What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar In the Music Business [Paperback]

Randy Jackson (Author), K.C. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2004

Everything you need to know to make it big and take it all the way to the top, from the Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, musician, record exec, and American Idol judge.

So you wanna be a superstar? You want the fans? The glitz? The glamour? The money? The bling? American Idol judge Randy Jackson has been the man behind the star-making machine for the past 25 years, producing, recording, managing and performing with the biggest names in the music industry, including *NSYNC, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Elton John,Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Destiny's Child, Bon Jovi and Journey, among many others. If anybody knows the music biz, it's Randy.

Now for the first time, Randy reveals his secrets -- and those of the industry's top experts -- to making it big in the music industry. With his cool, hip, straightforward style, he's going to break it all down for you in layman's terms. He's going to help you find your musical style and how it can mean the difference between scoring a record deal -- or going nowhere. He'll give you the 411 on how to land gigs, network with the industry's power players, make a blazing hot demo and snag the all-important record deal -- all while staying true to yourself.

So if you think you have what it takes to be the next Beyonce, Justin Timberlake or 50 Cent, or even the next American Idol, read What's Up, Dawg and let's see if you got What's up!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

In addition to being a judge on American Idol, Randy Jackson is a sought after record executive and producer who has worked on over 1000 gold and platinum albums with some of the biggest recording stars of our time, including Mariah Carey, Madonna, Elton John, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, *NSYNC, and Destiny's Child. He lives in Los Angeles. K.C. Baker is an entertainment correspondent at People magazine. She has worked as a staff writer for the New York Daily News and has written for publications including Cosmopolitan and Seventeen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (January 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401307744
• ISBN-13: 978-1401307745
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,152,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for aspiring singers, September 12, 2004

By 

Preston (nc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar In the Music Business (Paperback)

I recall that this book came out several months back, but I never got it. Randy Jackson's book is much better than Simon Cowell's book. He even talks to experts, even agents, producers, record company people, two American Idol finalists and now artists, and songwriters. Would have liked it if he interviewed an already successful multi-platinum selling artist like Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Usher or Jay-Z, but he could only get those who were available. He does overdo the "dawg" thing a little too much in the book, but that's his persona. A lot of my music collection consists of albums that Randy performed on, and for that alone he is a true talent in the best word. This is a long-overdue, much needed book for aspiring singers out there. To those people, don't be surprised if I hear your first album on an open lonely interstate highway and moving to the melodies, rhythms, beats, and sounds of it. And you will credit Randy's book for getting you out there in the business. Randy's book is so well written.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Average, May 19, 2006

By 

Crystal "www.MusicContracts101.com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar In the Music Business (Paperback)

The confession of the American Idol is filled with useful information for the beginner in the music industry. The musician, the song writer, the producer , they are all going to find all the information they need for a successful launch in the music industry. The advice of this experienced man may be considered priceless, the producer has had a lot of experience in the business and what he says may be golden. The book has an easy structure with easy to read fragments and will help propel you to stardom.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED THIS BOOK, DAWG!!!, March 2, 2004

By 

"props444u" (detroit, mich) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar In the Music Business (Paperback)

This book was great!!! I read other books about the music biz but they arent as good as this one!! I read this in a day and a half. This book is fun and tells you exactly what you need to do to become a star. Randy gives great advice, lots of insider info and lays out everything you need to do to make it. (But it will take a lot of work!!) If you want to become a SUPERSTAR, read this book!!!