Music Booking Agents News and Trends

Look for music booking agents' news and trends to stay in the loop
By Linda C. Ray Music booking companies must keep up with the entertainment industry news to know where the gigs are, who's representing whom and what trends are driving the market. In order to be successful at live music booking, you must be in the loop with the latest entertainment news and find as much insider industry info as you can.

Contacts are an important ingredient in the tour booking agent playbook. Read music booking management publications that can keep you updated with news and information about which artists are winning awards, new radio venues that are booking music acts and for what the recording labels are looking. Gather a complete picture of music booking agents' news and trends.

1. Stay on top of music booking news to follow consumer trends.

2. Participate in associations for music booking agents to build your contact base.

3. Subscribe to publications for concert booking agents that provide leads to new opportunities.

Stay informed by watching trends made by booking agents for musicians

Look for news that provides information about new venues and opportunities for your clients. Check in with the sites of the major booking agencies that often set the trends so that you can find a niche for yourself and your acts.
Try:  Keep up with the latest news for booking agents at Monsters and Critics. Find recent news about other booking agents and the work they are doing at The Agency Group.

Join music booking groups that create opportunities for members to network

Look for resources that will guide you in building the vital relationships you need to excel in music booking management. The news about your fellow agents is almost more important at times than the latest scuttlebutt surrounding the entertainers. Get behind-the-scene news and information through groups that attract booking agents for musicians.
Try:  Make important connections and keep up with the trends through membership in the National Music Publishers Association. The news and trends that drive the music booking industry are regularly updated and reported at the International Entertainment Buyers Association.

Read about the latest tour booking agent news to look for new business

Step outside your area of expertise to get a complete picture of the music business. Look for crossover opportunities for your clients. For instance, creative country music booking agents will book their acts into rock and roll venues to get them more exposure and gain new fans. By following all the entertainment news, you won't miss the latest trends and may even start a few.
Try:  Keep up with what is going on in the industry through Absolute Punk. Booking agents will want to keep up with all the industry news at Entertainment Management Online.

• Include regular research into the news sources of other industries that utilize the services of music booking agents, such as movie and theater publications, to find even more business opportunities.