Donald S. Passman
1 Pour les francophones
Cet excellent livre n`a jamais ŽtŽ traduit en francais et ne le sera sans doute jamais, car il concerne avant tous les Etats-Unis. D. PASSMAN a notamment ŽtŽ l`avocat de J. Jackson, et est un expert dans le domaine. Pour le marchŽ francophone, je recommande deux livres en particulier :
1. TOUT LE MONDE VOUS DIRA NON, de Hubert Mansion. Un rŽel guide de survie dans le show-business, brillant et magnifiquement documentŽ. Un livre ˆ mon avis indispensable pour comprendre la rŽalitŽ trop souvent cachŽe du milieu de l`industrie du show-business.
2. LES CONTRATS DE LA MUSIQUE, de P. M BOUVERY. Surtout pour les avocats vivant en France. Le seul livre technique sur le sujet, ˆ lire en tant que manuel juridique.
2 Don Passman = Genius
This book was absolutley magical. I really enjoyed how this book gave such a wonderfull, indetail,look behind the scenes of the music buisness. This book was so good i jumped with joy after reading it. i really liked the part about the managers and what they do to ensure the artists position in the music field. i also really enjoyed the part about the music producers. After reading that section i want to pursue a career in music production. i think Don passman is a great author. it must have taken a long time to get together all this info. their was so much info about the music buisness i couldn't believe it. i really enjoyed reading this book because it was so informational. I highly recomend this book.
3 music business 101
Basically for a beginner who is seeking knowledge to prosper in the music industry; and for intermediate individuals in the industry that wants to broaden their knowledge.
Knowledge = mo' money
Mo' money = you smart
I highly recommend this book.
4 Starting a band--read this
An essential gudie for people who are either starting a band, wanting to be an attorney in the music business or any of the other related business areas regading to music. The major benefit of this book is the breakdown of percentage commisions that all players can expect and bargain for. It is truly a great reference book to have on hand.
5 An essential music business book.
A great book that covers all the basics of royalties, record deals, merchandising, etc...at least from a major label perspective. This stuff is great to know and everybody SHOULD take time to understand it, but I think there are better books out there for most acts, which is why I'm giving this 4/5 instead of 5/5. What I mean by this is that you have to have something to manage before you can get a manager... And you'll need a record that will sell before a label is interested and you need to negotiate with them. Get this book, but don't think this is how it's going to work for you. It CAN work this way, but you'll have to do a lot of work on your own artist development before it will.
6 Essential
I think this book is really essential to any artist/musician. It's well written and covers anything in-deep. Nr 1 book in my music biz collection.
(I hoped to find also something about new ways of releasing records, like master licensing to indipendent labels, but that's OK)
7 The Best Book
This book is the best. It's very easy to read even if english isn's your mother language. Very interesting and iclude All you need to know to know about Music Business.
8 must read
grat book witty with practal and easy to understand terms .A great overview of music related business
9 Agreed- this is the Bible of Music Busines info
Get this book. It is written by a well respected music business attorney and gives specific facts on what you will be getting into when you hit the music business. no, not everything is going to work out like a text book scenerio, but this will give you a better understanding of the business of music better than any book I have found.
10 Great Insight to the Biz
What can I say... Information and knowledge are the most important things you must have on your side in this business.
This is as important to anyone, in or about to enter, the music scene as The Art of War is to the military.
A must have... and it will save time, money and energy in your career. Thanks Donald... it's worth it's weight in gold.
11 The Definitive Music Business Book
I read the previous edition of this book and just bought the current edition. This book was recommended to me by my private music instructor when i was 18 graduating high school. It definantly opened my eyes to the music industry. A great book, written like fine fiction...fun to read for sure.
12 All you need to know about the Music Business
I found the book to be very helpful and informative. It has been written by someone who has been directly involved in the music industry, and has experienced the ups and downs that comes with the territory. It provides goals and strategies to make the success happen. The book is very valuable. I recommend it.
13 Take Care of Business, Baby!
So many landmines, so little time. Creating and playing music is easy, when compared to the complicated battlefield of the music business. Attorney Donald Passman does musicians a great service by explaining the intricacies of contracts, royalties, publishing, merchandising and more -- all in an easy-to-understand style. Get this when you want to get a clue about the "business" side of music. -Bob Baker, author, "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook: 201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Songwriters, Musicians & Bands."
