Recommended Reading

Here is a list of books that we genuinely recommend, covering a wide range of music business topics. This list will be updated regularly, and we welcome your suggestions of other books that you feel should be added to this list. You can order any of these books via Amazon.com by clicking on the book title below.

Music Business Books
Books On Songwriting
Music Biography Books
Music History & Billboard Chart Books

All You Need To Know About The Music Business (Revised edition). By Donald S. Passman. Simon & Schuster. 448 pages. This has become the definitive book to learn all about the music business, providing an education on practically every sector of the business. This is must-reading before you negotiate or sign any type of music business contract. A newly revised edition has just been released.

This Business Of Music (9th edition). By M. William Krasilovsky & Sidney Shemel. Watson-Guptill Publications. 526 pages. This is a thick, comprehensive book which for many years was considered the "bible" of music business education. Written in a text-book style, it's not the easiest book to read, but it's packed with valuable information on many facets of the business.

The Musician's Business & Legal Guide. Edited by Mark Halloran. Prentice Hall. 462 pages. This is a comprehensive, business affairs book, which was written by 22 entertainment lawyers affiliated with the Beverly Hills Bar Association. It covers a wide range of legal issues of which are relevant for musicians/artists/writers.

2003 Songwriter's Market. Edited by Ian C. Bessler. Writer's Digest Books. 520 pages. This popular book has recently been updated. It contains many listings of record labels, music publishers, songwriter associations and other music organizations.

The Indie Guidebook To Music Supervision For Films. By Sharal Churchill. Filmic Press. 287 pages. This is an essential reference guide for using music in film. This book is a valuable tool for filmmakers, producers, composers, songwriters, publishers, artist managers and anyone interested in creating or utilizing music in films. Churchill is a respected music supervisor and former head of music for MGM.

Hit Men; Power Brokers And Fast Money Inside The Music Business. By Fredric Dannen. Vintage Books. 407 pages. Many of you have already read this book. But if you haven't, it's an incredible book about how the biggest moguls in the music business truly operated. It's the definitive inside look into the music business at the highest, most powerful levels. This book could use an updated version, but it's still highly entertaining and engrossing.

Going Pro: Developing A Professional Career In The Music Industry. By Kenny Kerner. Hal Leonard Company. This is a comprehensive book about how to develop a successful career in the music business. Many different music fields and jobs are covered, including a wide variety of positions at record labels, publishers, agencies, management companies, public relations and other fields. Kerner is the editor of Music Biz magazine and a contributing writer for Gig Magazine.

Mastering Show Biz From The Heart. By Michael Dolan. Publisher: Mulholland Pacific. 192 pages. This book provides essential information on building a successful career in the entertainment industry. Whether you're a musician, singer, producer, manager, actor, director or dancer, this book provides many insights in how to succeed in the world of show business.

The Billboard Guide To Music Publicity. By Jim Pettigrew. Watson-Guptill Publications. 176 pages. This book provides valuable information about getting publicity for your act. Publicity is an important aspect of your music career. People need to know who you are, how to buy your CD, where to see your live show, and what distinguishes your band from other acts.

The Songwriter's & Musician's Guide To Nashville. By Sherry Bond. Allworth Press. 245 pages. This book is very useful for country songwriters trying to break into the Nashville scene. The Nashville music scene is its own industry, and it's important to learn as much as possible about its unique, music business community and perspective.

Making A Living In Your Local Music Market: Realizing Your Market Potential. By Dick Weissman. Hal Leonard Publishing. 304 pages. This is a refreshing book that focuses on regional success, rather than another book on how to be an "international superstar." You don't have to have a #1 worldwide hit or a platinum album to make a living in the music business. You can successfully create and perform your music on a local scale, and make a living doing what you love best.

The Craft And Business Of Songwriting (2nd Edition). By John Braheny. Writers Digest Books. 371 pages. This is one of the best books to truly analyze the craft of songwriting. There are excellent chapters which discuss hooks, song structure and other key elements of hit songs. Braheny is the Co-Founder of the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase, and is well regarded by many songwriters.

Tunesmith; Inside The Art Of Songwriting. By Jimmy Webb. Hyperion. 384 pages. Legendary writer Jimmy Webb has written a very intelligent, literate book on the art and craft of songwriting. It's rare to get the perspective of a great songwriter, truly analyzing all of the elements of his songwriting craft. The artful vision and character of his unique songs are captured in this book.

Songwriters On Songwriting. By Paul Zollo. Da Capo Press. 656 pages. This book features thoughtful interviews with many classic, hit songwriters. There's nothing quite like reading what the great songwriters have to say about songwriting, the music business and other topics.

Becoming Remarkable. By Harriet Schock. Blue Dolphin Publishing. 192 pages. This is a thoughtful, personal book about the craft of songwriting. Schock is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, and a well respected, songwriting instructor and consultant.

