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Music Industry Management & Promotion

second edition, ISBN 978-1-85450-285-8

 

Chris Kemp

 

Selecting an artist & the role of the promoter

The agent

Managing publicity

Marketing the event

Venue management

Health and safety

Staffing, crew & security

Getting the promotion as perfect as possible

Finance & administration

Managing the band/setting up a tour

Music event management outdoors

The record company

Production in the studio

The PR & promotions company

 

 

index  and references

photographs and diagrams


This book is a personal account written by those with music close to their hearts and gives an insight into the workings of the industry.

Written in simple language, it gives a clear picture of many of the structures within this ever-changing industry.

It gives a no-nonsense look at, not only the management and promotional systems in music, but also at some of the smaller areas often overlooked by general music books. This book includes many of the people working within music who rarely get a voice.

The book is written as a Club overview.  Big venues and stadium promotions are similar, but on a much larger scale.  The author has not attempted to comment on these, they are best left to experienced professionals.

This book is not the music management bible, and some people in the music business may disagree with parts of it. But, it answers many of the questions posed by students and those wanting to know more about the industry as new or would-be promoters.

It is written by people within the industry who have amassed a great deal of knowledge over the last twenty years.  It contains opinions from a wide range of people, including crew members, about the bands that they mix with and the experiences of record company executives, each of whom have valid points to contribute.

If we look closely at the world of music management, it becomes apparent that we are working in constant flux, caused by new technological developments and business growth.

Music is a part of everyone’s life. From the car radio to supermarket music, it is with us throughout the day. It brings joy to many and sadness to others. It reminds us of past times – good and bad. It forms the rich fabric of experience whilst we are growing up and follows us to our graves at funeral services. It marks both christenings and weddings.  It fills our leisure time with products and services related to music.  In its own way it is ubiquitous.

Some of us are gifted with the ability to create music, whilst others can only appreciate it.  But, we are all able to buy music in its numerous forms: CD’s, tapes, DATs, mini discs, vinyl, sheet music, instruments and computers can all be purchased to either create or to appreciate musical form and content. Today’s fast freely-flowing technology has enabled non-playing musicians to create it without being able to read music; it has enabled programmers to create beautiful works that we once thought to be impossible without years of musical study.

Behind this musical development there is a management system that enables music to be heard, produced, developed and assimilated through a complex system of business deals and management manœuvres. The legal, financial and political issues of this system do not normally affect the punter, unless they influence the price of the product or service offered. The punter is concerned with the finished product that is available and he or she has little interest in the way in which music is managed or promoted. Subconsciously, though, everyone plays his or her part in music’s development. Adverts on the TV, film music and radio airplay influence each and every one of our buying choices. The industry controls, through gatekeepers, what is released and these developments are then taken up by retailers and marketeers to try to get us as consumers to buy the product or service offered. It is this underlying music business that this book is concerned with. The development of this business means that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people are employed in some manner working with music.

The book focuses on the commercial aspects of promotion as well as the promoter and the people with whom he comes into contact when putting on an event.  The book also makes the reader aware of other industries that are important in the music business, primarily those that are product related.  The record industry, studio production, venue management, PA and lighting companies and the agency are all scrutinised in great detail, giving the reader a great insight into how these areas are managed and controlled, and how they relate to the artist and to the event.

The material is relevant for NVQ, HND and undergraduate degree work in all aspects of the music management and promotion industry.

336 pages       ISBN 978-1-85450-285-8       GBP £17.95

If you are a tutor teaching a course on music management, you can have a copy on 28 days’ free approval. (ISBN-10 185450 285 9)

If your college/students buy 10 copies+ direct from us, keep your copy free. Otherwise – discounts available for bulk purchase.

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Jacqueline Wieczorek email - elm@elm-training.co.uk  8th February 2007