14 PROTECTION
All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman is by far the best book to read for insight into the pros and the cons of the music business. Passman's knowledge is superior to any other music book that I have had the pleasure of reading. Many authors have released pertinent information about the realities of the business but Passman's approach is not only insightful but it is relaxing as well. His knowledge coupled with his humor, wit and enthusiasm soothes the anxiety of the reader. Instead of the reader being bombarded with only facts and figures, Donald Passman appears to display a more personal address. In reading All You Need to Know About the Music Business, I felt it was more of a close consultation instead of a structured manuscript. This is why this book is so powerful! It is wonderfully structured to assist the aspiring musician to take control of his or her own career. He reveals the dangers & advantages of advances, royalties, cross-collateralization, publishing, merchandising and touring. Passman gives the reader tips on getting the best record deal possible. He teaches us how to protect our passion, production, music and money! I highly recommend that all aspiring songwriters, producers and musicians read this book. Kudos!
15 A must read for the musician
If you are a performing artist, then this is the book for you. It is written with the singer in mind, it includes information about how to get started, and the information is a must-know so that you protect yourself from bad contracts in the industry. The author also happens to be quite a comedian. Protect yourself and your art.... read All You Need To Know About the Music Business.
16 Definitely A Get This!
The title's got it! The Music Industry is a Business. Okay, some of us like to think it's about art, culture, the aspirations of humanity, the beauty found in a voice singing unto the Heavens. But, there's a ton of pre-packaged stuff out there that makes my grocery store look like it sells stuff only on the same day it gets them.
I really enjoyed this book. It really helps lay out a plan for how to do it, and who couldn't use some help? But, I didn't think it was as strong in the whole pr area that it is in others. Another book, Guerilla PR: Wired, really came through there, especially with the 'Net--Blair Witch, remember? It's gotta help to have total strangers know who you are.
17 DON'T Put It Off !!! ... Read it NOW, before it's too late!
... "Listen-Up, Spuds!" - as DEVO and Neil Young would say - and heed this advice: DON'T Put It Off !!! ... Read it NOW, before it's too late! ... Yeah, it's a HARDCOVER. ... Yeah, it's kind of COSTLY. ... Yeah, it's a BIG book with a lot of legal jargon and business mumbo-jumbo. ... TOO BAD! ... Ignore it at your own peril! ... Read this book now - NOW! - before you get in so deep into the deep water in the deep end of the pool, and don't know what happened, how to deal with it, or what you can do to get out of it without having to hire a lawyer for THOUSANDS of dollars to save you from economic ruin! ... Trust me: just buy it, read it, and make everyone else in your band read it, too! ... You will NEVER regret it - NEVER! ... Besides, Donald Passman writes like a real pro and makes it interesting and fun to read. You WILL get a number of laughs out of this book, too. It's THAT good... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid
18 Music business 101 for artists
A highly entertaining, extremely thorough music business book. Passman discusses everything from record royalties to music publishing, managers and attorneys and much more. This book is a must have if you are new to the music business and written in a very engaging manner. The author successfully simplifies what is often thought of as a complex business...
19 Meet your very best friend...
First of all, let me tell you that being a fairly new band manager in this business, you can never learn or read too much. I have read nearly everything out there, online and offline.
"All You Need to Know About the Music Business" is BY FAR the best book related to the business of music I have read thus far.
You will find yourself muttering, "God, thank you for this man" at the end of almost every page. I mean it. I did.
This fantastic book is written in such a way that only other similar books could attempt. Mixing solid business information with a personality that will carry you from page to page. Once you have picked up this book, you will suddenly realize hours later you just missed an important meeting, but you will also know damn near everything you need to get you started in this business.
Simply put, if you don't have this book, you have no idea what you really don't know.
