Have A Band? Learn The Music Business!

Do you have play in a band that you think is ready for the next level. Have you written a bunch of songs, rehearsed, maybe even played a few gigs and they went well. More people than just your friends responded and gave you positive feedback? You've even made a little bit of money and had a lot of fun in the process? And the band members are all getting along well? Heck, you've known each other for years and feel like their your brothers (or sisters). What do you do next?

Now that you're gigging and making money, you've entered into a business partnership with the members. Even if you haven't hired a lawyer and done the paperwork, you have a legal partnership. And those demos you've burned of your songs? Those are legally copywrighted material. Band name? You own it collectively, even if you thought of it yourself years ago and were just waiting for the right opportunity to use it as a band name. When you entered into the partnership of forming the band (and after you made money together) all members (partners) own the name.

If you write the songs with a collaborator, who you write them with is an equal owner of the songs. If you write the music and your partner writes the lyrics, you have equal ownership. Keep in mind the money in the music business is in the songwriting. So be careful who you give songwriting credits to. It could eventually mean the difference between a large sum of money and a small one for you.

In your band, be clear how songwriting credits will be handled. Some bands consider certain members as hired players instead of partners. Again, it all comes down to a business decision, not whether they're a friend or acquaintance. I've heard, and I'm not sure it's true, that in the Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman (former bass player), Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood are all considered hirees and receive paychecks. Jagger and Richards make the big money from the songwriting royalties as thier all credited to them (the Glimmer Twins.

Always be fair about songwriting credits. And be up front with other musicians in your band. For instance, my band psychotronics (www.psychotronicsband.com) writes a great percentage of our material at rehearsals. The drummer may lay down a beat that I respond to with a bass riff that grooves or is the melody for the song. The guitarist and saxophone player add their parts and the song becomes something much bigger than when it began. When that happens, we credit the song to psychotronics. If I write a complete song on my own and bring it to the band, it is credited to me. The way I see it, the guy who spends his time creating the music when he could be watching tv or doing something else, deserves credit for his work. But you have to be clear with the other band members about how songs will be credited.

So if you feel your band is ready to take off and become the next Beatles, get some books on music business management and read them. Take notes. Make sure you're clear on how to keep from getting taken advantage of by a dishonestlawyer or manager, or even a band member. Bands can take off over night and become successful. If you're lucky enough to have that happen, you'll be glad you took the time to learn about the music business.