There are tons of ways to work within the music industry, and an equal number of ways to either make money or lose money.
The key is to know where you land on the spectrum between being a full-on risk-taking, cut-it-out-of-whole-cloth, practicality-be-damned creative visionary or a savvy “sell-shovels-to-the-miners” type who happily supports the efforts of the crazies while living a balanced life within an industry that brings meaning and creative juice.
There are no right/wrong answers. Honest answers to the questions below will help you choose the best opportunities for your temperament.
- What’s more important to you? Financial success or experiential riches?
- What is your risk tolerance?
- Are you a self-starter/self-learner or do you prefer working within a pre-set framework?
- Do you want to work for others, or do you prefer to be your own boss?
- If the latter, do you know what’s involved in being an entrepreneur? (If “no”, find out. You might change your mind. 😉
RESOURCES
Mark Manson: Author, Blogger and Podcaster
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
This is a cheeky and wise book about quieting cultural noise and expectations and discovering what you value and why. (Btw, Mark Manson originally wanted to be a professional musician.)
- Here’s the book overview written by the author
- Here’s a video summary of the book by the author
The Solved Podcast:
- Main website: (Sign up for a valuable, free 5-day mini-course about finding your values)
- Complete List of Episodes
- Recommended episodes pertaining to finding/developing your path
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
This book brings into sharp focus the finitude of an individual human life and the limited amount of time we have to do anything.
Counterintuitively perhaps, it relieves the pressure of thinking we can “do everything” and helps the reader define and give priority to what matters most while enjoying what can be done in the here and now.
LEARN THE BUSINESS
Essential Books & Industry “Bibles”
- How to Make It in the New Music Business by Ari Herstand: Widely considered the comprehensive, all-in-one guide for modern independent artists, covering everything from booking to branding:
- All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald Passman: Known as the “industry bible,” it provides authoritative information on contracts, royalties, and copyright
- The Indie Bible: (Digital Resource): A guide containing thousands of contacts for radio stations, music blogs, and playlisters, alongside articles to advance a career on a budget
KEEP LEARNING THE BUSINESS (This is NOT optional 😉)
Podcasts for Learning on the Go
- The New Music Business with Ari Herstand: Deep dives into industry topics with experts, covering everything from NFTs to sync licensing
- DIY Musician Podcast (CD Baby): Hundreds of practical episodes focused on monetizing your music and navigating the business on your own terms
- Creative Juice (Indepreneur): Focuses specifically on marketing strategies, such as using email lists and running social media ads for independent artists
- Song Exploder: A unique, intimate look into the creative process, featuring artists deconstructing their compositions
- The Music Biz Weekly Podcast: Covers the latest developments in music marketing and DIY tools
Top Websites, Blogs, & News
- CD Baby DIY Musician Blog: Provides practical, updated advice on music distribution, promotion, and booking
- Hypebot: A go-to news source for the latest trends in music technology and independent business strategies
- Music Business Worldwide (MBW): Offers in-depth news, analysis, and insights into the global music industry, ideal for understanding major market shifts
- Ditto Music Blog: Offers hundreds of articles focusing on independent artist development, streaming, and marketing
- Bandcamp Editorial: Offers excellent insights into the independent music scene, label relationships, and artist features
TOOLS & PLATFORMS
- Spotify for Artists: Invaluable for analytics, profile management, and playlist pitching
- Canva: A vital tool for creating professional album art, promotional graphics, and social media content for free
- BANDZOOGLE: Build a stunning band website and store in minutes: https://bandzoogle.com/
- GotPrint.com: Quality, inexpensive source for printed promo materials
- Chartmetric: An analytics platform used by industry pros to track data and identify emerging trends (Geared toward industry professionals, labels, and managers)
ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCACY
- A2IM (American Association of Independent Music): A national organization serving the independent music business, offering events and educational resources
- ASCAP/BMI/SESAC (PROs): Performance Rights Organizations that are essential for collecting royalties on your music
- SoundExchange: Essential for collecting digital performance royalties for sound recordings (the master)
- California Lawyers for the Arts: connects artists and arts organizations with legal services, lawyer referrals, and education across California. (Highly recommended. See full description at the end of this document.)
