The Musicians Handbook…A Practical Guide to Understanding the Music Business
Author Bobby Borg
Published by Watson Guptill/Billboard Books
Review By Robin Steeley
"If you want music to be your livelihood, you must treat it as a business
or the business will take advantage of you."
Some people say in the music business its all about who you know, I think its more about what and how much you know, that’s what it takes to get ahead in this business, and Bobby Borg does an excellent job of getting that across in the 288 pages of The Musician’s Handbook. Borg is the consummate professional with more then 25 years working behind the scenes as a professional in the music and recording industry.
The book strips everything back to the basics and gives you a solid foundation to start your career with basics and useful knowledge. Written for all levels of experience, it gives you a run down of the four basic business relationships, the five people a musician needs to succeed, the four sources of music revenue, and a thirty five-step process to successfully achieve a career in the entertainment industry. It includes in depth interviews with executives such as Neil Gillis, VP of A&R at Warner Music, Fred Croshal, and General Manager of Maverick Records as well as anecdotes from well-known musicians such as Henry Rollins.
Overall, the Musician's Handbook examines the truth and reality of the music business that lies beneath the glamorous façade often associated with it. It gives timely warnings to obstacles you might run into and traps to avoid. There are no punches pulled here, so expect at times brutal honesty from Borg. He goes to great lengths to convey the most important issues that may affect your career. He simplifies the responsibilities of the main players in a musician’s career, such as Lawyers, Agents, and Managers. In summary, this book is a helpful tool and reference guide in any entertainment industry career.
