Once you have your domain – a process which takes only seconds to complete with the likes of NameCheap or GoDaddy – you must “host” your domain somewhere where it can be...

I’m going to assume you don’t have a site yet, but if you do – read through this section anyway. There are a lot of points here which you need to check in any case. You start by buying your own domain....

There are MANY ways to set up a business online. Some of them don’t even require a website of your own (for example, using such public blogging platforms as Squidoo or Hubpages or only promoting some affiliate product link), although I would not...

Your website and online business will only be as good as your execution. It needs to be said, so we might as well get that out of the way. This course should provide you with great help and lots of shortcuts – but the actual work…...

As you’re reading all this, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you felt a bit overwhelmed. And we didn’t even get to the hands-on part (part 3). Alternatively, you might think that all of this sounds “do-able” and you can’t wait to get started. Both these attitudes...

Another important consideration when building your music business is establishing relationships with local businesses, venues – and, of course, local fans. [emember_protected for=3-4-5] Your local market is, in fact, THE most important element in your career progress....

This is by far the most important aspect of your entire business preparation and thus much of part 3 of this course is dedicated to it. Still, in this section I just wanted to touch upon some of the most important things and ideas which can germinate in your head...

While there are endless possibilities for free press releases on the web, only few of them give you any real value. Not that you should ignore them entirely, but just don’t count on conquering the world through them. A better option is paid services of that ilk. They...

Another thing which you shouldn’t overlook – but you shouldn’t “count on” too much either – is taking part in song contests or submitting your songs for consideration by other artists, labels, film studios, music libraries, etc. [emember_protected for=3-4-5] If you’re...

Another way to build your list is through social networks, special interest groups, forums, blogs and – of course – your own site.  Let’s start with the social networks. [emember_protected for=4-5] Most important music networks THE most important network of them ALL,...

Here’s a broad-strokes overview of your sources of fans and ways to communicate with them. Let’s start with looking at your email correspondence – one of the most important pillars of your list building and maintenance. [emember_protected for=3-4-5] Opt-in emails....

Why would people want to be on your mailing list? Isn't that "asking to be spammed?" Why would you even want to have such a list? Unlike artists of yesterday, today you not only “can” but are in fact “expected...

Even though I intend for part 3 to deal with the step by step detail selling and other more technical things, I felt that a little diversion into that territory within this section is justified, especially that I just listed a number of income generation ideas any...

As a do-it-yourself “label” and a startup music business, you need to have an idea going in regarding your potential incomes. While this topic will be explored in greater depth in part 3 of this course, here’s a small preview, because it WILL – to some extent at least...

Many artists see their music as being “at odds” with business. It doesn’t have to be that way at all. In fact, it really isn’t. But many artists draw a strong line separating the two. And you’ll never hear of them again. [emember_protected for=3-4-5] Other artists go...

There is a fine line between “who you are” as a person or as an artist, and “how you’re perceived”.  Ideally, you should “naturally fit” your niche perfectly. If you’re performing music that certain types of rock audiences like, you will tend to wear the kind of...

Some artists might claim that they don’t care what other people think. They write “for themselves” and if anyone likes it – great. If not – great. And one in a thousand of those artists might have a point, although I actually doubt it. In the vast majority of cases,...

As I mentioned elsewhere in this course, you will need to wear the hat of the “A&R Man” as well – or have someone who will – at least to some extent. Without your own record label this function may at first be considered superfluous, but it’s not. An aspect of an...

Sometimes things just don’t sound the way you wanted them to, no matter how many re-takes you did. Perhaps that vocal still doesn’t sit right, or maybe that bass part is just not exciting enough. What do you do? There are at least four basic approaches at that point –...

Most “popular” types of music feature vocals and the credibility of vocal performances is therefore of the highest importance. In fact, it can be said that it’s the vocal that will be the most responsible for the success or failure of any given song in your target...

Another important aspect of your production, partially covered in the preceding production checklist, is the question of the individual performances of the musicians on your demo. You might be great at playing in all the parts – or you might be just okay, on at least...