20 Get Me Rewrite!
Frequent arithmetic, grammatic and typographical errors mar this perennial favorite of the musically-inclined who dream of superstardom, or at least a hefty advance and escalating royalties. Operating upon the principle that "forewarned is forearmed", Passman covers in fair detail the myriad ways in which recording artists, songwriters, and assorted little people get thoroughly shafted by the parasitic entities in charge of the industry, ie. record companies, distributors, publishers, and everyone else who can't write or play music. The bulk of the book is devoted to walkthroughs of various royalty calcuations and deal points in standard contracts between individual artists and record companies and publishers; smaller sections are devoted to copyright/intellectual property, group issues and film music. Cyberlaw issues are touched on, but receive only cursory treatment. On balance, there's enough useful information here to justify the purchase, but I'd like to offer the prospective purchaser the following caveats. One, "All You Need To Know", while intended for the layman (or layperson, as the author would have it), is dense with information; only the obsessive will be able to read it from cover to cover. Two, Passman employs second-person voice throughout. Frequently, it is impossible to tell whether the "you" he addresses is intended to be a recording artist, a writer, a publisher or a record company. This is worrisome, insofar as Passman may be espousing a position that is intended for one audience but might be mistaken by the reader as advice for another. ("So, should I negotiate for ownership of copyright as a writer or a co-publisher?") Three, there are mistakes in a large proportion of the numerical examples. Get out a calculator and redline them when you spot them. Four, Passman's brand of humor, such as it is, seems to have just hobbled out of a '50s Catskills resort. Be prepared to roll your eyes. Fifth and finally, this book may spur a great deal of righteous indignation about the state of the industry and its incredibly poor treatment of its most valuable assets. For those of you who still believe that being a musician in the United States amounts to something better than indentured servitude, "All You Need To Know" will be an eye opener.
21 #2 on my Required Reading list for Music Biz Success
This book used to be at #1 on my required reading list until I recently read "Confessions Of A Record Producer" by Moses Avalon (also available here on Amazon.Com). The two books compliment each other very well, and they really should be tied for #1 on my list. This book is written by a music biz attorney, Donald Passman, but it doesn't read like it was written by an attorney. Easy enough to read and follow that you will want to read the whole book. I won't bother detailing what the book talks about, since you can find that through the description. I will say that it is very comprehensive and doesn't leave anything out. It's a practical guide to how the music business works that no musician should be without. Combine this with "Confessions Of a Record Producer" to learn all about the bad side of the biz, and you will have a very strong foundation to get you started!
22 Best of the Genre
Passman knows his stuff. Not only is this book a comprehensive guide to all the twists, turns and pitfalls of making a living as a musician, but it is very user friendly, to boot. Heck, even musicians can understand what he is talking about. Passman might earn a bit of criticism for his 'pro-lawyer' bias, but he is also just being honest that without a good lawyer any reasonably successful musician is going to be eaten alive by record company contractual permutations. Finally, Passman deserves credit for being such a smooth and downright funny author. A rare thing in what appears to be a nuts-and-bolts guide. Bottom line? IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN YOU NEED TO BUY THIS BOOK.
23 All You Need to Know is to purchace this book
Wandering through the dark catacombs of the music industry without a flashlight and compass would be a pretty ludicrous effort, and yet many an musician and aspiring industry professional attempt to do just that. Breaking down the wall between the darkness of confusion and the light of understanding All You Need to Know... delves into the basics which make up the foundation of the entertainment industry. Everything you have ever heard about the business is true, it is a cat fight, sucker punch of a risk with as huge of a reward as the possibility of complete failure. With those kind of odds one can only imagine the complexities of its nature, spanning from the legal to the business to the creative to the social and everything in between. Grappling the bigger picture in understanding this web of structure which eludes most in defining the entertainment industry, All You Need To Know... maintains a balance of depth and simplicity throughout. Using easy to follow details of real life examples coupled with in-depth explanations of a multitude of entertainment obstacles from understanding the team of artist, manager, lawyer, agent, label artist relations to the basics of releasing a recording independently or through a label deal to copyrights, trademarks and ownership to touring and merchandising to digital media and beyond, All You Need to Know... thoroughly covers the bases in an understandable nature. Although, like most publications of this nature it is no substitute for common sense, a well versed manager, lawyer or teacher on hand, All You Need to Know... does do more than significantly lay the groundwork for understanding and subsequently conquering many of the normal trials associated with succeeding in the music industry in any fashion. In general All You Need to Know... spans the need for both a general reference guide to the industry and a readable, comprehensible book in its ability to possess both staggering
detail and simplistic, well versed writing. It works as easily for the musician just beginning to plan their music business endeavors as it does the more seasoned industry businessman and everyone in-between enduring the often confusing aspects of this world. Chapters are laid out with a multitude of subheads and than grouped into larger parts in the book making it easy to follow a point as it grows from simple to more complex. It has the flow at times of a real-life story, rather than a dry over-detailed reference, while never forgetting it is an educational tool. All You Need to Know... never fails to deliver the field of music with crystal clear insight and thought provoking depth, providing a beacon of light for anyone who wants to better find their way in the complex maze of the music industry.
