AFM Indie

Excerpted from the book Indie Business Power: A Step-by-Step Guide for 21st Century Music Entrepreneurs, by Peter Spellman

Whether you are starting a new band or founding your own recording company, your business’s name will be its number one asset, so it makes sense to take care in choosing one. The right name will help distinguish you from a sea of bland competitors, provide customers with a reason to hire you, and aid in branding your business or music. Here are five guidelines to help you decide:

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by Mike King, author and instructor for Berkleemusic.com

The music industry tends to be a jaded group to start with, and nothing raises the ire of these folks more than a poorly planned and executed press kit. A poor promo kit is sure to keep your demo or finished CD unopened and not listened to, and the rest of your kit is sure to be sent to the circular bin “with a bullet,” as they say. The good news is, the elements that make up an effective press kit are straightforward, and the essentials will not change much from band to band.

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Successful indie musicians understand that a lot of time and effort must be spent constantly improving their musical abilities. There is simply no substitute for talent and good chops, but are they enough in themselves to guarantee any amount of success in the music business? Of course not — they don’t call it “The Music Business” for nothing. Anyone considering a career in the live music business must learn that “Takin’ Care of Business” is much more than a ’70s rock anthem.

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For many years, Canadian composers and songwriters have received payment when their songs are played on the radio.  As most Canadian musicians know, these payments come from SOCAN – the organization that represents composers and authors of sound recordings in Canada.  However, what most Canadian musicians do not know is that musicians who perform on recordings can also receive a payment when their recording receives radio play! (more…)

As a Canadian artist, the first question you need to answer is whether your income is considered income from employment or self-employment. This distinction is important, since it will determine what expenses are deductible. (more…)

Tax season is here again, and that means musicians must turn their attention from counting bars to counting earnings. Freelance musicians should be especially aware this time of year. An independent musician’s tax return can be somewhat complicated because most self-employed artists get paid with “gross” dollars with no taxes withheld. This requires them to be disciplined enough to save and prepare for April 15.

If you’re a US citizen, remember that your worldwide income from all sources is considered taxable income. Income you receive from club dates, wedding gigs, music lessons, session work, drum-loop programming, royalties, or any other music related or nonmusic related work, is also taxable income. (more…)