88 Songwriting Wrongs & How To Right Them: Concrete Ways To Improve Your Songwriting & Make Your Songs More Marketable. By Pat & Pete Luboff. Writers Digest Books. 145 pages. Pat & Pete Luboff (wife & husband) have been actively involved in the Los Angeles songwriter scene for more than 20 years. This is an entertaining, educational book on how to improve and market your songs.

Last Train To Memphis: The Rise Of Elvis Presley. By Peter Guralnick. Little Brown & Co. 576 pages. This is volume one of the best-selling biography of Elvis Presley, which is considered the definitive, most authoritative book on this subject. This volume covers his early days, on through to his career breakthough in the 1950s.

Careless Love: The Unmaking Of Elvis Presley. By Peter Guralnick. Little Brown & Co. 784 pages. This second volume covers Elvis' career from the early 1960s, through his troubled, later years.

The Beatles Anthology. Chronicle Books. 368 pages. This is the definitive, comprehensive book on the Beatles, supervised and edited by the group, and featuring amazing stories and photos by the group members.

Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography Of B.B. King. By B.B. King & David Ritz. Spike. 352 pages. This is a wonderful, deeply insightful book about the life of this great, blues artist. This book truly takes you into B.B.'s world, giving you his perspective on his life and career.

Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story. By Ray Charles & David Ritz. DaCapo Press. 348 pages. This is the definitive book on this great artist, vividly and honestly told from his own perspective. A must-have book for any fan of Charles.

Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye. By David Ritz. DaCapo Press. 415 pages. This book is not an autobiography, but it's closest view we'll ever have of this brilliant and troubled artist. Author Ritz (who co-wrote "Sexual Healing" with Gaye) wrote this exceptional book after conducting many interviews with Gaye.

The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits. By Fred Bronson. Watson-Guptill Publications. 912 pages. This highly entertaining book features great stories about how each song became a #1 hit. Many songwriters, artists, producers, managers and label execs tell their stories about how these #1 hits were created and recorded. These stories are fascinating and often inspirational; the stuff dreams are made of.

Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. By Joel Whitburn. Hal Leonard. 960 pages. This is the definitive, comprehensive book, which lists all of the Billboard hit singles of the modern rock and pop era. Every major publisher has this book as a reference guide.

Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums 1955-2001. By Joel Whitburn. Record Research. 1,200 pages. This large book lists the best-selling pop albums of the modern pop and rock era, as compiled by Billboard magazine.

The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits. By Joel Whitburn & Fred Bronson. Watson-Guptill Publications. 896 pages. This is a very comprehensive book listing all of the Top 40 pop hits of the modern pop era. It also includes bio information on many, noteworthy artists.

Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles 1955-2001. By Joel Whitburn. Hal Leonard. 591 pages. For the Nashville industry and for country fans, this is the definitive chart singles guide, listing all of the country hits in the modern era.

Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles 1942-1999. By Joel Whitburn. Hal Leonard. 690 pages. Here is the definitive R&B singles book, listing all of the R&B hits for almost a 60-year span.

The Rolling Stone Illustrated HIstory Of Rock & Roll. By Anthony DeCurtis, James Henke, Holly George-Warren & Jim Miller. Random House Trade Paperbacks. 720 pages. This is a terrific book, highlight all of the great artists and important movements in the rock & roll era. If you want to know the history of all of the classic artists, this is the ideal, introductory book.

The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia Of Rock & Roll. By Holly George-Warren, Patricia Romanowski & Jon Pareles. Fireside. 1,136 pages. This massive book has a title which aptly describes its contents. This is a very detailed, comprehensive book covering practically every noteworthy artist and event in to rock & roll era. Artists are listed in alphabetical order, and the book also contains well-written essays on many of the top artists.

The Heart Of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. By Dave Marsh. DaCapo Press. 754 pages. Top rock critic & author Dave Marsh has written a wonderful, articulate book about the greatest singles of the rock & soul era. This is a loving tribute to all the great songs and hit records, and it's always fun to read.

The Sound Of The City: The Rise Of Rock & Roll. By Charlie Gillett. DaCapo Press. 535 pages. This is considered the definitive book about the birth of the rock & roll era. In great detail, it tells the story of how all the artists and record labels emerged in the 1950s, to bring rock & roll and R&B to the forefront of the music industry.

Mystery Train: Images Of America In Rock 'N' Roll Music. By Greil Marcus. Plume. 288 pages. This is a renowned book by this top author & rock critic, about the impact of rock & roll on American culture and society. Marcus writes, with great affection, about Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Sly Stone, the Band and other classic artists.

A Change Is Gonna Come - Music, Race & The Soul Of America. By Craig Werner. Plume Books. Personally recommended by author David Ritz. Ritz is the author of superb autobiographies by Ray Charles, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, the Neville Brothers, Jerry Wexler, Smokey Robinson, and Etta James.