Buying in bulk.  Discounts.  Loads of trusted vendors.  These are a few reasons people shop at Walmart.  People like the safety of having someone do the hard work for them.  The searching for low prices, quality products, and the latest trends.  You walk in, take a look at the shelf that has already been carefully researched and stocked, and you purchase the item.  You’re in and out and on your way in no time.
How the Charts Are Like Walmart
The charts are similar to the Walmarts of the world; they curate a list …

I am beginning a new series of blog posts regarding the new music industry.  In it I will layout some definitions, myths, and truths as they pertain to the music industry, record industry, radio industry, and more.  These industries are notorious for confusing the musicians, fans, and businesses that work in them.  Let’s try to get some things cleared up.
First, the music industry is not the record industry. Let’s get that straight. The music industry is comprised of musicians; the record industry is made up of corporations and business people.
Secondly, CD …

We hear them every day.  The classic albums that made history and stood the test of time.  What is it about these songs and artists that make them so great?  Why do some artists consistently turn out really good music that you repeatedly turn on in the car, on your iPod, or online?  Is it luck, money, or politics with the radio stations?  Some of these things most certainly can contribute to a successful record.  I am telling you there are some more solid points to keep in mind.  If …

We all know that artists in today’s music industry are in general not making loads of cash. The question is, “why?”
The surface answer would be that the labels are taking all of the money for themselves. How much are they taking? How much does the artist get? It varies from artist and label, but typically it’s to the tune of pennies per album sold to the artist and the rest is divided up between the label, management, producer, etc. That huge advance that the artist …

If you’re a musician today preparing to record an album, you have a question to ask yourself.
Do I take my budget and go to a real recording studio or use the cash to buy my own recording gear and have my friends help?
Recording studios are closing more and more often these days.  The reason?  Artists don’t have the money to spend $125 per hour and make a full-length album.  But they do have enough money to buy enough gear for a 16 channel rig.
So is the “bang for your buck” tradeoff worth …