How to Be a Star in Your Hometown

This is an excerpt from Ari Herstand’s new book How to Make it in the New Music Business (Second Edition) As important as establishing yourself online is, everyone has a hometown community they come from. You don’t compete in a NASCAR race before…

How to Be a Star in Your Hometown

As important as establishing yourself online is, everyone has a hometown community they come from. This is an excerpt from Ari Herstand’s new book How to Make it in the New Music Business (Second Edition) You don’t compete in a NASCAR race before…

Should You Tour on a Private Jet? (No, Seriously)

For the hour or so that they’re on stage, it might look like an artist has the world in their hands. The following comes from Paramount Business Jets, a proud partner of Digital Music News. Their name in bright lights. Thousands of fans chanting their …

Apple Music’s Analytics Dashboard for Artists Is Officially Out of Beta — And Available to Everyone

Apple Music has been tweaking its analytics dashboard for artists for more than a year.  Now, it’s ready for prime time. We first reported on Apple Music’s beta launch of its analytics dashboard for artists in June of last year.   The data tools are pa…

American Airlines Eliminates Oversized Baggage Fees for Musical Instruments

When it comes to air travel, most musicians have a healthy level of fear and trepidation. If you’re a piccolo flute player, then you probably can’t relate.  But for most performing musicians, oversized baggage rules are just one part of a nightmarish i…

A Simple Invoicing System Can Save You from Getting Stiffed by a Club

How to sign, seal, and deliver an invoice — and then get paid. Play enough live shows, and you’ll get stiffed on at least one.  Or, confronted with any variety of funny business, unexpected disagreement, or lower-than-expected payment. Unfortunately, t…

Tips for Touring Musicians: 10 Simple Ways to Take Care of Your Body on the Road

Musicians are on the road almost constantly these days, which means they can’t always live healthily. But it’s not a 0-sum game. Here are a few pro-tips for taking care of your body. It’s easy when living the rock star lifestyle to put your health on t…

Ultimate Ears: Continuing To Refine And Improve Their Offerings

I recently had the opportunity to hop on a call with the team behind Ultimate Ears’s Pro line and get filled in on what they have been working on. This is one of my favorite brands to work with because I really appreciate their focuses on quality…

Alitalia Airlines Crushes a 350 Year-Old Viola de Gamba After Refusing to Allow It In the Cabin

It was a rare viola de gamba built in the 17th century.  Sadly, the instrument was crushed after being forced into checked luggage by Alitalia Airlines. We’ve heard of airlines destroying guitars and flattening tubas.  But this one takes the cake…

Now You Know Everything About Recording Deals

Before you sign a major recording deal, read this post. You’ll thank us later. The Big Three Contracts Contract 1: License to Distribute a Single Album This first contract is a basic license deal for a single album. The artist receives a sum of m…