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Diane Sward Rapaport has done it again! This is the twentieth anniversary and fifth revised edition of the book that has been a friend and guide to more than 150,000 musicians, producers, engineers and owners of small recording labels. It has been called the "bible and basic text" that has helped revolutionize the recording industry by providing information about setting up new recording labels independent of major label networks. Readers are guided through the steps of setting up a recording company as a business: from promotion and sales, to recording procedures and manufacturing, to business plans and financing. This new edition features a forward written by Loreena McKennitt, who, with the guidance of Ms. Rapaport's book, started her own Quinlan Road label in 1985. This new editions addresses new major technological changes that have occurred in the ninties, including the impact of the Internet on all facets of the music industry. Well thought out worksheets throughout the book, help readers project and budget for the expenses involved in making and selling recordings. This new edition updates previous editions and adds information about the way the Internet is providing new sales and promotion opportunities for indie labels. Thorough guidelines are included here, not only for production and manufacturing, but also marketing formulas that can be tailored to target men and women's music audiences. In covering every detail, Diane expresses that beginning producers will wear many hats. This book has helped revolutionize the recording industry by providing detailed information about setting up a recording label independent of major label networks. The book begins with chapters on marketing and promotion and deals with the importance of building up niche markets and goes on to include information on how to set up a publishing company, fill out a copyright form, deal with mechanical licenses and sampling clearances; how to make the best use of recording budgets; how to find the best buys for manfacturing, etc. Diane also offers a wealth of practical advice for musicians and sound people, from how to run a sound check to how to record an act's show live. There are chapters which focus on studio recording, mixing, and manufacturing CDs. This wonderful, user-friendly volume has a lot to teach anyone involved in any aspect of presenting live acoustic musicians. They offer tips on evaluating your current sound system, taking it on tour and making sure it works every night. There is also a great addition by Gregory T. Victoroff on sampling. It covers copyright infringement, breaches of contracts, and other legal issues along with copies of sample use agreements, and other forms. The last six chapters are focused on financing, covering loans, profit sharing, corporate shares, complying with statutes, and evaluating investors. At the end of the book there are lots of useful worksheets and seven pages of valuable resources. For those that already own a previous edition of the book, the new additions mentioned above would be worth investing in the new revision, especcially the section on the Internet. For those new to the book, it is...in a word, indespensible. If you are an independent musician serious about your music, this is THE book. After reading it, I was amazed at how much valuable and useful information has been crammed into 258 pages, and how well everything was presented. It has deservedly earned it's title as "the Bible", which, in it's five incarnations, has helped revolutionize the recording industry in many ways. Jerome Headlands Press, Inc., based in Jerome, Arizona, was founded in 1988 by Diane Sward Rapaport. The company designs and produces business, legal and technical guides for musicians, visual artists and professionals working in entertainment and the arts. The company's goal is to make practical, understandable information available to those who want to learn to treat their art and music as a business and avoid costly mistakes. Jerome Headlands also specializes in public relations and advertising services for environmental technology companies. Review by Ben Kettlewell information: |
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Diane Rapaport
