Customer Reviews

Tim Sweeney's Guide to Releasing Independent Records

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I confess. I read the reviews before I bought the book even though I knew a lot of people who read it and used it. While some reviews said the book is too simplistic, isn't that the point! I read the book in one day, use it as a bible and have had good success in the first month. I got a distribution deal in 1 week. Created a promo kit that actually got me a review and have booked 2 shows at clubs where I couldn't play before. If this is what the info in the book has done for me in 1 month, I want to see what it can do every month. There are too many books written by lawyers that try to talk over your head. This guy writes in plain english. I bought extra copies for my friends. As a side note, I called Sweeney's number in the front of book and he answered the phone himself and talked with me for 15 minutes. Try that with some of the other books I bought. I have also been using Sweeney's Guide To Successfully Playing Live. Helped me sell 11 month CDs at my last show. Betterthen my average of 3 I normally sell. Simple is better and worth your time and money.

A little thin for...(price), only if you value the book by the amount of paper between the covers. There is more relevant information per page in Tim Sweeneys guide than in a collection of books twice the size. If you are at all unsure about how to go about that first release this book is essential. It is clear, concise, and straight to the point, with an easy to follow a-b guide of how to go about it. Yes it may all be a little old hat for today considering there is no mention of the internet, MP3's, multi media CD's etc or any of the other developments within the industry since 96, but if you are interested in an independent record release through the more traditional routes, pressing plant to distibutor to retailer, radio, gigs etc this book is perfect for you. I might add this book is more concerned with the giging band type scenario and doesn't really address the dance or electronic music scene or the numerous new marketing strategies open to the electronic musician, however this book is a really good place to begin to understand the process of, as it says on the cover, releasing an independent record.

I have read Tim Sweeney's articles on the web at Get Signed.com. I lot of musicians I talk with own and have been using a copy of this book. I finally decided to get one for myself.

This is the easiest to read most direct book I have ever seen. I'm embarassed to say that I have spent over $200 on different music business books over the years. Almost all of them are worthless except for maybe one good idea.

Not this book. When I finished it, I noticed that I had something highlighted on almost every page.

Some people have told me this book is to simple. That's what's great about it. You can follow it and use it as a plan to sell more CDs. I know a lot of musicians who bought books by people who "claimed they were in the music business". I got discouraged just like they have.

But Sweeney's book actaully works becuase Sweeney works with bands all the time. If you are willing to do the work he tells you and shows you how to do, you will have success. Or you can complain it didn't work.

Here's the simple fact. My CD is 2 years old. I ordered 1,000 CDs. On my own I sold 300 copies in 1 year. Using Sweeney's directions I have sold almost 700 this year. I am actually waiting for my reorder.

This book is for real.

Though Mr. Sweeney's guide is cheaply produced, can be completely read in an hour and is way overpriced, the information contained therein is immensely practical and may be worth the cost for those seriously considering an independent release. The fact that Mr. Sweeney's advice is grounded in years of real experience makes this book a good investment and perhaps the best buy for the growing crop of project studio owners with little exposure to how the music industry works. Technical advances in the industry may make some of his advice obsolete in a short time, however. Hopefully Mr. Sweeney will cover such rapid changes in upcoming editions of his book.

Having purchased and read this book AFTER my last band unsuccessfully self-released a CD, I can only hope that others will read this before attempting a self-release.Over the past 3-4 years I have read almost every title I could track down on releasing an independent recording, but NONE come close to Sweeny's book. The information presented here is absolutely essential to anyone even thinking about going it alone. Sweeny's writing style is informal and easy-to-follow, getting straight to the need-to-know info.Having been through the self-release grinder without benefit of this wisdom, it amazes me that all other books don't present this straight-up "horse sense". Don't release a CD before reading this book and absorbing what Tim tells you!

I'm not sorry I bought this. It had some good information on recording and promoting a CD through traditional means, although there's not much on the Internet.

What's here is geared toward a major manufacturing and promotional commitment to radio and bricks and mortal (store) sales. So, it tends to be more useful for pop and rock acts that have money to play with.

My genre, jazz, is not quite as popular and I didn't have a bankroll to blow trying a blanket submission and promotional campaign. I did get some useful ideas, certainly enough to justify the purchase. However, the Indie Bible is better.

The best book of it's kind.
A little expensive, but the information is priceless.
A good, fast, condensed read- full of exactly what I needed to know when I needed to know it.
Bottom line:
Look for it used.

I've read this book several times over. Even if your goal is to get a deal with a major label or large indy label, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! This is exactly what you need to do if you want to succeed as a musical artist or band in this industry. You need to achieve a certain level of success before any bigger labels are going to even want to talk with you. This book gives you a step by step guide on how to achieve that level of success on your own. I have a few other books that I also consider required reading..., but this one is right at the top of my list next to Donald Passman's "All You Need To Know About The Music Business". GET THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed.

With a no-nonsense, step-by-step approach, Tim Sweeney well neigh guides would-be independent labels and independent-minded artists through the whole process of starting your organization and promoting your records. The book is so practical and concise it's difficult to imagine a better first purchase for a reference book. Tim Sweeney's rock-solid advice and methodical approach takes much of the bewilderment out of starting a record label.

I've read this book, and as an artist myself, I can see now how to keep more of the money for myself now, and stop worrying about all the industry "rules" for success. Also, as a small business owner of over 10 years, I can see the marketing value here. This is zigging when everyone else is zagging. The industry has created a set of rules that are purely fabricated to make the record companies and consultants more money.

This book is about how to keep more for yourself and stop giving away what you make. Apparently there are independent artists that make far more than most major label artists - and the major labels would love to sign them. However, who in their right mind would give up all that great income, and sign it away to a record company who will give you practically nothing in return, except maybe some fleeting fame at best. Regardless of whether you agree with Tim's approach, he's onto something here. It isn't the music your fans buy, it is what you give them in your music. Writing formula songs, and dressing sexy, may seem to sell records these days, and the industry swears by it, but it is fleeting. True lasting music artists build relationships with their fans, that is all Tim is trying to say. The mechanics covered in the book are necessary, but it is the true artistry that makes it work.

This book gets five stars for challenging the status quo, and moving all that talent wasted by the industry gorillas into action, and in competition.

A side note: Tim has decided not to reprint this book. He has sold all of them, so this book is going to get scarce. I have all of his publications and this one is the only one with specifics of CD manufacturing and other details not covered in subsequent publications.