20 Essentials for New Artists

by Chris Castle and Amy E. Mitchell

You’ve decided to form a band. Let’s get your business in order. What are the most important things you can do to make sure that you don’t trip yourselves up down the road?

This article was removed from the TuneCore blog on Dec 17th, 2010 at the request of the co-author Chris Castle.

Mr. Castle wrote factually incorrect information in the article in regards to ISRC codes.  We contacted Mr. Castle to let him know about the correction.

This in turn appeared to upset Mr Castle who then demanded we take the article down.

Comments

[Aaron Poehler]

95% of this doesn't apply to 95% of musicians, and the remaining 5% is only applicable if a deal is imminent. Well-intentioned, but nothing to do with the real world.

[Moshfists]

@ Aaron P: That is probably because 95% of musicians in bands don't see themselves or their band as a business. They simply see it as a way to get some gigs, impress girls, and a way to get free drinks at the bars. As a recording engineer, I am mortified by how many musicians are so ignorant, that they don't even know how to register their own copyrights. Musicians, for the most part, aren't business-minded. I suppose that this is because they are more concerned with writing songs and all of the other "artsy" stuff. I am more than happy to assist my clients with some of their business matters, but I also encourage them to educate themselves to avoid future problems.

[Carlos A. Boyce Jr.]

This is a common mistake that eccentric musicians make because they do not understand that this is a business!
Thank you for the continued update in keeping us in understanding that there are procedures in running the Band business as well!

I commend you!

[David Coltrane]

"Merry Christmas from Andy Walker" is the new Christmas Album sung by Andy Walker , and played by Frank Basile, Justine Richie, David Taylor,Alan Morris, Mark Smooth, George Perkins. On sale in the best Music Stores in the world . Go to listen on www.walker-music.com

"...a smoky, sophisticated, and slightly melancholy album perfectly suited to accompany egg nog cocktails and romantic afterglow holiday affairs."

-Matt Collar, Allmusic.com

[dancingboyX]

To David Coltrane, you stupid ignorant idiot. Your post in the comment section above has done one thing, made sure I will never listen to anything from this Andy Walker. Andy Walker should try to get as far away from you as possible. What did your post about his Xmas CD have to do with the article above? It's crap like posting things that have nothing to do with this article that makes people think independent artist are "less" than major label recording artist. In a word unprofessional. Therefore they should not pay for our music because it somehow not on the same level artistically or quality-wise. Coltrane you did nothing to legitimatize Andy Walker or his music. You've actually done him a great disservice.

[Felipe]

I agree. Maybe you should spend a little less time spamming sites and a little more time getting Mr. Walker a better-looking website.

[HubertBonisseur]

I was curious about this singer Andy Walker because I live in Monaco but I never heard this name. Then I performed a little search on Internet. This Andy is the King of spam but he didn't exist before last summer. He pretends he lives in Monaco but if you get a glance to a "whois" site you'll discover another truth at least about the owner of his site. I'm sure this Coltrane and Walker are the same person. By the way I found the words he quotated (Matt Collar, Allmusic.com) belong to a review about Diana Krall's Xmas album http://itunes.apple.com/it/album/christmas-songs/id83332479 . No comments anymore.

[George Davis]

"The Taste of Swing" is the new double Album sung by Andy Walker , and played by Frank Basile, Justine Richie, David Taylor,Alan Morris, Mark Smooth, George Perkins. On sale in the best Music Stores in the world . His music it's on sale on TUNECORE.COM , iTUNES , AMAZON , SONGRILA , eMUSIC , ORANGE SFR , VODAFONE , 3 , NOKIA MUSIC STORE , and in the most important Music stores of the World .
Check it out www.youtube.com/andywalker2010