Step by Step Guide to Business in Music Management

Many people who have been working in the music industry for a while will know that the opportunities and scope for creativity are literally endless. It’s easy to see why so many music producers, radio presenters and DJs want to jump ship and start their own business in music management. The money is good, and the job satisfaction is superb. However, this is also a time where decision making becomes very important and you have to be very careful with the decisions you make. This article will give you some tips on how to make it as a music producer, DJ or audio engineer in your own right.

The first thing you have to do is sign up with a reputable and established company if you’re planning to run your own business in the music industry. Two of the best companies around are Interscope and Paradigm, but there are many others out there too. The two I recommend are connected and Wintor from New York.

Once you’re signed up, you will need to look into the different kinds of music streaming services available. There are a lot of streaming music services, such as Bandcamp, TuneCore and Pandora. All these services allow you to upload your songs to be played by your current fans as well as new artists who are looking to promote themselves. They all have different ways of monetising your music so it’s a good idea to do some research into which one you’d be more comfortable with.

Another thing to consider when starting your own business in music is the marketing and promotion you need. If you can afford to spend some money then get yourself a website hosting package. A personal website will allow you to showcase all of your work, show your contacts and give some information about you and your background. A good web site will help you build a network of contacts and will allow new artists to get their foot in the door by telling them where they can find you. You will also want to have an active social media presence, most people now use Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to keep up to date with new music, news and anything else that is going on in their musical careers. If you don’t have one of these accounts set up, start building one today.

The last thing you’ll need to consider is the legal side of things. This is very similar to the music publishing business. There are both major record labels and small independents who control their own territories, producing and marketing their own releases. It’s important to understand the industry and how it works. You should also be familiar with all the laws that affect the business, especially those governing your state.

Once you’ve got your business plan in place, you’re ready for the next part: running and maintaining the business. While this may seem like an overwhelming task, especially if you are just starting out, it is actually a very simple process. With a little assistance from a mentor (who can also offer guidance when it comes to marketing and promotion), and some simple technology solutions, you can start your own music management company. Don’t let being new to the business keep you from realizing your goals and helping other people succeed as well. You only need to take the first step in this fascinating new field!

Benny
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