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The Jim Ocean Band

Resources

Finding Your Place in the Music Business

Know Yourself

(There are no right/wrong answers. Honest answers will help you choose your best opportunities.)

  • 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 to Help To Know Yourself

Mark Manson: Author, Blogger and Podcaster

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

The Solved Podcast:

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

    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.

    Buy on Amazon

    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.

    Buy on Amazon

    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.

    Visit the Website

    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:/
    • 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 & 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.)