Customer Reviews

Music: The Business: The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals

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When deciding on which book of the many available to buy regarding the music industry there are two overriding factors to take into account. These are whether the book up to date and if it covers the appropriate territory. Most books you will find on the subject tend to refer to the industry in the USA, and any that have been published prior to 2002 will not have adequate reference to new media issues. The second edition of this classic work by Ann Harrison achieves the goals of not only being UK specific but also being more up to date than most books in print with regard to new methods of distribution i.e. the Internet. Whether you are a musician, songwriter, manager, label owner, lawyer, accountant or any other of the vast roles this business encompasses, you will be able to interpret the information from your perspective. It is expertly written and Ann Harrison is in a better position to offer advice than most, having been the lawyer for some of the biggest names in the industry. The hardcover second edition is actually cheaper than the paperback first edition and is fully revised and updated for the post-Napster era. It covers all major aspects including types of record deal, management deals, publishing deals, manufacture, distribution, marketing, merchandising, touring, royalties, copyright, sample clearance, piracy, licensing, collection societies such as the PRS and MCPS, plus much more. All chapters have clearly summarised conclusions and there is a list of useful contacts included. If you need to know about the workings of the music industry in the UK, this second edition is peerless and should be at the very top of your book list.

You may or may not find this excellent book useful.

As I said, it is excellent and contains wealth of information. Anyone serious about their career should read this.

If you are looking for tips on how to get a record deal or ways to promote your music, you may be disappointed.

But if you want to have insight into music business and save yourself from a lot of frustration - this is what you need

First of all, this book relates to the music industry in the UK. This is important as our laws differ entirely from the US.

Many music industry books are out of date as soon as they come into print, due to the upsurge of digital download, but Ann Harrison does include a large section on that area.

The case studies are enlightening. If you ever wondered why George Michael or Robbie Williams and countless others went to court then this books explains the bad deals they signed as raw youngsters, and alerts us to some of the still very dodgy record contracts around today.

The only thing I don't like about this book is the binding. It a bit on the cheap side, and pages could easily fall out if it is well read, but overall, I would recommend it for anyone serious about getting to grips with the scene.

This is a 'must have' book if you are thinking about being a proffessional musician. It will definitely help you when it comes to signing deals etc so you know what tricks to look out for.

I knew nothing before opening this book. After reading I realised I'd learned a lot. You'll still need to consult a music lawyer for the nitty gritty but this book is a great resource for those looking to work with artists or artists looking to get signed. It points out interesting pit falls and lots of cases where things have gone wrong.

This little red book is THE bible of the UK Music Industry. Ann Harrison has made this book really detailed and easy to understand. If live in the UK and you are an aspiring musician, music manager, promoter, etc, make sure you read this. It will tell you all you need to know to get you on the right track. Over the years I have bought several books on this very same subject, but none have been as helpful, to the point or UK-centric as this one. The cherry on top of the cake is the little directory of useful contacts at the end. Get it!

Very informative, not only for artists but for newly qualified lawyers interested in the music business.

Bought this for Music Business course and find it quite useful, really like the case studies in it.

this is an depth book on music law written by a very experienced british lawyer. It also contains sections on american music law. often entertaining & highly reccomended.

Hey, let's face it: if you're obsessed by music (and not fame or money) then you are a success and it'll all follow. This sort of spirit or indeed lifeblood of the industry is not really present in this book, which portrays the industry as a rather dour, lackluster and pessimistic place. The author also has some odd case studies: Oasis? Spice Girls? If this was a book on cynical and retro marketing techniques then the two failed branding exercises mentioned would be of some morbid interest... but not to anyone in the real business of music nowadays. Anyway, if you want to read up on (mostly redundant) concepts that you could probably find online or by getting a life (ie by making real life connections in venues, clubs and bars) then it's worth a rudimentary browse. Why not? However the real players will already know the score. Because of pure necessity.