If you are a musician, composer, lyricist, performing artist, or music professional looking for a concise, easy-to-read reference work on the music business, this book is for you. It addresses-in a nutshell-all relevant details of the industry by offering what you need to know and cutting out the rest. "The Music Industry: The Practical Guide to Understanding the Essentials" is a collection of vital facts for those pursuing a career in the music industry with limited research time available. This book provides key pieces of information that have been gathered, summarized, structured, and put into context for easy comprehension. To understand the business and its workings, you must first grasp the basics. The author equips you with what you need to succeed, including: . the basic structures of the music industry . the workings, laws, and parties involved . today's music market, including the online market . how to protect your rights/copyright . how and what royalties are distributed and collected by beneficiaries nationally and internationally. Should you already have taken the initial steps and need clear-cut advice on how to proceed, this manual will also benefit you. If you find yourself in the midst of record contract negotiations, are about to meet with a record label, producer, publisher, manager, lawyer, financier, agent, rep, or executive to discuss a cooperation, or are planning to release songs to the public independently by cooperating with national or international distributors or online music service providers, it covers all core elements, giving you a well-rounded understanding so that you can achieve your goals faster.