Moses Avalon - Confessions of a Record Producer

For the past fifteen years I have made my living sitting behind a large pane of glass. It's the glass you see in a recording studio, the one that separates the performer from the technicians. I have watched and worked with hundreds of recording artists, cutting their demos and seeing the hope in their eyes, right through the final mixes of tunes that became huge hits for them. Through it all, I have always found this "separating glass"the perfect analogy for an industry that works so hard at separating an artist from his money. Picture this image: the artist sits alone in a booth, while on the other side, protected by soundproof walls and expensive machinery, the lawyers and executives watch and figure ways to separate him from his money.

The recently signed artist is at an extreme disadvantage. He or she doesn't usually have the benefit of years of experience or knowing the tricks of the trade. Through the years, in the dim, smoky light of a two A.M. recording session, many artists have confessed to me, "If I'd only known better when I signed my first deal."In this moment of crisis, when their manager isn't returning their calls, their girl- or boyfriend is angry with them, their sidemen are getting wasted, the producer is on the phone, and the label won't give them additional funds to finance their career, they have spoken to me, the unassuming engineer, in hopes of a sympathetic ear. They spoke and I listened. Confessions of a Record Producer is the result.

It probably comes as no surprise that these artists feel taken advantage of by the very companies they've made millions for. Are they paranoid, or were their expectations perhaps too high? You will decide for yourself as you learn every trick, scam, and lie they were told - and told back. Confessions can be thought of as an encyclopedia of skullduggery; the first book assembled that catalogues every known way to swindle artists, producers, and even labels out of their well-deserved cash, note by precious note.

The main section looks at the record deal from three distinct points of view: (1) the artist, (2) the producer, and (3) the record label. After reading each section, you will understand what's on each party's agenda; thus whatever phase of the business you're thinking about entering, you will be well armed for a negotiation.

What separates Confessions from the scores of other books on this business is the fact that most others are written by attorneys and discuss the music business in theory. Certainly there's value in that. But I'm not an attorney, so I won't bore you with anal interpretations of how things are supposed to work. Here you will only read how things did work when the legal (and sometimes not so legal!) principles were applied to real-life situations. No one gets away clean. Producers, A&R people, managers, labels, lawyers, and artists each take their turn in the hot seat. Plus, you will see real dollar numbers showing what everyone makes at the end of the day, from the record company to the recording engineer. Every account in this book is real. They're designed to provide you with strong ammunition to help you protect your rights and preserve your assets.

Will this book make you paranoid or try to discourage you from getting into the business? Absolutely not. This book is no more than a tool. It's your talent, passion, and determination that will determine your success. Passion is what drives almost all of us to devote our lives to music, and passion is a sword that cuts both ways.

As we enter the 21st Century, the pop, dance and rock industries are going though the biggest changes they've seen in their 50-year history. New developments in technology and evolving business philosophies have forever changed the way companies think about which bands to sign and how bands think about which label to sign with. SoundScan and BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) have lifted the veil of secrecy from CD sales and radio airplay. The Internet has inspired new kinds of long-distance communication and marketing. New legislation will alter the way artists get paid, and electronic media may permanently change the way we buy and listen to our favorite songs.

These changes will not take place without growing pains.

Within the pages of Confessions I address the concerns and frustrations of many in this industry; an industry once mired in bureaucracy, politics, and corruption that in the last decade has traded off many of its "family" elements for an allegedly more legitimate corporate family. Tomorrow's music industry has the potential to be one of the most honorable and spiritually powerful industries in the world. It is my hope that Confessions can be part of the evolution that the business of music must go through as it moves past its adolescence and on to develop the honorable and spiritually powerful reputation it so realistically feigns.

It is my sincerest wish that this book will someday be obsolete.

Peace

Moses Avalon (a pseudonym) is currently a top selling author of music business books and education tools in the US music industry. He is also an artists’ rights activist.

Mr. Avalon began his career by producing and engineering records for several major and independent record labels and under several different names. His combined work with Grammy award winning recording artists has earned him five RIAA Platinum record awards. His sound track compositions have been used in films that have won outstanding achievement awards at Cannes, The New York Expo and WorldFest.

In 1997 Mr. Avalon noticed that all the "how to" books on the music industry were written by attorneys, and not accessible to musicians. He took the opposite approach.

With the release of his first book, Confessions of a Record Producer: How To Survive the Scams and Shams of the Music Business in September in 1998, sales have exceeded expectations. Confessions is currently in its third printing, is a top selling non-fiction book on the music industry and is part of the music business curriculum in over 20 colleges. (UCLA, Loyola Law School and NYU)

In the fall of 2001, Mr. Avalon released a follow up book, Secrets of a Negotiating a Record Contract: The Musician's Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Sneaky Lawyer Tricks.

Mr. Avalon was the first non-attorney to lecture the ins and outs of recording contracts at the Chicago Bar, and both the Los Angeles and Florida Continuing Legal Education (CLE) groups. He has been a featured guest in over 50 national radio interviews and his newsletter, Moses Supposes, which features informed editorials on the inner workings of the music business, reaches over 3500 subscribers, and, through syndication, over 50,000 readers.

He has created a coveted industry workshop for artists, producers, managers small labels owners and awards 13.5 CLE credits to attorneys.

In the past year, Attorney Generals in New Jersey and California, as well as the Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee on Record Industry Accounting Practices, have used Mr. Avalon as a noted consultant.

He is an active lecturer around the world, the CEO of The Moses Avalon Company (MAC) and writes books about the music industry as well as other topics.