When independently producing music, the bulk of the effort has to be on that final 1%. That’s where that “major label sound” is. You want it? Well, here’s how you get it. It comes down to producing yourself correctly. You don’t “have to” do it the way it’s spelled out...

Let’s face it – songwriting is not just an art-form. It’s also a craft. If it wasn’t – a monkey could do it. (Yeah, I know – some music out there is probably done by simians, but so what!) Amateurs often have a common argument against “learning” songwriting. It goes...

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, right? Who’s to say if your music is “good” or not? Well… yes and no. Sure, art is subjective. But craft is not. When you create your original music (or sing covers, doesn’t matter), you need to be able to blend the two (art AND...

The introduction is almost over! Wasn’t too bad, was it? Going in, the first thing you need to know is what you're about to do, in broad strokes. And you need to understand the reason for each thing. So, let's list these things here: [emember_protected for=2-3-4-5]...

Let’s deal with the most common objections now. I KNOW how FEW artists are motivated enough to take on what I’ll suggest in this course. I therefore want to somehow ensure that you’re going into all this with your eyes wide open. And I also want to assure you that you...

Ideally, your online presence should be the extension of your offline (real-world) presence. Not the other way around (though this is certainly possible as well, as we'll show). Online promotion allows you to scale your popularity and business in a much more dramatic...

What would it be? [emember_protected for=2-3-4-5] Almost all of the efforts you'll be undertaking within this course ultimately have just one thing in common: building an audience for your music. If by some magic you could build an audience with a snap of your...

[emember_protected for=2-3-4-5] YOUR MUSIC GET THE PRODUCT RIGHT - Make sure the “product” is right. A “department” in your company (yes, YOU, initially) must ensure that the music you’re producing is “right” for the target market it is aimed at. This will involve not...

Think of your music activity as a company (though you don't have to formally register it until you actually start pulling in regular and reliable incomes.) It has a “creative” department (let’s call it “R&D” – research and development), and a “business” side –...

At the very least, you need to KNOW WHAT needs to be done and next KNOW HOW to GET IT DONE. In fact, knowing how to get something done is more important than doing it yourself. After all, you want to work ON your music business – not FOR it. So, your first mission now...

Today, everyone with access to the Internet has the exact same resources at their fingertips. So how come only so very few succeed? The answer is obvious. Most don't try hard enough, or if they do, they do it wrongly by misdirecting their efforts. Others try a little...

I think there should be NO DOUBT about what is actually PREFERABLE: and that's going indie. Not only is it better in just about every conceivable way, it is also the only way you can ever be considered for a major recording contract these days. Proof of concept. First...

With everything the Internet has to offer, you now have the tools to do just about everything you need – for “almost free.” This means that “theoretically” you could do “everything” without paying a dime, but in practice, you want outside specialists to do certain...

The "artist and repertoire" representative (a.k.a. "the A&R man") in a major label is tasked with matching the artist's music to the most appropriate songs and market. Or, as it happens much more frequently (and rather sadly) forcing the artist into an already...

One of the biggest debates in the music circles over the past 20 years has been the growth of the internet "music piracy" which is blamed for the supposed "destruction of the music business", and which has been used as an excuse for endless freedom-limiting legal...

This is a very common misconception. People are only aware of the mega hits and the legends that 90% of all revenues in the music industry are driven by 10% of its artists. The hit-makers. While this may have been true at some point in the past - although I actually...

While having a major financial backer (e.g. a label) behind you might sound like a great idea, there are MANY pitfalls involved here. Unless you are – literally – one in a million who not only gets the major label contract but also is successfully launched in a major...

This chapter is more personal. But I felt that giving you a little background for how the idea of this course took shape is important for you to “totally get” where we’re going and why. Chances are, you will recognize yourself in my past experiences and my subsequent...

A few weeks ago, a singer I know called me up to get my opinion on her plans to travel from where she lived in Canada all the way to Hollywood in order to personally pitch her music there to the music industry moguls. Failing that, anyone she could get to. She tried...

This course is divided into three separate sections. Introduction – THIS book. It contains everything from personal notes to background information and general awareness-building. This is the “easy reading” part which I recommend that you don’t skip. Your Music – Here...