How to Start in the Music Business

If you've ever thought about performing music for a living, you probably have a lot of questions like these:

Where do I start?
Can I just call a major record label to get a contract?
What recording equipment do I need?
How can I get discovered on YouTube?

From practicing for an audition, to putting your homemade music videos on YouTube, this guide will help you figure out some of the answers.

Berklee is a famous school in Boston training professionals to work in jazz, popular music, commercial music, songwriting, and the music business.

For Starters

Performing music might seem like an easy, fun job, but behind the scenes, music professionals eat, sleep, and breathe their work. Success takes time, dedication, hard work, and luck.

Ebony magazine's article How to Get a Record Contract and Skyelab's article on How to get a Record Deal will explain the details.
What are your chances of getting on American Idol if you audition? This article talks about the "odds" of being selected.

Before You Can Get Paid

You may need to be willing to work for free while you're just starting out in music. But, while you're doing it, you could be meeting people already working who could teach you the business, and help you to succeed.

Justin Bieber, now a "big name" performer, got help from superstar Usher when he was still an unknown.
Internships in the music industry can provide valuable work experience, but they're usually unpaid.

Put yourself out there and network! If you write song lyrics, get together with other people who write music, sing or play instruments, or have recording equipment. Listen to a lot of music, go out to see live shows, and watch music videos to see what's popular and learn from the competition.

Audition Tips for American Idol (or any audition!): Learn how to improve your chances at auditions.
Baltimore's Open Mic Nights: Put yourself out there and perform in front of a live audience.
Underground Music: Listen to independent artists writing and performing music in many genres.
Music Ezines: Keep up with trends in your industry with online music magazines.

Making Your Demo

If you were in another industry you might leave your business card with potential customers. But you're in the music business, so a demo of you and your songs will introduce you when you're not there to perform live.

Do I really Need a Demo?: There are different schools of thought about this subject.
Home Recording Equipment : There are hundreds of options for making your own recordings.
Recording With Your Own Money: Check out these ideas for making recordings on the cheap.
Delicious Audio: Recording Tips and Equipment: This music blog has lots of equipment reviews and tips.
Tips for Making a Studio Recording: Go with the pros, but get the most for your money.
The delicate art of making an EP, is a Houston Chronicle article about the kind of demos the pros use.
Having a Producer: Is a producer worth it? Here’s one take on that.
Applying for Copyright: Protect your creative rights by applying online for a copyright. Learn about copyright with an interactive slideshow from the Library of Congress.
- Note: Application by paper form is still available, but it is more expensive than filing online.
- The paper form for sheet music and/or lyrics is Form PA.

YouTube and You: Market Yourself

You'll need effective marketing for yourself and your music to make it in today's music industry. Take a look at what some experts have to say.

Marketing Your Music Videos: Get yourself noticed.
Success in Music with Social Networking: Today, independent musicians use a social networking sites to get their music heard.
Ten Strategies for Success in Music: Improve your chances with these ideas from Music Power Network.
Music Biz Articles: Take a lesson from the pros at Music Biz Academy.
Music Think Tank: Sage, up-to-the minute advise on the music industry, as it really is.

Books

Naggar, David. The music business : (explained in plain English) : what every artist and songwriter should know to avoid getting ripped off! 3rd ed. 2010.
ML3790 .N26 2010
Passman, Donald S. All you need to know about the music business 7th ed. 2009.
ML3790 .P35 2009
Thall, Peter M. What they'll never tell you about the music business : the myths, the secrets, the lies (& a few truths) Rev. and updated ed. 2010.
ML3790 .T43 2010

Ask Us

We hope you're excited to learn more about the music business. Be sure to let us know if you'd like some help. Just call, e-mail us through our Ask-a-Librarian service, or write to us:

Fine Arts & Music Department
Enoch Pratt Free Library
State Library Resource Center
400 Cathedral St.
Baltimore MD 21201
(410) 396-5490