New technologies are revolutionizing the music business. While these changes may be smashing traditional business models, eroding CD sales, and creating havoc among the major record companies, they are also providing new opportunities for unsigned artists, independent labels, and music entrepreneurs. This book provides a legal and business roadmap as well as practical tips for people looking to: sell music online * develop an online record company * create an Internet radio station * open an online music store * use peer-to-peer networks to promote and sell music * take advantage of wireless technologies * and much more. The accompanying CD-ROM includes a two-hour seminar, additional interviews, and hundreds of active links to legal, business, and technical resources, plus links to web pages updating the book so it will never be out of date.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
STEVE GORDON is an entertainment attorney. His clients include Microsoft. Steve served as Director of Business Affairs, TV/Video for Sony Music from 1991 to 2001. He is a frequent contributor of articles on entertainment and copyright law to Entertainment Law and Finance.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
71 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After reading these reviews and taking Anna Lee's very sage advice to try it via the library first, now I understand. It looks as if Mr. Gordon had several of his friends jump in and write reviews to get Ms. Lee's unfavorable review off the front page. Being the suspicious type, I checked out these reviewers, and they have all written only one review each, all giving Mr. Gordon five stars for his book, all within days of each other.
But no matter. Typical lawyer tactics don't impress me and neither did this typical lawyer's book. Having spent most of my adult life in the music industry in NYC and elsewhere, I have experienced just about everything in this business, and I am only sorry that Ms. Lee and so many others had to listen in person to this gentleman's spiel, as that's what The Future of the Music Business turns out to be: a spiel.
Yes, he has the requisite case studies with "indie" artists giving it a go on their own as an attempt to add cred to his manuscript, but Mr. Gordon (or perhaps his ghostwriter) knows nothing about digital technologies, that is apparent, nor does he offer his readers any new solutions. He is very much from the old school where the only game in town was the nearest major label that pulled all the purse strings. Now that the Internet has obliterated that, formerly holier-than-thou industry types are finding themselves at a real loss as for how to deal with it, and we see plenty of old dogs with half-a$$ed new tricks to push on the public.
The only advice I have for those in this new music industry, and it's free: Carve your own niche instead of trying to fit the ones sculpted by the suits. In these strange times where Kelly Clarkson, et. al., are unbelievably considered punk rock, we are definitely due for some big changes. The markets are changing with the emergence of India and China, not to mention a European Union with over 450 million people. Add the Internet to this mix and you have the opportunity for many niche markets to evolve without the current major label system as a constituent. The Internet is integrating into and changing the very nature of TV and radio as we know them, and amen to that.
Mr. Gordon deserves credit for one thing and one thing only: his book is no better or no worse than anything else out there.
But no matter. Typical lawyer tactics don't impress me and neither did this typical lawyer's book. Having spent most of my adult life in the music industry in NYC and elsewhere, I have experienced just about everything in this business, and I am only sorry that Ms. Lee and so many others had to listen in person to this gentleman's spiel, as that's what The Future of the Music Business turns out to be: a spiel.
Yes, he has the requisite case studies with "indie" artists giving it a go on their own as an attempt to add cred to his manuscript, but Mr. Gordon (or perhaps his ghostwriter) knows nothing about digital technologies, that is apparent, nor does he offer his readers any new solutions. He is very much from the old school where the only game in town was the nearest major label that pulled all the purse strings. Now that the Internet has obliterated that, formerly holier-than-thou industry types are finding themselves at a real loss as for how to deal with it, and we see plenty of old dogs with half-a$$ed new tricks to push on the public.
The only advice I have for those in this new music industry, and it's free: Carve your own niche instead of trying to fit the ones sculpted by the suits. In these strange times where Kelly Clarkson, et. al., are unbelievably considered punk rock, we are definitely due for some big changes. The markets are changing with the emergence of India and China, not to mention a European Union with over 450 million people. Add the Internet to this mix and you have the opportunity for many niche markets to evolve without the current major label system as a constituent. The Internet is integrating into and changing the very nature of TV and radio as we know them, and amen to that.
Mr. Gordon deserves credit for one thing and one thing only: his book is no better or no worse than anything else out there.
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I spoke to the gentlemen who wrote this book after one of his public engagements. He told me point blank that "the only way to really make any money in the music industry is to sign with a major label". Interesting, considering he is selling this book to an audience of indie entrepreneurs.
But that's the whole point. He obviously hasn't signed anything good lately (listen to the radio), so why not write a book and tease the masses of people who so desperately want to make it? That's one way to make money when you haven't been able to cash in elsewhere, right?
After he told me to "go out and buy" his book, I went to the library to check it out. It turns out to be a collection of common sense advice that is just as easily found for free on the internet, things like "put a mailing list on your website" and "have buy buttons for your CDs all over your site" - gee, do I really need to pay money for this? Same goes for all the instructional drivel regarding licensing and other stuff---these things are very easily researched and found for nothing on the net, where it seems that everyone is an expert these days.
Don't waste your money or your time. Let sleeping music industry attorneys lie.
But that's the whole point. He obviously hasn't signed anything good lately (listen to the radio), so why not write a book and tease the masses of people who so desperately want to make it? That's one way to make money when you haven't been able to cash in elsewhere, right?
