This Business of Music

by M. William Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel

A perennial bestseller, this definitive guide to all legal, economic, and financial aspects of the music business better than ever in its revised, thoroughly updated new edition. This edition addresses the implications of MP3, the Copyright Term Extension Act, union treatment of digital music, and more.

As this "bible of the music business" moves into its 40th year, the book's expanded scope addresses challenges and opportunities of a new century, including:

MP3 record duplication, Internet sales, and cybercasting
Digital record performance rights for artists and record companies
New markets emerging from WIPO and GATT treaty enforcement of copyright protection against counterfeiters and bootleggers
Greater reliance on major labels, further merging of powerful companies, and reduced record distribution by independents
Revised markets opened by the European Economic Union and other consolidations
The impact, both positive and negative, of growing motion picture and theater investments in the music business

Genres: Music, Business, Nonfiction, Reference

640 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Jonathan]

I read this book every year as it is a text for a class I teach on the business of music. While it is slow and difficult to read, it contains just about all of the legal and business information you will need to navigate the music industry. A great resource.

[Gareth Howells]

Heavy, informative, impressively researched and comprehensive book on the music business, focusing on music law and copyright issues.
Well worth a read if you are inclined to dig that deep.

[Russell]

Another music guide I've been using since they first came out - now in it's 10 edition!

[Marissa]

Though I have an older edition and legalities change in any business, I've referred to this book throughout my career and I know that it will continue to be a good source of information for me.

[Steve]

I've got a LAW DEGREE and had trouble reading this!

[John Grant]

THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC was required for a course I took from jazz legend Jon Hendricks at UC Berkeley in the 70s (yes I just name-dropped, and I’m old). It is a reference book about copyrights, contracts, etc. It looks like it is continually updated to conform with industry changes. If you are entering any field, learn all you can about that field. It is on that basis I recommend it. Rating it seems a little unfair. I’ll put it in the middle.

[Gertrude Whitman]

Informative alongside Passman's All You Need to Know About the Music Business

[The Literary Jedi]

Spouses' business book

[Paul Farahvar]

This used to be required reading for musicians and those in the industry but the game has changed. Still a good book I think.

[Joe]

This book is basic reading for music majors and professional musicians. It has more than once been highly recommended to me by serious professionals and instructors and coaches in college-level courses and summer music programs.

Even if much of the material in this book involves considerable detail on legal questions, which makes it a difficult read, the sheer amount of information it contains and conveys is great and provides answers to many questions that musicians will have. It is therefore also a great reference source.

At first glance, the book seems geared mainly toward those working with popular music. Nevertheless, its content actually applies to classical musicians as well. It is worthwhile, interesting, and highly recommended reading, especially if you are just getting into the business side of music and have real concerns about copyright, public domain, negotiating contracts, agents, and so on.

[Marie]

I production-designed a previous edition of this book. An actual hot-shot firm designed the template and provided it to us, but didn't design all the elements, or make style tags. It was kind of appalling! You'd think that by 1999 big design firms would already know how to use quark.

[Peter]

My dad!