24 A Must Read for anyone interested in the business!!
I originally read the previous version of this book, and found it to be extremely helpful. This version goes even further with it's up to date information on the new aspects of the business. If you are interested in being a professional artist, or are in the business of making your money working with them, you have to read this book.
25 This book should be required reading
for anyone who is interested in being part of the music business. Every teacher at UCLA in the Music Business program recommends this book for their class, and I can see why. Even though I am now in the business itself, I STILL go back and re-read sections because of the great info in here.
26 the best book about the biz
I had been meaning to read this book for a while by the time I actually got around to it, and now I wished I hadn't waisted so much time before I did. This has to be one of the most valuable books (if not the most valuable) about the industry I have ever read (and, let me tell ya', I've read a lot of books!). I expected a "glossing over" of many topics because of the fact that the book is not very long and is very comprehensive in its subject matter, but, low-and-behold, I was amazed to find so much in-depth information regarding each individual topic, actually more about certain issues than I have managed to attain reading separate works devoted wholly to any one subject covered in the book. Mr. Passman's great use of wit keeps this book very entertaining for those of you who would rather not have yourself associated with anything that may be deemed "educational" (and his years of experience are there to serve those of you who won't associate with "humor", you know who you are). I highly recommend this informative, well written book to anyone who has their sights set on any area of the music business, and even for those who don't, it can make a lot of sense out of many of the VH1 "Behind the Music" episodes.
27 THE BIBLE OF MUSIC
I am an artist about to release an album. Even before I started venturing into self-producing my first album along w/ my producer/friend , I was reading this book nite & day & I even lent it to my manager since we're really not that knowledgeable in the business yet. It really is a must for someone to treat the music industry as business or else , if u don't know how to play the game, the ins-outs of this industry - u must read this book or else you're gonna sink. Donald is an industry professional whom I believe wants to share his knowledge to struggling & aspiring artists/musicians/managers/etc. like me. I highly recommend this book to new artists & those who have plans of crossing over the US music industry. Even if I'm a Filipino living in Manila , the knowledge that this book has given me is worth so much.
28 Salan Recording Studio
We operate a recording studio in Sheboygan Wisconsin and purchased this book thinking it could help us with various aspects of the music industry. This book has not only helped us understand the intricate dealings artists and individuals involved in this business need to know but we have decided to add it to our package offering and include it with all major projects signed at our studio. The artists love the info as it takes them step by step through the maze of legal documentation in a "no nonsense" and easy to understand process. Some even report having saved the cost of there sessions at our studio by using some of the approaches recommended by the author.
29 The best book ever for the music business
This book is really helpful. I really enjoyed reading it. Very easy reading for the person who gets very restless and bored after the first page. I reccommend this to any one who wishes to get involved in this business
30 You can't live without this book!
Without a doubt one of the most resourceful guides for not only aspiring musicians, but managers, producers and regular record and radio folk as well. You can't say you're interested in a career in the music industry without having this book on your shelf!
31 COCKY TITLE DELIVERS WHAT IT PROMISES
Author Passman has created something of a journalistic feat: his book is an attorney's look at the mechanisms of the music industry-usually not a particularly fascinating subject-yet he's made it great fun to read. An LA-based music attorney since the seventies, Passman is boyishly enthusiastic about his subject, and says the book is an outgrowth of his professional need to explain the basic workings of the industry to his artist clients. Though he says he is not writing technically (as if for fellow attorneys), he has nevertheless included virtually all of the checkpoints, or "deal points," that come up in contract negotiations today. The point of view being marketed here is that it pays to be an informed artist or songwriter, even if you think you don't care that much about the business side. Passman's "blurbs," or endorsements, are almost overkill: the likes of artist Don Henley, producer Quincy Jones, and longtime Warner Communications Chairman Mo Ostin. In the light of all this prestige (even the publisher, Prentice Hall, is an old-guard New York house), I couldn't believe that beneath Joe Smith's back- cover endorsement, Capitol-EMI, of which Smith was chair, was misspelled as "Capital." Minor flaw, all things considered, and happily not a predictor of sloppy work inside. Passman is an excellent choice for either personal learning or university-level classroom study. On first hearing, the title seems a bit arrogant, but Passman just about does cover it all. The 1994 second edition is virtually identical to the first, except for a welcome expansion of the opening "First Steps" section, and a detailed explanation of legislation the entire music industry lobbied long and hard to achieve: the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 (the "home taping" legislation). Passman explains the projected flow of revenues from this act back into the music industry: one third to songwriters and publishers, and two thirds to record companies. Among the nineties books on the business of the music industry, this is one of the very best. Ron Simpson, School of Music, Brigham Young University. Author of MASTERING THE MUSIC BUSINESS.
