Music: Winning the Game

Certainly you can win at the music game. Never forget, though, that the pop music business has long preyed on financially and legally unsophisticated people, often from disadvantaged communities, who produce so much of our popular music. To protect yourself in this racket, you need to rely on a fairly elaborate team.

Anybody who hopes to make a living from musical ideas will need one or more of the following: personal manager, business manager, attorney, and/or agent.*

*Since in recent years the music industry has focused mainly on songwriter/performers, this chapter is aimed at that category. Even if you are interested only in songwriting, however, it still is to your advantage to learn something of the big picture. Remember, too, that the industry's ideal of a performer continues to change. Thus the rise of MTV has created a demand for musician/performers who are photogenic as well as talented. (For the best and most sympathetic treatment of management teams, see Donald Passman's All You Need to Know About the Music Business.)