After he told me to "go out and buy" his book, I went to the library to check it out. It turns out to be a collection of common sense advice that is just as easily found for free on the internet, things like "put a mailing list on your website" and "have buy buttons for your CDs all over your site" - gee, do I really need to pay money for this? Same goes for all the instructional drivel regarding licensing and other stuff---these things are very easily researched and found for nothing on the net, where it seems that everyone is an expert these days.
Don't waste your money or your time. Let sleeping music industry attorneys lie.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Why Can't Amazon start cleaning out all the obviously bogus reviews written by the writers hired-reviewers and friends. Read the only other 2 reviews below that DONT have 5-stars. A good one below from December 31, 2005 is titled: "Another Music Lawyer, Another Book to Milk the Hopeful Masses, December 31, 2005
By Anna Lee".
By Anna Lee".
Most Recent Customer Reviews
author is credible and knowledgeable.
my opinion is based on a google preveiw of the book and i have not read the whole book, i find the author quite authoritative, credible and in a position to talk about the subject... Read more
Published 9 months ago by guy from milwaukee
Enlightening the Music World
A book that is a must for all bands and musical artists. It will set you free from the archaic clutches of the cruel music world.
Published on November 27, 2007 by Jean Erasmus
Lots of information
The digital revolution is here and the music industry is one of the oldest to have adopted this new way of communicating, always refining it's technique music producing and... Read more
Published on May 18, 2006 by Crystal
The book to Get
I highly recommend this book to gain greater insights in the future of music and how you can intergrate some of this information into your current business or research. Read more
Published on April 20, 2006 by Maeson
Many complex issues made simple and clear
The Future of the Music Business is an interesting book. It's a mix of useful real world information and interviews with people in the industry. Read more
Published on March 4, 2006 by P Diddy
Great book. Useful and valuable source of information
Great book. The book provides the reader with valuable information not only about the future of the music business but also about the present. Read more
Published on February 15, 2006 by Travis Gilard
A great blueprint for success in the music business
Having been in the music industry fifteen years and having written a book myself, I want to give KUDOS to Steve Gordon
for compiling a great collection of cutting edge... Read more
for compiling a great collection of cutting edge... Read more
Published on February 7, 2006 by Eric H. Kline
Thank you Mr. Gordon
As an independent producer creating promotional videos for popular artists on major labels for the past ten years, I find Steve Gordon's book, "The Future of the Music Business,"... Read more
Published on February 6, 2006 by N. Roher
A must have
Steve Gordon's book is a proof that overcomplicated legal issues can actually be explained in a simple and perfectly understandable way. Read more
Published on February 5, 2006 by U. Chitrakar
Progressive Entertainment Attorney Delivers Great Insight
Steve Gordon is one of the most progressive, respected entertainment lawyers in the music industry, with a highly focused interest on helping independent artists and record labels. Read more
Published on February 3, 2006 by K. Wiedenkeller
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Copyright is the basis of virtually every music business transaction. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
standard recording agreement, aggregate tuning hour, digital music services, new music business, synch license, statutory license, traditional music business, interactive streaming, small webcasters, clearing music, public performance licenses, indie artists, satellite radio services, compulsory mechanical license, unsigned artists, micropayment systems, licensing music, blanket licensing, underlying song, public performance rights, compulsory license, blanket license, mechanical licenses, baby bands, unsigned bands Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Creative Commons, Copyright Act, New York, United States, Fox Agency, Induce Act, Ninth Circuit, Steve Gordon, Tay Music, Duo Live, Supreme Court, Derek Sivers, Beastie Boys, Big Champagne, Marci Geller, Scott Meldrum, John Buckman, Librarian of Congress, Orrin Hatch, Wayne Rosso, Clear Channel, Eric de Fontenay, Cary Sherman, Digital Music News, Eric Garland New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Copyright is the basis of virtually every music business transaction. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
standard recording agreement, aggregate tuning hour, digital music services, new music business, synch license, statutory license, traditional music business, interactive streaming, small webcasters, clearing music, public performance licenses, indie artists, satellite radio services, compulsory mechanical license, unsigned artists, micropayment systems, licensing music, blanket licensing, underlying song, public performance rights, compulsory license, blanket license, mechanical licenses, baby bands, unsigned bands Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Creative Commons, Copyright Act, New York, United States, Fox Agency, Induce Act, Ninth Circuit, Steve Gordon, Tay Music, Duo Live, Supreme Court, Derek Sivers, Beastie Boys, Big Champagne, Marci Geller, Scott Meldrum, John Buckman, Librarian of Congress, Orrin Hatch, Wayne Rosso, Clear Channel, Eric de Fontenay, Cary Sherman, Digital Music News, Eric Garland New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 12
books:
See all 12 books this book cites
- Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity by Lawrence Lessig in Front Matter, and page 205
- Confessions of a Record Producer, 2 Ed: How to Survive the Scams and Shams of the Music Business by Moses Avalon on page 20, and Back Matter
- Business Affairs! (Stp - M&B Collection) by Helen Brooks in Front Matter
- Intellectual Property Law by Lionel Bently in Back Matter
- All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Fifth Edition by Donald S. Passman on page 20
See all 12 books this book cites
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