32 All You Need
Like the title says, this book is a straight-forward no-nonsense guide to all you need to know about the music business. I have read it several times and I recommend it to all my clients in the entertainment industry.
33 The Be-All End-All Beginner's Guide
When I bought this book, I knew *nothing* about the music industry. After I read it, I was able to have intelligent conversations with industry pros. And the book is so well respected just droping it's name gets me attention. A must!
34 If you want to know the ins and outs of the industry...
Wether your a musician, producer or even current record exec. You should give this book a shot, it's very comprehensive and efficient. Once you read this book there's nothing left to know.
35 A Must Have!
Success is about having the right information and then knowing how to and actually applying it! This is one of the books we recommend highly in our Hip Hop Entrepreneur Bookshelf on our website!
--Walt Goodridge, President Hip Hop Entrepreneur Association (Walt is also author of Rap: This Game of Exposure and, The Game of Artist Management, The Hip Hop Entrepreneur Lists of Exposure, The Niche Market Report, and other success tools for the Hip Hop Entrepreneur)
36 some useful information, some hype
If you aren't a musician this is more than all you need to know about the music business. If you are a musician this is nowhere near all you need to know about the music business. But most of what you need to know you learn by getting involved in the business itself, not by reading books. A large part of this book's large readership consists of wanna-and-will-never-be's, but take a look anyway. (Remember that you also need to know how to play. For that I can do no better than recommend PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.)
Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.
37 it had an very informative out look on the music industy
if i wanted to stat a music lable i would definetly get this boo
38 Absolutely the best book in the biz
I am a law school graduate and have worked as a legal officer for a major bank and as a pro musician. This book is very clearly written and is full of essential information that a) You just don't get in most law schools and b) Would cost thousands of dollars in legal fees to get from your own music lawyer IF they had the time to run you through it all (which they don't). This book is now my bible. Also you don't need to be a lawyer to understand it. If you are thinking of getting into the biz in any way, musician, lawyer, manager, producer, indie label, composer etc. you should own this book or the industry will chew you up and spit you out! I can't thank the author enough for giving this material out so generously. It is so well written. I've been seeking this sort of info for years. If you buy only one book on the biz make it this one.
39 Good for bands who are serious.
Very informative, easy to read, well laid out. He explains many of the reasons why things are going to be rough in a recording contract with a major label. My one complaint is that he then goes on to tell you why you should give in to all the demands the labels make, so it seems a little like he wrote the book to help the labels. But however he meant it, it still clarifies the process very well, and shows many of the problems in the music industry.
40 This book is an excellent aid in understanding the Biz.
All You need to know about the music business has been a tremendous help to me in learning about the basic workings of the music business. Subjects range from publishing to royalty calculations and from finding good management to merchandising.
It is clearly focused on the US legal and structural situation, though, and should not be used by Europeans as a "manual" without checking the facts. For example, publishing works slightly different in Europe and so do royalty calculations.
If you want to understand the basic principles of the business, however, it is an absolute must!!
41 Practical Guide to the Music Biz
We have been offering advise for new and upcoming musicians since 1968 at our site. We recommend the book by Mr. Passman, as well as refer those interested in purchasing said book to Amazon.com. Amazon.com really does have the best prices.
42 Excellent!
I've read many books on the music business and this is far and away the best!
43 Entertainers' Foundation, Inc. rates a "Must Have"
Anyone even considering pursuing a recording contract needs to read this book! No other work has so successfuly illustrated - in plain language - what a record deal holds in store for the recording artist. It's an eye-opener!
- Devon M. Scott, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Entertainers' Foundation, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
