Music Business Toolbox – What’s Inside
Start Here
Chapter 2: Getting Started
ARS Revenue Streams Handout – Available to Free Members and with Book Purchase
Created by the Future of Music Coalition, this document lists 45 distinct ways musicians can earn money from their compositions, sound recordings, performances, brand, or knowledge of the craft of music. While not every revenue stream will apply, knowing what’s possible can ensure you’re not leaving money on the table
Created by the Future of Music Coalition, this document lists 45 distinct ways musicians can earn money from their compositions, sound recordings, performances, brand, or knowledge of the craft of music. While not every revenue stream will apply, knowing what’s possible can ensure you’re not leaving money on the table
Chapter 4: Record Labels – You Are One!
Royalty Statement
This template helps you to create a simple royalty statement for band members to show the details of how any income is split based on the terms of your agreement.
This template helps you to create a simple royalty statement for band members to show the details of how any income is split based on the terms of your agreement.
This new tool has been developed and is being added soon for Premium members only
Chapter 6: Managing a Recording Project
Project Budget
This multi-sheet workbook allows you to create a detailed and comprehensive budget for your projects with sheets dedicated to each category: Recording, Marketing, Production, Projected Income vs Expenses and more. Each sheet has a detailed list of line items, provides category totals. The Summary Page pulls it all together for your overall budget.
New tool! Check out the new project budget tool – for premium members only
Project Budget – Recording Only – Available to Free Members and with Book Purchase
This is one part of the overall Project Budget Tool that will help you account for all of the expenses you may incur when recording your music so you can stay on budget.
This is one part of the overall Project Budget Tool that will help you account for all of the expenses you may incur when recording your music so you can stay on budget.
Chapter 7: Recording and A&R
Release Schedule Checklist – Available to Premium Members Only
This workbook helps you develop and execute a week-by-week plan for releasing your projects. This tool categorizes action items and lists the tasks you should accomplish each week leading up to the release of a project in order to 1) make the release date and 2) have the impact and exposure you’re aiming for.
This workbook helps you develop and execute a week-by-week plan for releasing your projects. This tool categorizes action items and lists the tasks you should accomplish each week leading up to the release of a project in order to 1) make the release date and 2) have the impact and exposure you’re aiming for.
Song Data Tracking Sheet
This workbook provides you with a template to keep track of all of the metadata for each of your songs including writers’ names, track name, PRO affiliations, publishing splits, ISRCs, recording studio, and recording dates for each song/track. It also gives you space to note producers, engineers, and other studio personnel, as well as the names and roles of any featured musicians and/or freelancers. The song and recording-based metadata automatically populates other sheets in the workbook, including submissions for Gracenote and for SoundExchange.
This workbook provides you with a template to keep track of all of the metadata for each of your songs including writers’ names, track name, PRO affiliations, publishing splits, ISRCs, recording studio, and recording dates for each song/track. It also gives you space to note producers, engineers, and other studio personnel, as well as the names and roles of any featured musicians and/or freelancers. The song and recording-based metadata automatically populates other sheets in the workbook, including submissions for Gracenote and for SoundExchange.
Songwriter Split Agreement
Also known as a split sheet, this template should be used for each song you write with others (music and lyrics) to keep a record of who wrote what percent of every one of your songs.
Also known as a split sheet, this template should be used for each song you write with others (music and lyrics) to keep a record of who wrote what percent of every one of your songs.
Work For Hire Agreement – Available to Premium Members Only
A Work For Hire is an agreement between a creative contributor (musician or vocalist, videographer, photographer or graphic designer) and an artist/band that documents an arrangement between the two regarding ownership of the content that is created for the artist/band. Under these agreements, the talent relinquishes all claims to the work created and may be issued an advance or fee in exchange for ownership and perpetual use of the work.
A Work For Hire is an agreement between a creative contributor (musician or vocalist, videographer, photographer or graphic designer) and an artist/band that documents an arrangement between the two regarding ownership of the content that is created for the artist/band. Under these agreements, the talent relinquishes all claims to the work created and may be issued an advance or fee in exchange for ownership and perpetual use of the work.
Producer Agreement – Available to Premium Members Only
This template can be used to create an agreement that outlines the work, and anything to do with songwriting credits and ownership between the band and producer for recordings made together.
This template can be used to create an agreement that outlines the work, and anything to do with songwriting credits and ownership between the band and producer for recordings made together.
Management Agreement – Available to Premium Members Only
This template can be used to create the agreement between the artist and manager. It sets forth the structure of the relationship between the two parties including responsibilities to each other and how the manager commissions income.
This template can be used to create the agreement between the artist and manager. It sets forth the structure of the relationship between the two parties including responsibilities to each other and how the manager commissions income.
Band Member Agreement
This template can be used to create the agreement between the artists in a group. It sets forth the structure of the relationship between all the parties including responsibilities to each other and income is divided.
This template can be used to create the agreement between the artists in a group. It sets forth the structure of the relationship between all the parties including responsibilities to each other and income is divided.
This new tool has been developed and is being added soon for Premium members only
Chapter 8: Metadata and Registrations
Chapter 10: Distribution, Sales, and Retail
Consignment Tracking Report – Available to Premium Members Only
Keep track of the product you have on consignment in the various outlets with this tracking report.
Keep track of the product you have on consignment in the various outlets with this tracking report.
Music Consignment Agreement – Available to Premium Members Only
Retailers, including non-traditional ones such as coffee shops, often have their own consignment agreement, but this is a modifiable consignment contract that can be used between artists and the stores that carry your release(s).
