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27 music business topics, each with a short explainer video in German. Ordered as a learning path: read from top to bottom, or search directly.
Why does every song contain two rights?
Composition and recording: the most important principle in the whole music business.
What's the difference between a publisher and a label?
The publisher takes care of the song, the label takes care of the recording.
What actually is GEMA?
If you write songs, GEMA pays you when they are played somewhere.
What is a split sheet?
Three of you write a song. Who owns what?
Are you allowed to just sample?
A piece of someone else's song in your track: what's allowed and what isn't.
What is sync?
Your song in a film, series or advert.
How much money do streams make?
What really reaches you from a million streams.
How does a label make money?
A label offers you 50,000 euros. Why? Because it's placing a bet.
What kinds of contracts are there with a label?
Artist deal, licence deal or distribution deal: who pays, and who owns the recording?
What is a 360 deal?
The label earns not only from your recordings, but from almost everything.
What is an option in a label contract?
One album plus two options: the label may, you must.
Which major labels are there?
Three corporations, many sub-labels and plenty of indies in between.
What jobs are there at a label?
A whole team stands behind every release.
How does your song get onto Spotify?
You can't upload it yourself. You need a distributor.
How do you plan a release?
A release starts weeks before the release.
How do you get onto Spotify playlists?
Editors, algorithm and curators: three ways into a playlist.
Why do wrong song details cost you money?
ISRC and metadata: your recording's ID card.
What should you watch out for when buying a beat?
Usually you're not buying a beat, you're buying a licence.
Which music production software is the best?
FL Studio, Ableton, Logic and co.: every DAW has its strengths.
Who does an artist need on their team?
Producer, manager, label, publisher, booking and more, step by step.
What does a manager do, and when do you need one?
The managing director of your career, but only once something is happening.
How do you get on stage?
What a booking agency does and how to start small live.
Why is merch so important?
One shirt often earns you more than thousands of streams.
What is the Künstlersozialkasse?
Health insurance and pension at half price, if music is your profession (Germany).
What do you need to know about taxes?
Register, collect receipts, set money aside.
Is your artist name already taken?
Check first, then get big.
Is there public funding for music?
Funding for albums, tours and videos, newcomers included.
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Free PDF
The cheat sheet, free
The key terms and connections in the music business on two pages: GEMA, publisher and label, contracts, artists' social insurance and who does what on your team. (The PDF is in German.)