Music Business - Shane Simpson - Simpsons Solicitors

About “Music Business”

(Third Edition, 2006)

It is Australia’s best-selling and most authoritative book on doing business in the music industry. Shane is one of the top lawyers and dealmakers in the Australian music business.

This book has served as the crucial tool for musicians and songwriters as well as for all music professionals, record company executives, publishers, lawyers and entrepreneurs.

“Music Business” covers a vast array of topics: from setting up a band or business structure, copyright, dealing with contracts, record labels, agents, managers, publishing agreements and much more. Dozens of practical questions are explored and explained for the benefit of newcomers and seasoned professionals alike. Simpson illustrates the successes and failures of doing business in Australia with well chosen anecdotes of actual happenings from court cases to relationships gone wrong. Highly detailed yet easy to understand, it’s the music industry Bible that’s an indispensable reference tool and guide for all levels of music business players from students & musos to execs.

For those wanting to deal with the complexities of contracts, the dialogues of dealmaking or the realities of relationships in the music industry, it’s the best investment in knowledge and career self-defence you could make.

Music Business can be purchased through Simpsons Solicitors for $69.99 (RRP) + postage and handling. Order the book direct from Simpsons Solicitors by email: info@simpsons.com.au

In 2010 Simpsons will be offering the Music Contract Assistance Program for those starting out in the music industry and who need a helping hand, beyond the Music Business text, in understanding their contracts but are on a limited budget.

Music Business - Third Edition, 2006

You may download these chapters for your personal use only. You are not authorised to further reproduce these chapters.

Here are some comments from music pro’s

‘Shane Simpson is undoubtedly one of Australia’s pre-eminent entertainment lawyers, His 1994 book Music Business, has been an invaluable reference tool and guide for, not only the experienced players in the industry, but also a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in forging a career in the amazing music business’.
Bob Aird
Managing Director
Universal Music Publishing Australia

‘An indispensible tool for every aspiring musician and songwriter. Covers all major areas of the music industry and should be compulsory reading for anyone in the business’.
Brett Cottle
CEO APRA
(AustralAsian Performing Rights Association Ltd)

‘Exhaustive, intelligent, entertaining and startlingly well-informed. Music Business should be as essential an acquisition as a guitar or studio time for anybody hoping to make a living from music in Australia. Just one reading could not only save young bands, managers, songwriters and label operators a great deal of money but save them from hundred of hours of grief…. Don’t play a note without it!
Glenn A Baker
Rock Historian, Author & Music Commentator

Music Business 3rd Edition Chapter Listing

Selecting and Protecting a Name
Business Structures
Not-for-profit Organisations
Agents
The Manager
Controlling Managers, Agents and Venue Consultants by Legislation
Performing Live
Music Copyright
Music Publishing
Anatomy of a Music Publisher
Composing and Writing With Others
Types of Publishing Contracts
Common Clauses in Publishing Deals
Technology and Music: Evolution to Revolution
Download Delivery - Evolution in Business - Revolution in Thinking
The Growth of the Australian Record Business
Anatomy of a Record Company
Choosing a Record Company
Getting a Record Contract
Record Contracts
Record Distribution Deals
Group Recording Contracts
Record Royalties
Record Producers
Music Clips
Collecting Societies
Merchandising
Sponsorship and Product Endorsement
Philanthropy
Music in Advertising
Music in Film
Insurance
Music Lawyers
Industry Awards
Keeping the Books
Taxation
Getting the International Deal
The Art of the Deal