Ever wondered how your favorite tracks turn into fortunes—or why some artists blow up overnight on TikTok? Donald Passman's All You Need to Know About the Music Business cuts through the hype, delivering straight talk from a lawyer who's shaped deals for decades. Now in its 11th edition, it's packed with fresh insights on the shifts that have flipped the industry upside down.
Remember buying CDs? Those days are gone. Music makes money through streams now—billions of plays across Spotify, Apple Music, and beyond. Passman breaks down how this changes everything: royalties per play, playlist pitching, and why labels are scrambling. Artists have more control than ever, bypassing gatekeepers to reach fans directly. He details mega sales of song catalogs, like those fetching nine figures, and what it means for your career.
Social media isn't just promotion; it's creation central. TikTok has launched more No. 1s than radio ever did, and Passman explains the algorithm magic and viral strategies. Then there's AI: tools generating beats, lyrics, even full tracks. Is it opportunity or threat? Get the legal lowdown, plus Web3 experiments in NFTs and metaverses where music lives on as digital assets.
Picture negotiating your first publishing deal without getting burned, or spotting the next TikTok trend before it peaks. Songwriters learn split sheets and PROs like ASCAP/BMI. Managers handle tour routing amid rising costs. Even executives use it for boardroom ammo. At 500+ pages, it's dense but digestible, with charts, examples, and Passman's no-BS voice.
Half a million copies sold, 'industry bible' status from the LA Times—this isn't theory; it's battle-tested advice. Grab the Kindle edition for instant access, searchable text, and updates that keep pace with chaos. If music's your world, this book's your map.
