MANAGING YOUR BUSINESS
A successful independent music artist understands they are a music business.
Making money from your music and all related activities requires knowing how to operate professionally as a business, manage your career, and build your team.
From understanding your royalties, copyrights and income streams, to operating as a company, and having business skills, this knowledge is vital to making a living from your music and having success.
HOW ARTISTS BUILD A CAREER
Having a successful career as a music artist doesn’t simply arrive overnight. Planning on how to build your journey of success is one of the most important processes and mindsets you can develop and evolve.
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT TO BUILD SUCCESS
If you want to know what artist development involves, then this video is for you. We explain how you can and should be developing yourself, your artistry, your music, and your music business.
MUSIC COPYRIGHTS - HOW DO THEY WORK?
All artists should understand the basics of music copyrights. If you write and record music, you need to know what music copyrights are, how you own them, and what to do with them.
RECORD CONTRACTS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
We explain what these contracts are, and the main parts that all music artists should understand. We also talk about the key points that are usually negotiated from the perspective of both the artists and the labels
ARTIST COACHING
TAKE YOUR MUSIC CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL
BOOK A COACHING SESSION WITH THE ARTIST GUIDES
COMPLETE GUIDE TO MUSIC ROYALTIES
Having a successful career as a music artist doesn’t simply arrive overnight. Planning on how to build your journey of success is one of the most important processes and mindsets you can develop and evolve.
HOW DO I GET PAID IF I OWN THE SONG'S SOUND RECORDING?...
In this helpful video from the Disc Makers channel, learn about the royalites relating to your ownership of songs and sound recordings
7 PEOPLE ARTISTS NEED ON THEIR TEAM...
Great explanation by BRANDMAN | No Labels Necessary about how the music industry has changed and the people that modern independent artists need on their team
BE YOUR OWN RECORD LABEL - (2024 GUIDE FOR INDIE MUSICIANS)
This video from Other Record Labels channel gives a great overview of label operations and strategies that can be used by independent artists to grow their own careers
WHY ARTISTS SHOULD OWN THEIR MASTERS
Everyone wants to buy ownership of recorded master rights. In this video, we explain what’s going on, and why artists should try and keep hold of the rights to their masters.
WHO SHOULD YOU JOIN? TO COLLECT YOUR ROYALTIES PRS, ASCAP, BMI, PPL...
This video by Traxploitation explains all about the different collection societies, the royalties they collect and why artists should join to get paid
USEFUL LINKS
SONGWRITER ROYALTIES - UK
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - UK
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - UK
PRS FOR MUSIC is the performing rights organisation which collects and pays royalties for the public performance of your songs.
MCPS collects and pays mechanical royalties for your songs.
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - UK
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - UK
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - UK
PPL collects and pays royalties to sound recording copyright holders, and performers on recordings, for the broadcast or public playing of recorded works.
SONGWRITER ROYALTIES - US
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - US
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - US
The US has a few performing rights organisations to choose from that collect and pay royalties for the public performance of your songs. Find out about them: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and Global Music Rights. SESAC and GMR are by invitation only. Whereas ASCAP and BMI welcome any songwriter.
The MLC collects and pays mechanical royalties for your songs.
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - US
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - US
SOUND RECORDING ROYALTIES - US
SoundExchange collects and pays digital performance royalties to sound recording copyright holders and the performers on recordings.
REST OF THE WORLD - ROYALTIES
Most countries have their own PROs (performing rights organisations) and collection societies. You should find out about your ones and consider joining them. If you are writing, recording and releasing your own music then it is likely you will be due songwriter, sound recording, and performer royalties. These royalties are all in addition to the money you receive from your distributor, label, or publisher.
ARTICLES
How To Get All Your Music Royalties... by Ari's Take gives a good explanation of the different types of copyrights and related royalties you should know about, and be collecting if you are an independent artist releasing music.
If you are making money from your music then you should know how to operate as a business in your best interests, legally, and according to local tax laws:
Sole Trader vs Limited Company: What's Best For You? This article explains about operating as a business in the UK or setting up a company.
The 7 Most Popular Business Types in the US is an article that provides an overview and descriptions of operating and trading as a business in the US.
Subscribe
CONTENT FOR MUSIC ARTISTS
Copyright © 2025 AMOUR MUSIC LTD. All Rights Reserved
THE ARTIST GUIDES