answer. Randall Wixen, who has been in the business of music publishing for years, has thought of all the common questions and supplies answers to them by breaking down every aspect of music publishing (ownership, exploitation, profit splits, etc.) in detail and with clarity. This book articulates the purpose and role of music publisher and the mechanics and finances of their operation. It's also one of the few books that I've read that sheds light on how ASCAP & BMI collect, and distribute revenues among songwriters and publishers. Affordably priced to be a MUST HAVE reference book for all songwriters.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Info, January 31, 2006

By 

DeFacto (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Plain & Simple Guide to Music Publishing: Foreword by Tom Petty (Book) (Hardcover)

Randall D. Wixen's book is packed full of valuable information for anyone with an interest in music publishing. I recommend this as a must-read no-nonsense guide for everyone from songwriters to music publishing executives. If I ran a large music publishing corporation, I would make this required reading for everyone at the company. Randall tells the basics about protecting and profiting from music copyrights. The forward by Tom Petty is a strong endorsement and from a songwriter's perspective says it all about this book in one line..."a book that could be the most valuable writing partner you'll ever hook up with".