The New Musician: The Art of Entrepreneurship in Today's Music Business

by Menzie Pittman, Barbara Wight (Foreword by)

Overview

In today’s rapidly changing music landscape, entrepreneurship is an art that is just as vital as creativity—one that all musicians must master for a successful and sustainable career.

In The New Musician: The Art of Entrepreneurship in Today’s Music Business, award-winning industry veteran Menzie Pittman provides insights from world-class artists, music business leaders, educators, and professionals who share invaluable reflections on the successes and challenges of their careers, imparting advice to both aspiring and working musicians. Included are vital conversations about topics like leadership and business with an impressive cast of people including record executive Mike Curb, nine-time GRAMMY award-winning record producer Dave Cobb, and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull.

By learning from others’ experiences in this book, musicians will discover a range of creative solutions to the problems frequently encountered and will enhance their entrepreneurial skills. These success stories and cautionary tales will help illuminate a road map to success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538194867
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/03/2024
Series:	Music Pro Guides
Pages:	402
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

The founder of Contemporary Music Center in Haymarket Virginia, Menzie Pittman has worked in the music industry as a drummer, music educator, clinician, music business owner, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, board member, and music advocate for more than 35 years. He won the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Dealer of the Year award in 2016 and also served on the NAMM board of Directors from 2012 to 2015.

Table of Contents

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: How to Read This Book

Chapter 2: Sound Check, The Opening

Chapter 3: Dave Cobb

Chapter 4: The Calling

Chapter 5: Scheila Gonzalez

Chapter 6: Welcome to the Jungle

Chapter 7: Chuck Rainey

Chapter 8: Vision

Chapter 9: Rick Barker

Chapter 10: Study the Greats

Chapter11: Bob Fisher

Chapter 12: Entrepreneurship

Chapter 13: Ash Campbell

Chapter 14: Imagination

Chapter 15: Craig Alvin

Chapter 16: The Power of Influence

Chapter 17: Dom Famularo

Chapter 18: Distractions

Chapter 19: Mike Curb

Chapter 20: Down to Business (DIY Plan)

Chapter 21: Secretary Riley

Chapter 22: Rejection

Chapter 23: Tommy Harden

Chapter 24: Procrastination

Chapter 25: Sierra Hull

Chapter 26: Tenacity

Chapter 27: Brent Mason

Chapter 28: Self-Mastery

Chapter 29: Jamie Tate

Chapter 30: WILDEYES

Chapter 31: Emily Kohavi

Chapter 32: The Outro

Chapter 33: Bernard Purdie

Chapter 34: The Idea

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Musicians are inherently creative individuals, but only in recent years has the necessity of entrepreneurial skills in business and promotion been recognized as crucial to success. Pittman’s volume brings together a collection of interviews with people who are directly involved in various aspects of the music industry: performers, producers, and educators. The result is very helpful advice from individuals on what they have learned in their diverse music careers. Some of the interviewees' names will be immediately recognized (like Mike Curb), while others will be known only from their work with particular artists, such as Taylor Swift. Many of the contributors are closely associated with the Nashville music scene. The author also includes very useful but brief motivational chapters on vision, imagination, rejection, procrastination, tenacity, and similar topics. Though much of what is learned in the volume should be familiar to musicians, the range and organization of the 34 chapters provide a convenient way of aiding musicians in developing a creative and entrepreneurial strategy for a successful career. Working musicians today must be business savvy; they will find this book well worth their time. Recommended. Practitioners only.

Choice Reviews

Wow, I wish this book was available when I was first starting out in the music business. Menzie Pittman and his guests help the aspiring creative really learn what it takes to survive, and ultimately succeed, in today’s rapidly changing music industry.

David Tough

“This book is chock full of valuable insights and anecdotes from a wide array of legendary and working musicians, as well as music business professionals. It provides a modern blueprint for navigating the business and its many challenges. Menzie Pittman has pulled back the curtain to give new musicians the best possible tools for success. I wish I had this book when I was starting my career as a drummer.”

John DeChristopher