Whether you’re writing, recording, or distributing music, you need solid information to make the right legal and business choices. Music Law is the all-in-one guide you need. Written by musician and lawyer Rich Stim, it explains everything you need to: • use samples and do covers • sell and license your music • get royalties for streaming and downloads • get gigs and get paid • protect your copyrights • write a partnership agreement • buy, insure, and maintain equipment • deal with taxes and deductions • find the right manager and write a fair contract • deal with legal issues in the recording studio, and • negotiate record contracts. This is the most useful business and legal guide for bands and independent musicians. Completely updated to provide the latest in the law and current business practices, it covers music licensing, streaming revenue, and other ways of making money from your music.

Singer-Songwriters and Musical Open Mics is an ethnographic exploration of New York City’s live music events where musicians signup and perform short sets. This sociological study dispels the common assumption that open mics are culturally monolithic and reserved for novice musicians. Open mics allow musicians at different locations within their musical development and career to interactively perform, practice, and network with other musicians. Important themes in the book include: the tension between self and society in the creative process, issues of creative authenticity and authorship, and on-going cultural changes central to the Do-It-Yourself cultural zeitgeist of the early 21st century. The open mic’s cultural antecedents include a radio format, folk hootenannies, and the jazz jam session. Drawing from multiple qualitative methods, Aldredge describes how open mics have etched a vital organizational place in the western and urban musical landscape. Open mics represent a creative place where the boundaries of practicing and performing seemingly blur. This allows for a range of social settings from more competitive, stratified, and homogenous music scenes to culturally diverse weekly events often stretching late into the night.

This second edition of Song Sheets to Software includes completely revised and updated listings of music software, instructional media, and music-related Internet Web sites of use to all musicians, whether hobbyist or professional. This book is a particularly valuable resource for the private studio and classroom music teacher.

The Most Trusted Guide to Songwriting Success It's an exciting time to be a songwriter, especially if you have an entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you're a perfoming or nonperforming songwriter, chances are that your primary goals are perfecting your craft and maximizing your work's visibility. For 36 years, Songwriter's Market has provided the most complete and up-to-date information songwriters need to place their songs with the music publishers, record companies, record producers, managers, booking agents, music firms and more. This comprehensive guide provides you with all the tools you need to launch, manage, and advance your songwriting career.In the 2013 edition, you'll also gain access to: • Newly updated information about submitting your songs over the internet, and registering your copyright online • Hundreds of songwriting placement opportunities • Power-packed articles on taking charge of your career - including how to navigate the constantly evolving world of social media and discover alternative routes to songwriting success • Listings for songwriting organizations, conferences, workshops, retreats, colonies, contests, and venues (a helpful tool for indie artists booking their own tours) The outlook has never been brighter for launching your career, building your fan base, and distributing your songs - on your own terms. Take charge of your songwriting career today with the 2013 Songwriter's Market. PLEASE NOTE: Free subscriptions are NOT included with the e-book edition of this title.

The 1970s saw a wave of singer-songwriters flood the airwaves and concert halls across the United States. This book organizes the stories of approximately 150 artists whose songs created the soundtrack to people's lives during the decade that forever shaped musical composition. Some well-known, others less known, these artists were the song-poets and storytellers who wrote their own music and lyrics. Featuring biographical information and discography overviews for each artist, this is the only one-volume encyclopedic overview of this topic. Featured artists include Carole King and James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Gordon Lightfoot, Elvis Costello and dozens of other song-poets of the seventies.

What do Tom Jones, Nick Cave, Joan Baez, John Denver, Ray Charles, Del Shannon, Keith Richards, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Carol Channing, Manowar and Linda Ronstadt... have in common? Mickey Newbury. They recorded his songs. Matter of fact, Newbury's material has been covered by over 1,230 artists. That is just about everybody. His inspirational ballad "An American Trilogy" has been recorded by more than 550 artists. It was Elvis' showstopper. His "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" is the rocker that launched Kenny Rogers' career into the stratosphere. Newbury, who grew up on Houston's tough North side, is the only songwriter to place four top hits on four different charts... simultaneously. The train hopper was also instrumental in mentoring Kris Kristofferson, who says, "God, I learned more about songwriting from Mickey than I did any other single human being. He was my hero and still is." Shotgun Willie Nelson adds, "He was one of the best writers we've ever had and one of the best friends I've ever had." And that is not all. Newbury's albums enjoy an extensive cult following. Peers consider him among the best of the best, and many artists refer to his albums as "perfect." Some call him a modern day Stephen Foster. Why then is Newbury known mainly to insiders? A well-kept secret? Too good for the masses? Two truths can be stated: The man cannot be pigeonholed, and he refused to sell out. Like crystal and stone, Newbury's fascinating story is clearly and solidly laid out. It may even change a few truths. As he wrote, Time has a way of changing everything Truth has a way of changing all the time.