Become a Pro Musician
CourseMusic BusinessContemporaryIntermediate
Part ofMusic Business

Become a Pro Musician

$13/month

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Duration2h 33m
Modules40
LevelIntermediate
LanguageEnglish

Lesson Plan (2h 33m)

About this course

The modern music business has more routes than ever. You no longer need the traditional gatekeepers to build a successful career - but the business has also never been more complicated or fast-moving.

This course brings together artists who built their own careers - Katie Melua, Imogen Heap, Ed O'Brien (Radiohead), Jeremy Pritchard (Everything Everything) and Sandie Shaw - alongside the managers, producers and label people they work with. They cover the things they wish they'd known starting out: shaping an artistic vision, building and looking after a following, and working with producers, labels and venues.

It is a candid look at the working life behind the songs, useful whether you are releasing your own music or just want to understand how the industry really runs.

Who it's for

  • Gigging musicians ready to treat music as a career
  • Self-releasing artists figuring out the business side
  • Returning players rebuilding a path in a changed industry

What you'll learn

  • Shape an artistic vision you can actually pitch
  • Book your first tours and grow local audiences
  • Build a team and work well with producers

What you'll need

  • An active music project or one in planning
  • Curiosity about the business behind the songs
  • A few minutes most days to watch and reflect

Published with

Featured Artist Coalition

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) was founded in 2009 to support, promote and protect the artist community in the music industry. A featured artist is a named artist on a recording - whether a solo artist or a member of a band - one of the recorded artists who do the deals and are credited on the record. They are often the writers of the songs they perform, and as independents they manage a range of skills from production to songwriting and promotion.

The FAC nurtures a community of artists and provides support, advice and education to empower artist entrepreneurs in the ever-evolving music industry. That includes running workshops, mentoring and networking sessions for members, as well as developing, informing and defending artists at every stage of their careers.

The FAC also raises artists' voices and concerns with trade, national and international policy makers and legislators, making sure artists are represented in the decisions that shape the music business.

The FAC board includes: Imogen Heap (CEO), Annie Lennox, Ed O'Brien (Radiohead), Fran Healy (Travis), Hal Ritson (The Young Punx), Howard Jones, Jeremy Pritchard (Everything Everything), Kate Nash, Katie Melua, Lucy Pullin, Master Shortie, Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Paul Pacifico (Pacifico Blues), Roxanne de Bastion, Rumer, Sam Lee, Sandie Shaw.

As music and technology evolve, the FAC considers emerging forms of creative expression and new, innovative ways for artists to earn a living from what they do. The FAC works positively with the technology sector to stand up for the artist's position while identifying solutions and opportunities to enhance the options available to artists.

Featured Artist Coalition

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