Music Is: A Survival Guide for Making Music in the Internet Age

Music Is serves as a practical handbook for musicians navigating the modern music industry landscape. The book addresses both the creative and business aspects of making music in an era dominated by streaming, social media, and rapid technological change. Author Ashley Kahn draws on extensive interviews with working musicians, producers, and industry professionals to provide concrete strategies and insights. The text covers essential topics including recording, touring, promotion, copyright, and revenue streams in the digital age. The guide includes specific examples and case studies of artists who have found success through various approaches to the contemporary music business. Technical concepts and industry terminology are explained in clear, accessible language. Beyond its practical applications, the book examines broader questions about artistic integrity and sustainability in an environment where traditional music industry structures continue to evolve. The text considers how musicians can maintain creative authenticity while adapting to new market realities.

This book appears to have very limited reader reviews available online and minimal discussion across book platforms. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of streaming economics - Basic music industry concepts for beginners - Easy-to-follow structure and organization What readers disliked: - Content feels dated despite 2019 publication - May be too basic for those already in music industry - Some found advice too centered on traditional industry paths Review Sources: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews found Amazon: 4.5/5 stars (3 ratings, 1 written review) LibraryThing: No ratings or reviews found One Amazon reviewer noted: "Good intro for those starting out but doesn't offer much new insight for working musicians." Note: With such limited public reviews available online, this summary may not fully represent the broader reception of this book. Most discussion appears to be on private industry forums rather than consumer review sites.

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🎵 Author Ashley Kahn has written extensively about jazz legends, including books on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" and Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue" 🎵 The book was published in 2019 as part of Basic Music Series, a collaboration between Basic Books and New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music 🎵 Kahn teaches at both NYU's Clive Davis Institute and Berklee College of Music, bringing real-world music industry experience to his writing 🎵 The book addresses how streaming has fundamentally changed the music industry, with artists now earning an average of only $0.004 per stream on Spotify 🎵 Throughout the book, Kahn includes insights from successful musicians and industry professionals, including Questlove, Kenny Gamble, and Jimmy Jam