Should You Sign a Music Publishing Deal?
If you write your own songs, at some point in your career you will want to consider whether signing with a music publishing company makes sense. Music publishers are sort of like record labels, but for your compositions rather than your master recordings which embody your compositions. The right music publisher can take your career […]
Should Musicians Self-Publish?
As a songwriter, you have likely heard talk of self-publishing your compositions. You’ve likely noticed, while perusing the fine print in the liner notes of your favorite albums, that nearly all major artists have created their own publishing company. This means that they’ve incorporated a publishing company, through which the publisher’s share of income flows. The […]
16 Things Every Touring Musician Should Ask Before Going on Tour
Whether you’re a seasoned touring musician or about to embark on your first tour, there are many things to take into consideration before hitting the highway. Here are the 16 questions a touring musician should ask before loading up the van: 1) Are Your Gigs Confirmed & Contracts Signed? This might seem like an obvious starting point, […]
Music Placements: How to Get Your Music in Film & TV
I’ve negotiated a few significant film and television placements for clients in the last two months, so I decided to write an article on the topic. Getting your music placed in film and TV can be a game-changer in your career. Music placements are one of the best ways to gain serious exposure for your […]
Touring the USA: What Canadian Musicians Need to Know
Since 9/11, touring the USA as a Canadian musician has never been more difficult. Things have gotten worse since Trump took office. Horror stories abound of bands being held at the border in interrogation rooms for hours/days on end, all because they lacked proper documentation. What Constitutes Touring the USA? Whether you are showcasing for free, […]
What Rights Do You Have in a Sound Recording You Play On?
I get many emails every week from musicians around the world asking me questions about the music business. One of the most common questions is: what rights do I have in a recording that I performed on? Whether it’s a song you played on decades ago that was just re-released by your former bandmates, or […]
What is an Artist Development Deal, and Should You Sign One?
In the “glory days” of the recording industry (i.e. after Elvis, before the Internet), there was a very common type of deal offered by record labels called the Artist Development Deal, sometimes known as a “Demo Deal”. The idea was fairly simple: if a label liked you but didn’t want to commit fully with a […]
5 Things to Look For in an Artist Management Deal
The most important member of our team is your manager. They are also the most important agreement you as a musician will sign is an Artist Management Agreement. Managers have never played a more important role in the music industry than they do today, and your manager will likely have a greater impact on your […]