Educate yourself as much as possible

Both creative and professional industry people consistently give the same piece of advice to those trying to break into the music business. “Educate yourself as much as possible about all aspects of this business. “You don’t have to be a lawyer, manager, etc., but you do need to have some idea of how the business itself is run. That’s why I’ve included information in this post on publishing and recording royalties as well as some specifics about recording contracts that I feel are particularly important. Even a little knowledge can go a long way in keeping you from getting ripped off. Back in the 1950’s, for instance, some of the famous doo-wop singers received no royalties from hit songs they wrote. These writers signed away various song writing rights without understanding what they meant. Over the years, many popular artists who’ve written their own songs have opted for the quick deal, a pretty lump of cash at the beginning with nothing on the other end. The record label got most of the money.