Posted: Mar 28, 2022

Category: Tips & Tricks

make money publishing youtube music business songwriting licensing instagram brand partnerships snapchat collaboration tiktok innovo management

**Guest post by Sam Saideman, co-founder of artist management and consultant agency Innovo Management.

"2020 wreaked havoc on everyone’s lives, however in my opinion, artists (and freelance creatives as a whole) took the brunt of it. Reminiscing now, it’s clear which artists figured it out and which didn’t, but I want to utilize this piece to discuss ways I saw artists adapt in the hopes that it helps readers dig back into YouTube (and other resources) to learn a part of the industry they didn’t know existed! It’s worth noting, these are not the only ways to build supplemental income or adapt, but merely a few to start with."

Posted: Jan 18, 2022

Category: Publishing

publishing make money licensing performance rights organizations cover songs publishing administrator sync placements collaboration vampr

**Guest post written by Vampr Publishing, originally featured in their blog.

"In the digital age of being a DIY artist, many songwriters are asking how to publish a song. This is a valid question. The purpose of a music publisher is continually evolving. It needs to in an ever-changing technological landscape! To some extent, artists and songwriters can publish their own music. But – they may find it gets harder as their catalogue and network grows...Whether you’re looking to cover it alone, with your team, or looking to work with (or get signed by) a bigger publisher, this post will help you understand the ins and outs of music publishing."

Posted: Oct 28, 2019

Category: The Musician Business

merch publishing website improvement blogs newsletters licensing distribution music album release sound exchange soundcloud bandcamp biography aris take copyright press release photos trademark videos performing rights organization playlists research

**Guest post written by Ari Herstand. This is an excerpt from his book How to Make It in the New Music Business (second edition). This post was originally published on Music Connection.

"Before you release your next single or album, make sure you set it up for the best chance of success. Don’t forget to do these 26 things before the release..."

Posted: Mar 4, 2019

Category: Performance Rights Organizations

make money publishing ascap bmi sesac royalties professionalism performing rights organization original material the legit musician

**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.

"I am always surprised at how many musicians I talk with that really have no idea what a Performance Rights Organization is, or what it does for artists. I’m not just talking about indie musicians either. Some well-known national acts are in the same boat and could learn some things from this post. Let me explain how you can become a pro by joining a P.R.O."

Posted: May 14, 2018

Category: The Musician Business

advertising budget ep vs album music business promotion publishing relationships with fans soundstage direct

**Guest post written by Ellie Batchiyska, a writer for SoundStageDirect, the number one online source for the best vinyl records and turntables.

"The final step in your self-promotion efforts, however, should be none other than creating an EP...Having an EP is great for giving people a taste of your musical sound and style. Think of it as your curriculum vitae, a summary of your most impressive and promising work."

Posted: May 9, 2016

Category: Royalties

fair and transparent harry fox agency indie artists irespectmusic publishing royalties spotify tunecore

**Guest Post by David Lowery, frontman from Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. Originally featured in The Trichordist.

Posted: Mar 28, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

commercials ep vs album licensing live performances make money movies music libraries mystery loves company publishing singles tv video games

**Guest post written by Carlos A. Machado of Mystery Loves Company.

"With almost 200 shows and multiple music conferences in the past two years, Maddy and I have learned a ton about the current music industry. For those wanting a career as singer-songwriters, here are a two things we think are worth keeping in mind..."

Posted: Jan 25, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

career goals gigging keys to success licensing live performances los colognes making it masters music business practice publishing sync placements

**Guest Post written by Jay Rutherford of Los Colognes.

"Like millions of other morons out there, I'm attempting to make music both the primary joy and primary financial security in my life. My band Los Colognes has achieved marginal success, just enough to get mom and dad off our backs, so to speak. Without further adieu, here’s me convincing myself I have achieved some wisdom, when in reality I have no psychological control over any of it yet. Pretend this is the Old Ben Kenobi version of me, from somewhere in the future..."

