Music Industry Collectives – Why Are They So Important?

  Most musicians I talk to are slightly confused by all the music industry collectives out there and how they can collect money from them. This is understandable: there is a lot to digest. Let’s look at the main music industry collectives and how you can get paid from them. 1) Performing Rights Collectives (PROs) Every time […]

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, […]

What Rights Do You Have As a Song Co-Writer?

  If you are a song co-writer, you have certain rights. But so does the other song co-writer. What rights do each of you have in the co-written song? Can you make further changes to the song without the co-writer’s consent, or sign off on the use of that song in film or television? Can […]

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 […]