Working with music industry consultants gives you an edge professionally over other performers, because you receive expert advice from others who dedicate their time to learning the ins-and-outs of particular facets of the industry. Working with a specialized consultant saves you the time and effort of researching each aspect yourself and allows you to focus on your music.

With music business consultant, it's important to identify what you want from them before you contact them. This eliminates confusion and you avoid wasting resources on consultants who don't specialize in your area of interest. Before working with a consultant you might want to consider the following options:

1. Work with a targeted consultant-music business legalities specialist;

2. Dedicate yourself to working with music industry consultants who focus on working with independent artists;

3. Or consult with a creative musical consultant to improve performance and stage presence.

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Consult with a business music consultant who specializes in the legalities in the industry

Many music consultants focus on creative content, but it's also important to know the legal side of the business from copyrighting to business dealings with those who hire artists. Consulting with a professional who specializes in this area prevents others from taking advantage of you.

I recommend: Gray Zone has over 20 years of experience in consulting on legal matters pertaining to the music industry for music publishers, record labels, recording artists and others in the music industry. It prides itself in its low prices and quality services. Flaherty Consulting & Management (FCM) consults on legal matters in addition to other facets of the industry with members of the music business. It recognizes that creative musicians also need to focus on the business side of the profession.

Enhance your talents and promote yourself better with music business consulting for independents

Learn the best ways to develop your talents and promote yourself by meeting with a music industry consultant who works with you one on one and specializes in working with independent artists. This personalized attention helps you develop a business strategy to you promote your talent to the proper venues.

I recommend: IndieMusicCoach.com assists independent musicians in developing a professional plan. It offers courses and teleseminars in addition to personal consulting services for those who want general consulting. Access Entertainment Group works with independent artists, consulting with them and assisting them in developing their talents professionally. It focuses on different music genres from pop to country to jazz.

Discover ways a music business consultant can help you with a creative focus

When you meet with a consultant, music business creativity should become a topic of discussion. Learn ways to use the ever-changing resources to enhance performance and promote yourself.

I recommend: Prologue Integrated Consulting (PIC) works with individual and group performers, offering music industry consulting on topics such as touring and stage presence and establishing opportunities for performing. It assists in identifying artistic needs and implementing plans for solutions to these needs. TalentAgentAdvisor.com recommends music consultants who talk with you based on your personal needs in regards to performance design and career development. It offers consultation via telephone and emails for time periods ranging from 45 minutes to one year.

A music business consultant is invaluable when your music business needs specialized talent or industry knowledge. With their vast resources, music industry consultants offer fresh perspective, experience, knowledge and skills to provide successful solutions for musicians, record labels and music businesses.

A business music consultant provides solutions for musicians or businesses seeking to launch a new album, develop strategic planning or refresh current imaging. A consultant music business increases financial stability by addressing essential music issues, recognizing industry obstacles and providing consulting services.

Before beginning your search for recording industry consulting firms, it is important to define your needs. Clearly identify the goal of your music consultancy, including project scope, services needed, time frame and budget. This information will help you select the best music business consulting agency to meet your specific needs.

When selecting music industry consulting firms, research each consulting practice and evaluate the following:

1. How much experience do the music business consultants offer in your music style or business market?

2. What services do the record business consulting firms provide to enhance your industry presence and improve your financial profitability?

3. How much should you invest in musical consultant services?

Action Steps
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Hire music industry consultants who specialize in your business market

Select music business consultants who are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in your music style and business sector. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: Record Play is an independent music consulting firm that works with a diverse client base of record labels, musicians, companies and individuals, and offers an online client list. Chris Stone Audio Productions offers stock/library/production music services for film producers and advertisers, and features an online client list. Orkin Marketing Consultants works with artists, artist managers and record companies, and features current client profiles.

Choose music business consultant firms with reputable skills

Review the services offered by each recording industry consulting firm. Evaluate each agency's experience and qualifications, and request successful examples of the specific skill sets you need.

I recommend: GrayZone offers investigative, research and paralegal services to members of the entertainment community, and specializes in anti-piracy operations. Harris Tulchin, an international law firm, provides counsel services to music clients. Keith Holzman Solutions Unlimited offers specialized consulting services for record companies focusing on management, profitability, business affairs, contracts, marketing, distribution and technology.

Select music consultants that meet your budget

Many government consultant firms operate on a retainer with a minimum time commitment. Several utilize an hourly fee structure for short-term projects. Your music consultancy cost will depend upon the scope of your services.

