NASHVILLE |DATE: JULY 24, 2003
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER
‘ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS:’
ATTORNEY/AUTHOR DONALD S. PASSMAN TO REVEAL
MUSIC INDUSTRY INSIGHT IN FIFTH EDITION OF POPULAR BOOK
Renowned music industry lawyer and author DONALD S. PASSMAN will release the fifth edition of his highly acclaimed book “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” (Free Press) on October 7th. This new version of the book covers the complex, rapidly-changing issues that are facing the music industry, including digital downloading and music piracy, the industry’s strategies for dealing with these issues, the new “partnership” agreements where record companies seek to share in touring and other non-record income, plus what PASSMAN describes as “foolishly reckless Predictions for the Future.”
The Harvard graduate (whose clients include Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Pink, R.E.M., Quincy Jones, Tom Waits, Randy Newman, Tina Turner and many others) writes about how rapidly the music industry is changing, and what can be done about it. “Illegitimate downloading and piracy are obviously a huge concern for the music business,” says PASSMAN, adding that the industry needs to figure out technological and business models to legitimize online music. “I think we are making some progress on that, but we obviously have a lot farther to go. We are also in a situation where the companies have become very corporate, which means they have to perform every fiscal quarter. In the past, companies could develop artists over several years, as opposed to the quick results they are forced to achieve these days.”
Originally published in 1991, “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” is widely considered the premiere textbook for anyone wanting to learn about the music industry. Organized in an easy-to-reference style, and infused with PASSMAN’s wit and personal anecdotes, the book covers all aspects of the music business. The book is broken down into nine parts: “Your Team Of Advisors,” “Record Deals,” “Songwriting and Music Publishing,” “Group Issues,” “Touring,” “Merchandising,” “Classical Music,” “Music In The Digital Age” and “Motion Picture Music.” The new edition includes:
- How royalties are computed in the digital age.
- Music downloads and streaming.
- Why the record companies are hemorrhaging money.
- Industry strategies to combat piracy.
- New laws of the electronic frontier, including copyright infringement, illegal downloads and challenges to intellectual property rights.
- New “partnership” agreements where record companies seek to share in touring and other non-record income
In the completely revised “Music and New Technologies” chapter, PASSMAN breaks down all the technological and legal issues into simple terms. PASSMAN writes, “The current mess is a situation where a technology has outrun the intellectual property holder’s rights to control their work,” comparing today’s situation to the legal backlashes that came about with the advent of VCR’s, cable TV and photocopy machines. Here’s his brief strategy for the digital age:
1) Make piracy more difficult
2) Put on an educational campaign to tell consumers that piracy is stealing
3) Move toward an authorized service that maybe somebody wants
“To sum it up,” PASSMAN writes, “I think things are going to be rough until we figure out this new era, then I think they’ll be better than ever. It’s my sincere belief (some would say foolishly) that most people are honest, and given a legitimate, easy-to-use, high-quality alternative, they’ll take it over piracy. At the moment, no such thing exists, but I’m optimistic we’re moving in that direction.”
The book has been praised by a wide variety of music industry observers and insiders. Rolling Stone said the book “…should be required reading for anyone planning or enduring a career in the biz” while the Los Angeles Timescalled it “the industry bible.” Don Henley said Passman “…has written a fun, clear explanation of how the music business works. His understanding of artists makes business deals accessible to creative people in a way that’s never been done before.”
PASSMAN resides in Los Angeles and is a member of the prestigious firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown. He has also written two novels, “The Visionary” and “Mirage,” and is currently working on his third. When he’s not fighting for his clients or writing books, the father of four enjoys taking tests: he’s a certified real estate broker, magician, dog obedience trainer and ham radio operator (seriously). Passman is involved in the community as well: he sits on the Music Industry board of The City of Hope; he’s been a Trustee of the Artists’ Rights Foundation; vice president for the Center for Early Education; and Federation Chief in the YMCA Indian Guides Program.
“All You Need To Know About The Music Business”
By Donald S. Passman
Free Press
Publication date: October 20, 2003
Price: $30.00
ISBN: 0-7432-4637-3
For more information, check out www.donpassman.com.
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DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2006
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS
THE SIXTH EDITION OF DON PASSMAN’S GUIDE TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 14, 2006 BY FREE PRESS
“There have been more changes in the recording industry in the last
three years than in the 30 years I’ve been in this business.”
–Don Passman
For 15 years, DON PASSMAN’s book All You Need To Know About The Music Business has been universally regarded as the definitive, essential guide to the music industry. And as the music industry continues to be immersed in the broadest and most important changes of its history, PASSMAN has updated the book for its sixth edition, in stores November 14, 2006 (Free Press; $30).
“These are by far the most extensive changes I’ve made to the book since it was first published,” says PASSMAN, a well-respected Los Angeles-based music industry lawyer (with the firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer, and Brown) who has represented such icons as Janet Jackson, REM, Green Day and many others. “There have been more changes in the recording industry in the last three years than in the 30 years I’ve been in this business. We’re stumbling around in the new technologies, trying to figure out what everyone should get paid.”
New topics in the book include:
–digital sales
–audio on demand
–streaming videos
–podcasts
–ring tones
The entire book has been updated and revised with other extensive changes covering record deals, songwriting, merchandising and touring. “There’s also been a massive change in the way the record companies compute royalties: they’ve actually gotten…simpler. I never thought I’d use that ‘s’ word with royalties, but hallelujah,” says PASSMAN, in his affable style. “Piracy is running rampant, CD sales are slipping, record companies are panicking. Just the things you need for a fun picnic!”
All You Need To Know About The Music Business is broken down in easy-to-understand language with personal anecdotes peppered throughout. The book breaks down the industry into eight sections:
–Your Team of Advisors
–Record Deals
–Songwriting and Music Publishing
–Group Issues
–Touring
–Merchandising
–Classical Music
–Motion Picture Music
A graduate of Harvard Law School, PASSMAN is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” and has lectured at USC Law School, Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, the American Bar Association, the Practicing Law Institute, the USC Entertainment Law Institute and the Los Angeles Copyright Society.
PASSMAN’s other books include two novels, The Visionary and Mirage. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.
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