This Business of Songwriting [Hardcover]

Jason Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

Writing great songs is not enough. To make money, songwriters need a firm, realistic grasp of how songs generate income. This Business of Songwriting is the first book to demystify the process of doing business as a songwriter. Author Jason Blume, an industry veteran with twenty years on both sides of the desk, starts by defining terms; then walks readers step-by-step through the process of starting and operating a publishing company; teaches how to pitch songs to publishers, artists, managers, A&R representatives, and producers; offers a detailed explanation of how the singles and album charts work; and throughout, provides valuable information about how to make money writing songs. This Business of Songwriting is a one-volume resource that teaches the skills and knowledge every songwriter needs to succeed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jason Blume, the author of the best-selling 6 Steps to Songwriting Success
and Inside Songwriting, is one of the few songwriters ever to have songs on the Country, Pop, and R&B charts at the same time. A highly respected songwriting teacher, Blume presents seminars across the country. He lives in Nashville.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823077594
• ISBN-13: 978-0823077595
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT RESOURCE!!!!!, June 5, 2006

By 

Andy (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Business of Songwriting (Hardcover)

I've been writing songs (without a lot of success) for more years than I'd like to admit. But I never really understood how to do the business without getting scammed. After reading this book, I finally understand about so many things: song publishing, being my own publisher, how to be a staff-writer, how to make money from TV and films, and what I need to do. This book is excellent. It explains so many things in plain English. This book gives the facts and the figures. It includes the actual contracts and licenses you would sign and explains them a paragraph at a time in a way that I wish I had understood before. It tells how much money you can earn from hit songs and from getting your songs in movies and TV shows. This is also the first time I've understood how ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC work and how to join them and how songs earn money. I highly recommend this book. It is well organized and easy to understand, and is a good reference guide.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're serious about songwriting this is for you, January 3, 2007

By 

Joseph Hollings "BMus, MMus" (Mentor, Ohio) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Business of Songwriting (Hardcover)

Having composed songs for all sorts of pop and country stars and written a number of other songwriting-related books, Jason Blume is already one of better known names in the industry. Personally, I think this is the most useful of his books. It is a very well written, extremely informative book about exactly what it says on the cover. Having read Donald Passman's music industry text, I felt reasonably informed before reading it, but this takes the issue of publishing to another level. Obviously, it's aimed at songwriters (those of us who have a desire to write for others or perform our own songs) rather than bands who want to "get a record deal". So much the better, in my opinion, as the numbers of books that get to the nuts and bolts of this side of the industry are scarce. Totally and utterly essential for any songwriter who wants to make a living from writing songs.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete, 288-page instruction manual for the aspiring songwriter, August 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Business of Songwriting (Hardcover)

This Business Of Songwriting: A Practical Guide To Doing Business As A Songwriter is a complete, 288-page instruction manual for the aspiring songwriter. Author Jason Blume has logged twenty plus years of professional experience in song writing and publishing, and he shares that experience in This Business Of Songwriting from first page to last. It is crucial for the songwriter to understand that it is not enough to be able to write great songs, or even to learn to write great songs. There are a plethora of practical business skills and music publishing details that can make the difference between success and failure as a songwriter. This Business Of Songwriting steps up to the plate and fully delivers. It has whole chapters dedicated to grasping the basics of music publishing, choosing (and being chosen by) a publisher, staff writing, understanding music publishing agreements (which can be quite complex), self publishing your work, exploiting your copyrights, co-publishing your work, operating as a performing songwriter, and understanding copyright administration agreements. Three additional sections deal with how songs generate income, how to protect your songs,, and maximizing your chances for success. Each section contains two to five chapters detailing information that is crucial to the songwriter who is "in the business." As in many other fields, the key is a combination of organization, persistence, realistic expectations, and determined follow-through on good ideas. A Final Note from Blume contains valuable nuggets of encouragement to students of songwriting: "In the years that I've taught songwriting I've been privileged to watch some of my students attain their goals and live their dreams - but I've not seen it accomplished without dedication and hard work...I know that success is possible, despite how it might sometimes feel. Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities provided by classes, workshops, camps, and other music industry events; hone your skills by seeking professional feedback, studying the craft, and rewriting your work; learn about the business of songwriting; and most importantly, enjoy the ride (p. 310)."