I recommend: TAXI offers a one-year membership fee for independent A&R consulting and contact services. Music Business Academy charges an hourly free for advisory services for independent artists and bands. Get a free initial one-hour consultation with Don Grierson, a leading music industry consultant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do not pay for a company to review your music. Any reputable music industry consultant interested in helping you to publish, produce or record your music will accept and review material free of charge.
• •  Before signing a contract with a music business consultant, be sure to read the fine print. Pay an attorney to review your contract. The attorney cost could save you hundreds of dollars in potential income and will give you peace of mind that your music contract is written in your best interest.

Use a music industry consultants education and training to put yourself ahead of competitors in the field. Whether clients come to you for artistic consulting, computer music consulting, record label consulting, music legalities consulting or some other type, having a solid business and musical resume reassures them of your dedication to the music business industry.

Keeping your education current even after you become a music business consultant shows clients that you care about providing the best quality service possible. Some ways you might want to get your education and training include the following choices:

1. Take some courses in music before entering the consultant music business.

2. Obtain music industry consultants education and training by taking classes in business.

3. Learn more about trends that affect a business music consultant and clients by attending seminars related to consulting and to music.

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Take courses in the musical genre that you plan to work with in the music consultants industry

Whether your plan to do classical recording industry consulting, rock or any other music medium, take some classes in your area of interest so you identify with clients and their unique situations. Classes teach you musical techniques and also teach you music methodology.

I recommend: World Wide Learn offers a detailed summary of the benefits in taking music courses. It lists online and on-site schools that offer courses ranging from music education to music business, including the legal aspects of working with the music industry. Berkleemusic offers courses in music basics, music performance and in music business. Depending on the course chosen, you learn about marketing, touring and the legalities of music production.

Learn the legalities of record business consulting by taking some business classes

Clients expect that musical consultants will provide solutions for marketing and talent placement. They expect consultants to help them maximize business costs and help them develop strategies for their business plans. Taking business courses puts you on the right track with legalities and business strategies.

I recommend: Full Sail offers an online master's degress that teaches you about business strategies for the music industry. It covers organization, licenses, business plans and troubleshooting. Online Education provides a lists of colleges that offer business classes specific to the music industry. Click on the links provided to learn more abut the program that interests you and to see sample courses.

Learn tips and techniques that aid music consultants in the industry by attending seminars

Network with other music business consultants and learn the secrets of better business by attending conferences, workshops and seminars. Conferences teaching consulting techniques help you in the business part of consulting, while music seminars keep you current on artistic trends.

I recommend: Ball State University offers training courses for professionals interested in learning about consulting. The course is comprised of six three-hour seminars held in a three-day program, covering topics like analyzing a client's needs, dealing with contracts and addressing innovative learning approaches. The Summer Music Conference offers a place for all sorts of music industry professionals to gather and learn more about the business. The multi-day event offers seminars in areas like licensing, publishing and dealing with contracts.

Consultants are an important part of the music industry. They have years of experience working in different capacities in the world of music. Many consultants have experience in marketing for artists, contract negotiations and creating an image for an artist or music label. Consultants work with music labels, established artists and many new artists. Industry consultants can provide a wide range of services for all of these music-related businesses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Anti-piracy

Many music industry consultants are now faced with the widespread problem of music being pirated on the Internet and through other methods. Some consultants offer clients anti-piracy services that help to track down the sources of pirated music.

I recommend: Gray Zone provides information on anti-piracy laws and how research services can assist artists and labels to combat this problem.

Promotion

Anyone working in the music industry needs to have various levels of promotion consumers to recognize their name and work. All music industry consultants work with many promotion tools to help establish new artists.

I recommend: Four Front Media & Music provides a number of articles that discuss different ways to promote up-and-coming musicians through airplay and online.

Royalty accounting

Royalty accounting is a service that many music industry consultants provide to artists that are earning some type of royalty payments for airplay on the radio or use in television or movies.

I recommend: Keith Holzman Solutions Unlimited provides information on royalty accounting and how recording companies can make the issue clear to their artists.

Musician management

Many new artists do not have the means to hire a full-time manager, so some music consultants offer music management services. These management services include representation, endorsements and other ways to help market a musician.

I recommend: Orkin Marketing Consultants provides musician management services on a per-project basis or on retainer.

Music business marketing plan development

A good marketing plan helps to sell any type of business, including a new music label or the artist's brand. Consultants can help develop a workable marketing plan for all types of artists or companies.

I recommend: Focus Marketing provides services for developing a marketing plan for a variety of music businesses.

A&R (Artist and Repertoire) consulting

A&R consulting is a service that oversees the creative processes of putting together an album for an artist. A&R consulting also helps artists negotiate contracts with record labels.

I recommend: Pure Tone Music provides answers to frequently asked questions about A&R consultants and how they are important to artists and labels.