Hello - I thought I'd blog a reminder that chapters 1 and 2 of my new book "The Fan Experience" are available for free download. Get them at the links below:-

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Enjoy!

"Life is too precious, too important, too short for quick fixes that in the end fix nothing and from which we learn nothing except that we have wasted our time trying to find happiness in short cuts. The only way to real fulfilment is to look inside see what is there,  then look outside and see what difference we can make with what we have to offer - whether we knew we had it in us, or whether it was something we grew within us over the coldest, most seemingly dormant, or darkest times, in order to reap the richest harvest of all."

Jacquelene Close Moore



Do you want to be a part of the music business or are you just trying to be a celebrity? Because if you want to be a celebrity there are quicker ways to fame. My biggest source of frustration in this business are artists chasing a record deal. I have no time for this. Why? Because as suggested above this is simply a quick fix to a deeper issue based around the need for personal significance. My other source of frustration are unsigned artists who claim to want to choose the independent route but when this is actually a cover for chasing a record deal.

This has been spelt out many times but if you're still not clear on what this is check out the wiki here.

So why else do I find this frustrating? Because of the basic lack of understanding that a record deal is a type of investment where you work in partnership with the record label. Any business investment is usually characterised by the investee AKA the unsigned artist in this case demonstrating that they can make money. These days a label will not invest in you if you cannot demonstrate sales. In a time when revenues are in decline and the contract is a 360 deal a label simply cannot take a risk on a demo. You must show that you have a fanbase that buys stuff from you.

So stop trying to promote the hell out of your music for the sake of attracting a label and focus on contributing to the music business and creating revenue. You'll be better off for it and when a label does come courting you - you'll be in a stronger negotiating position because you will understand money and what it takes to make it.

Another great chart from Statista.com. If you want to know more about how to leverage this trend as an upcoming indepedent artist check out my new booklet here.

So here it is... this took a lot longer to produce that I once thought.

The back story to this book is that it started out as a blog post in reaction to the many complaints about the music business losing revenue to illegal piracy. I decided to brainstorm 30 ways to create revenue from music. You can view the original post here.

Shortly afterwards I received an email from a reader saying that the original blog post was all well and good but now I needed to show people how to do it. I remembered this feedback for a while and a number of months later I decided to create this book.


This book is over 100 pages and contains advice, guidance, tips, decision trees and suggested resources to get you started on creating revenue. Whether you are looking to create a business or simply want to develop a composite or portfolio career this will give you plenty of ideas and action steps to get you started. Check out the sample pages below:-

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
-- Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French Philosopher 


In times of technological change characterised by disruptive innovation we see plenty of experimentation. This is true today as it was of the telegraph in the Victorian Era. 

The telegraph saw plenty of trial start ups. Businesses in beta. It also saw plenty of people trying to make a quick buck. It radically changed business practices.  Disruptive technology is accompanied by businesses engaging in experimentation. 

The music business is no different here. 

Therefore consider supporting these transitions and experiments so we can learn and find out what works. 

Another great infographic from Statista.com. Any artist can create an ebook!

Visual.ly got in touch and suggested this infographic so I posted it here check it out at the link here too.

I had the honour and priviledge of presenting at a TEDx talk for the University of Westminster.

It was pretty exciting and thank you to the TEDx team at the University of Westminster. They were very professional and did an excellent job! Highly recommended and well worth working with.

I will post the talk as soon as I have it in the meantime I have added the slides to my talk here and a few pictures.