All I Ever Needed To Know About The Music Business

"Should be required reading for anyone planning or enduring a career in the biz."
–– Rolling Stone

Good call, Rolling Stone. "All You Ever Need To Know About The Music Business" (6th ed.) by Donald S. Passman is an excellent introduction and guide to anyone who is thinking about entering the music or entertainment industry. It acts as a guide for planning and executing a career in music. Although a lot of the book tends to speak to the up-and-coming (or down-and-out) musician, about what they will face and what they should do to be prepared for it, it really is adaptable to a lot of different media careers.

The management section of the book covers two topics: personal management and business management. Really, it tells musicians what to do to get a manager, what the typical contracts should look like, and precautions to make sure the musician gets a fair deal. It offers great financial advice relating to business managers who are really acting as accountants for the group.

I think that the contractual information Passman offers in this book is the most useful knowledge for a media student. He gives great advice about how to negotiate and maintain an edge in successfully negotiating contracts. I would recommend this book to all media students, particularly those interested in careers in the music and entertainment industry.

––Geoff Meisner