Retailers, including non-traditional ones such as coffee shops, often have their own consignment agreement, but this is a modifiable consignment contract that can be used between artists and the stores that carry your release(s).
One Sheet Template – Available to Premium Members Only
Every album release requires a one sheet for sales solicitation. This template for creating a one-sheet for each of your projects ensures you include all of the necessary information.
Every album release requires a one sheet for sales solicitation. This template for creating a one-sheet for each of your projects ensures you include all of the necessary information.
Distribution Cover Letter – Available to Premium Members Only
If you are seeking a physical distributor, you can use this cover letter template to put together a package to introduce your catalog to potential partners
If you are seeking a physical distributor, you can use this cover letter template to put together a package to introduce your catalog to potential partners
Distribution Project Update Report – Available to Premium Members Only
If you are an artist with an active project that has a distribution deal, it is vital that you keep your distributor abreast on the progress of your release. Use this template to create reports that you can submit to your distributor.
If you are an artist with an active project that has a distribution deal, it is vital that you keep your distributor abreast on the progress of your release. Use this template to create reports that you can submit to your distributor.
Chapter 11: Marketing
Marketing Plan Template – Available to Premium Members Only
This customizable template is designed specifically for you to create a detailed and comprehensive marketing plan for your releases. It includes all of the topics you would expect and much more, so even if you don’t do everything in it, you can check it off the list of possibilities.
This customizable template is designed specifically for you to create a detailed and comprehensive marketing plan for your releases. It includes all of the topics you would expect and much more, so even if you don’t do everything in it, you can check it off the list of possibilities.
Street Team Status Report – Available to Premium Members Only
Keep track of the people you hire to do street/lifestyle promotions for you by using this sheet. Have your reps complete and submit this report to you detailing their progress on each project on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Keep track of the people you hire to do street/lifestyle promotions for you by using this sheet. Have your reps complete and submit this report to you detailing their progress on each project on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Publicity Status Report – Available to Premium Members Only
If you hire a publicist to manage publicity or PR, have your publicist complete and submit this report to track their progress on each project on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
If you hire a publicist to manage publicity or PR, have your publicist complete and submit this report to track their progress on each project on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Marketing Item Tracking Sheet – Available to Premium Members Only
This tool helps you track the creation and allocation of marketing items you make. How many t-shirts did you send to bloggers and how many posters did you send to clubs? Use this and you will know how many you sent and how much everything cost.
This tool helps you track the creation and allocation of marketing items you make. How many t-shirts did you send to bloggers and how many posters did you send to clubs? Use this and you will know how many you sent and how much everything cost.
Chapter 13: Getting Paid when your Music is Played
Chapter 14: Beyond the Music – The Value of your Band
Chapter 15: Touring
Tour Budget – Available to Premium Members Only
If you want to come home with money in your pocket, you will need to forecast your tour income and expenses, track your costs, avoid costly choices, and likely do most of the driving and merch selling yourself. We strongly urge you to use the Tour Budget tool to help you build a tour strategy that’s a net positive.
If you want to come home with money in your pocket, you will need to forecast your tour income and expenses, track your costs, avoid costly choices, and likely do most of the driving and merch selling yourself. We strongly urge you to use the Tour Budget tool to help you build a tour strategy that’s a net positive.
Sample Hospitality Rider
COMING SOON! This document outlines the amenities that the concert promoter/venue will provide the band/artist on the day of the performance. Hospitality riders usually list the artists’ beverage and food preferences, and specify things like minimum dressing room requirements, parking needs, and any additional equipment that the venue must provide.
COMING SOON! This document outlines the amenities that the concert promoter/venue will provide the band/artist on the day of the performance. Hospitality riders usually list the artists’ beverage and food preferences, and specify things like minimum dressing room requirements, parking needs, and any additional equipment that the venue must provide.
This new tool has been developed and is being added soon for Premium members only
Sample Technical Rider
COMING SOON! This is a helpful document for the venue staff and crew. This usually includes a stage plot—an overhead drawing that shows the placement of amps, mics, and people on stage. It also lists all of your equipment and itemizes the number of inputs you will need at the soundboard and monitor board. By sharing this with the concert promoter in advance of the show, it will make stage setups and sound mixing easier.
COMING SOON! This is a helpful document for the venue staff and crew. This usually includes a stage plot—an overhead drawing that shows the placement of amps, mics, and people on stage. It also lists all of your equipment and itemizes the number of inputs you will need at the soundboard and monitor board. By sharing this with the concert promoter in advance of the show, it will make stage setups and sound mixing easier.
This new tool has been developed and is being added soon for Premium members only
Chapter 16: Finances and Business Organization
Purchase Order Form – Available to Premium Members Only
This template allows you to create professional purchase orders to help you keep track of expenditures and vendor.
This template allows you to create professional purchase orders to help you keep track of expenditures and vendor.
Business Plan Template – Available to Premium Members Only
This customizable template is designed specifically for you to create a comprehensive business plan. It includes all of the topics you would expect in a standard business plan, but goes beyond that to address topics such as recording, copyright, music genre and more.
This customizable template is designed specifically for you to create a comprehensive business plan. It includes all of the topics you would expect in a standard business plan, but goes beyond that to address topics such as recording, copyright, music genre and more.
All rights reserved. No part of this document or the templates and tools included herein may be used in any manner other than what is outlined in the Terms of Use whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.