JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum is it worth it??

Caroline,
There's a book called Making Music Make Money by Eric Beall (Berklee Press) which you can preview here:

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Music-Make-Money-Publisher/dp/0876390076

I read it cover to cover and Eric Beall, creative director for Zomba Music Publishing, covers everything you need to know to get published, including: the role of a music publisher; copyright - how to get one, use one, and make money from one; building a business plan; identifying which songs to sell and to whom; and much more.

One of his main points in the intro and throughout various chapters of the book is his emphasis on the fact that to ever get "signed" by a serious successful publisher, you must first learn to become one. There are many (logical) advantages to this, but most importantly it's a "guage" of your business success and reputation, etc. Unless you have this kind of publishing experience background, few will want to deal with you, but many will try to "snooker" you.

Anyway, if you haven't read the book or don't want to buy it, you can probably borrow it from your local library. It's a very informative "nuts & bolts" book and you'll learn what's really going on "inside" the music publishing and licensing business. If you're going to get into the "biz", you've got to learn and then not be afraid to jump in with both feet!

Hope this gives you some helpful direction.
Michael