This article was written by Stuart Niven at Sweetwater.  Over the next few months, we’re publishing an entire series of articles in the Lounge from Sweetwater along with contests and prizes. Keep your eyes peeled and check back often!

After producing/engineering and mixing bands in Australia for nearly ten years I have worked with artists from their first demo to national releases for indie labels and labels with some pre-production projects for majors like Sony and Warner as well.

In this time I have seen and experienced many pitfalls, made mistakes, and learned some lessons. My hope in this article is not to enforce any rules or preach any “thou shalt do” – this is after all music and should be approached with the imagination, passion and free spirit that is music after all – but rather I hope to give you some tips on how to succeed in the studio!

(more…)

Peter Spellman is Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music, Boston and author of several business-building books for musicians. Find him at mbsolutions.com

Appeared originally in MUSIC BIZ INSIGHT #13

For a good primer to this article see Get it In Writing

If you’re involved in the music business, sooner or later you’ll sit down with someone you have to negotiate an agreement with. It may be a management or record contract, or perhaps a “work for hire” agreement where you provide music for some particular use. Use the following general guidelines to keep the communication on the best level possible.

And always think “win/win”.

• Negotiate only with those in authority to agree to your requests.
• Have a prioritized agenda. Start with the most incontestable items and work downwards to the stickiest points.
• Put yourself in the other person’s place and structure your arguments to address his or her concerns.
• Never issue ultimatums.
• Never concede a point, however small, without winning a comparable concession in return.
• Take notes and verbally summarize each point agreed to before you move on to the next so that there’s no misunderstanding.
• Follow up negotiations with a memo or letter summarizing what was agreed, and ask for a written response within so many days or hours if any points are disputed.
• Make the other party feel good about the outcome.

Check out all of Bruce’s fantastic advice over at Unsprung Media. He’s been involved in artist management, recording studios, and advising music related start-ups, but he can tell you more here

I read most of the music business blogs out there, and I read a lot of comments that readers post on many of these blogs.  I believe it’s a common misconception that new-music-business bloggers generally advise artists to give away all their music for free.  So, I am declaring my position here, along with guidelines for implementing a Free Song Strategy. (more…)

Let’s say you are lucky enough to be blessed with extraordinary musical talent.  You hook up with a few like-minded musicians who appreciate the same rhythms. You start jamming together, playing some gigs for friends or frats and something starts to click. The music is good, very good. The audience digs it and you gain a following. Bookers are interested. You officially form a band. You all agree this is a major commitment and how you want to earn your livelihood. You are excited. This can be huge—the start of something BIG.  The band needs a name. You huddle, discuss and after days of push and pull you decide on a name that will define you for eternity. A name that will represent great music, unite fans and be on marquees across the country. Your band’s new name is… (more…)

Want to know what a promoter is thinking when reviewing EPKs? Interested in industry and submission advice from the horses mouth? Check out our quick chats. (more…)

In Malcom Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point he describes mavens as the kind of people that are first to try new things (also sometimes called early adopters). If you’re an up and coming band, mavens will be the most willing to check out your music even if they haveno idea who you are. If you win them over they can be influential in spreading the word about your music. So where can you find music mavens online?  Here are my best guesses: (more…)

This article was written by Yuval Fuchs at Sweetwater.  Over the next few months, we’re publishing an entire series of articles in the Lounge from Sweetwater along with contests and prizes. Keep your eyes peeled and check back often!

Haven’t taken the plunge into home recording yet?  Yuval Fuchs helps guide the debate between standalone multitrack recorders and home computers as total recording solutions. (more…)