Posted: Aug 4, 2015

Category: Publishing

ascap bmi cd baby mechanical royalties publishing publishing administrator sesac sync placements the diy musician

**Guest post from the DIY Musician Blog.

"One of the other topics of consistent confusion for our members is the differentiation between what a publishing administrator does and what a performing rights society does. Many members of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC that I’ve heard from think their performing rights society IS their publisher and that they are getting all of the income they’re entitled to directly from that P.R.O. (performing rights organization). In this article, I relay a couple of actual questions we’ve received on the topic and try to give some clear, concise answers."

Posted: Apr 20, 2015

Category: The Musician Business

ariel hyatt branding cyber pr deuce ellis fan engagement have a story live performances make money merch monetization music business publishing relationships with fans

**Guest post written by Deuce Ellis, Buffalo-born and Brooklyn-raised rap renegade. Originally posted by Cyber PR.

"Here’s My Guest Blog After Attending the #YourMusic Seminar; maybe this whole thing is easier than you think…First things first, let’s demolish whatever train of thought you may have. Demolish it. Let’s destroy and rebuild..."

Posted: Aug 4, 2014

Category: Licensing

aris take licensing make money movies publishing synch tv

**Guest post written by Ari Herstand. It originally appeared on Ari's Take. 

Posted: May 5, 2014

Category: Licensing

licensing live performances make money music business publishing synch

**Guest post written by Mallory Zumbach, Sr. Director of Creative at Round Hill Music.

"You might be wondering what exactly a company like RHM looks for when they’re signing a songwriter, artist, or band with the goal of having significant synch success with them. First and foremost, of course, we want to work with tremendously talented people. The music has to make us sit up and take notice the first time we hear it—if it does, we know that people in the synch world will take note, too..."

Posted: Apr 10, 2014

Category: Renman Music & Business

agreements band agreements gary gilbert managers publishing record deal renman

In week #5 of RenmanMB's Insider's Guide to Today's Music Business, the lesson looked at the key contracts and agreements you will likely come across if you are doing something big in the music business. Among many topics covered are the 4 key agreements: Band Agreements, Management Agreements, Recording Agreements and Music Publishing Agreements. To help teach this session of Renman U, Renman enlisted Gary Gilbert Partner and Co-Chair of Entertainment & Media for one of top entertainment and media legal firms in today's business.

Posted: Oct 30, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

jody gerson licensing publishing sony/atv music publishing

We often hear that music publishing is a lucrative side of the music business, but it's a difficult one to define. Luckily for all of us, Jody Gerson quickly breaks down the nuts-and-bolts of music publishing and tells us that it's a "pennies business, but those pennies add up." Did you know that music publishing is involved every time you hear a piece of music in the elevator, at the movies, on the internet, and on a CD? For a real life example, watch this video to find out how one artist was a smash success for Sony/ATV publishing, but a complete bust for the record company.

Posted: Sep 25, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

advertising film licensing music x-ray position music publishing taxi tv

Making a living as an indie musician is difficult, but there are ways to generate money with your music if you're smart and persistent. In this clip, A&R for Position Music Publishing, Jake Versluis, talks about the gatekeepers of the publishing industry and the best ways to get music in front of them. Jake also reminds us that personal relationships are the biggest deal makers in the publishing side of the music business.

Posted: Aug 6, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

advertising film licensing position music publishing tv

Making your music is the fun part, but if you can turn it into some money that makes it even more fun! A great way to do this is to use a music publisher and a music supervisor to help place your music in TV, Film, and Advertising! Supervisors and publishers are always looking for new music and in this clip Position Music's Jake Versluis walks us through five pieces to have prepared before submitting to supervisors and publishers.

Posted: Jan 24, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

lady gaga producers publishing

Lady GaGa did not start out as the Pop Powerhouse Machine that she currently is. Before she was Lady GaGa, she was Stefani Germanotta. She started from the same humble beginnings as all artists do. She hustled and played her ass off live in New York on Bleecker Street and the Lower East Side where she caught the eyes of producers. After recording her songs with the backing of connected producers, she still could not break in to get a publishing deal. Jody Gerson, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, tells the story of how GaGa came to her office and how this influenced her decision to sign her!