The Music Industry highlights the business side of making music and what it takes to have a hit, as well as how to not be that one-hit wonder.
If you grew up listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40, you probably waited with bated breath to find out which song made it to No. 1 that week. Well, the Top 40 is still around. Learn how a song makes it into that elite list. See more »
Elvis Presley's death on August 16, 1977, saddened the world. After a long battle with health problems, the king of rock 'n' roll had fallen.
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Behind the scenes, professional audio post production engineers work hundreds of hours to make sure that every snippet of dialogue, every sound effect, and every second of the film score are perfectly blended to create a cohesive and powerful cinematic experience. Learn how audio post production works.
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Looking to create a demo CD of your work? If you don't have the money to pay for time at a pro recording studio, there are other avenues. Find out what you'll need to cut your own music CD at home.
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The road to music stardom is paved with the souls of those who never "made it." HowStuffWorks talked to Kristen Henderson guitarist for the breakout band Antigone Rising. Find out what it takes to succeed in the music biz.
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Music licensing is something that happens constantly. The music you hear on the radio in a restaurant or in a department store is all licensed. Find out when and why we have to pay to play.
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The last time you bought a CD did you wonder how much of the sticker price was actually going to the artist who performed? How does a Platinum-selling musician end up broke? Find out what musicians are actually being paid.
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Your band's hitting it big in the clubs, you've got a demo and you're ready to shop for a record label. Find out what record labels can do for you and learn about the differences between the big guys and the indies.
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We've all heard the stories - artist "x" suing label "y" over some unfair clause in a contract and label "y" suing artist "x" over some contract breach... How complicated can this stuff be? Find out.
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The time spent in the studio is referred to as a recording session where songwriters, musicians, sound technicians and producers work together to create a unique sound. Find out more about how recording sessions work.
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Recording studios are where the magic happens in the music business. Learn about the history and technology of recording studios.
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If you want to make money as a musician and you're not signed to a record contract yet, you need to be playing clubs. But club gigs are not so easy to come by. Find out how to get started in the club circuit.
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Music is big business -- the U.S. recording industry produces billions of dollars worth of CDs cassettes LPs and singles each year and most people listen to some of them every day. At the GRAMMY Awards the industry recognizes the people who create all this music.
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If you grew up listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40, you probably waited with bated breath to find out which song made it to No. 1 that week. Well, the Top 40 is still around. Learn how a song makes it into that elite list.
See more »
Millions of Americans tune in to watch the Super Bowl halftime performance each year. Check out our list of 17 notable Super Bowl halftime shows, featuring performances by New Kids on the Block and Prince.
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Before TV, the Web and other modern distractions, families tuned into radios for the latest serial dramas, comedies and soap operas. How did these formats take off? And who is the Shadow?
See more »Some artists will always be known for their one successful song. See our list of 12 one-hit wonders, including Debby Boone and Lipps Inc.
See more »It's not easy to sell albums in the very competitive music industry. See our list of the 25 best-selling albums of all time, including "Thriller" and "Back in Black."
See more »Stocking your home recording studio with proper equipment can be a daunting task. Find out what some home recording studio essentials are in this article.
See more »Starting a great recording begins with the proper miking techniques for your instruments. Learn the best miking techniques for your recording in this article.
See more »Becoming a music agent takes time, contacts and in some cases, investing your own money. Learn more about what it takes to become a music agent in this article.
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