Music Business Toolbox – What’s Inside
Start Here
Chapter 2: Getting Started
ARS Revenue Streams Handout
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!
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.
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.
Chapter 7: Recording and A&R
Release Schedule Checklist – Premium 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 – Premium Only
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 – Premium Only
COMING SOON! 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.
COMING SOON! 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 – Premium 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 – Premium 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.
Chapter 8: Metadata and Registrations
Chapter 10: Distribution, Sales, and Retail
Consignment Tracking Report – Premium 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 – Premium 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 – Premium 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.
Chapter 11: Marketing
Marketing Plan Template – Premium 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 – Premium 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 – Premium 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.
Chapter 13: Getting Paid when your Music is Played
Chapter 14: Beyond the Music – The Value of your Band
Chapter 15: Touring
Tour Budget – Premium 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 – Premium Only
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.
Sample Technical Rider – Premium Only
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.
Chapter 16: Finances and Business Organization
Purchase Order Form – Premium 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 – Premium 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.
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