Music: The Business (8th edition)

May 4, 2025 10:03 PM

Author:Ann Harrison

This essential and highly acclaimed guide, now updated and revised in its eighth edition, explains the business of the British music industry.

Drawing on her extensive experience as a media lawyer, Ann Harrison offers a unique, expert opinion on the deals, the contracts and the business as a whole. She examines in detail the changing face of the music industry and provides absorbing and up-to-date case studies.

Whether you're a recording artist, songwriter, music business manager, industry executive, publisher, journalist, media student, accountant or lawyer, this practical and comprehensive guide is indispensable reading.

Fully revised and updated. Includes:

· The current types of record and publishing deals, and what you can expect to see in the contracts

· A guide to making a record, manufacture, distribution, branding, marketing, merchandising, sponsorship, band arrangements and touring

· Information on music streaming, digital downloads and piracy

· The most up-to-date insights on how the COVID-19 crisis has affected marketing

· An in-depth look at copyright law and related rights

· Case studies illustrating key developments and legal jargon explained.

Reviews

The most comprehensive and accessible guide to the workings of the British music industry.

—— Daily Mirror

An invaluable guide to the legal minefield.

—— Guitar Magazine

An indispensable companion for any up-and-coming musician.

—— Future Music

Harrison has cut a magnificent swathe through the legal jungle. Essential.

—— Record Collector

An indispensable companion for any up-and-coming musician

—— Future Music

An invaluable guide to the legal minefield

—— Guitar Magazine

The most comprehensive and accessible guide to the workings of the British music industry

—— Daily Mirror

Eight years ago Nick Shaxson wrote one of the best books about modern finance… Now Shaxson is back, with something bigger to say… forensic accounting analysis, sharp reporting and interviews

—— John Arlidge , Sunday Times

The book’s principle virtue springs from Shaxson’s skill in unpicking the complexity of the system and explaining it in layman’s terms… enlightening

—— Emma Duncan , The Times

A powerful call to arms against a self-serving, over-bearing and growth-sapping global finance system.

—— Stewart Lansley, author of A Sharing Economy and The Cost of Inequality

A vital contribution to the debate on the future of capitalism and a riveting account of how we got where we are

—— Richard Brooks, author of Bean Counters

Nicholas Shaxson’s previous compelling work on tax havens makes him a brand you can trust if you like to purple with indignation at financial impropriety on the largest scale

—— Strong Words

Through Shaxson’s journalistic, investigative and analytical mind, he holds a mirror up to us, exposing big data sets, offshore networks and the hidden extraction engines of private equity and hedge funds. He helps us broaden our minds to the subtle webs and cultural and materialistic engines which undermine liberal principles of freedom, democracy, fairness and equality.

—— Atul K. Shah , London School of Economics

An exceptional book

—— Communist Party of Britain Marxist-Leninist

Bad Buying should be required reading for every buyer who is serious about their career... a manual for professional buyers [and] a fascinating litany of the mistakes that can happen when buyers get it wrong

—— Luke Johnson , The Times

A fascinating litany of the mistakes that can happen when buyers get it wrong

—— Luke Johnson, The Sunday Times

Packed full with amazing examples

—— Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2

Colossal, costly disasters could be averted if those holding the purse strings read this book

—— The Times

An edgy multi-layered mystery with an unforgettable opening and one suspect after another. The goings on in the detectives' private lives were just as fascinating as the main story. The characters were so well-rounded they felt real. I didn't want this story to end.

—— Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver

The shocking opening hooked me in and the twists and turns kept me furiously turning the pages, desperate to know how the story would unfold. Lie Beside Me is a clever and compelling thriller, with a fantastic cast of characters you'll want to spend time with. I loved it

—— Lisa Gray, bestselling author of Thin Air

Superbly plotted and and relentlessly pacy, Lie Beside Me is hands-down her best yet. From its grab-you-by-the-throat opening to its truly shocking conclusion, Lie Beside Me will have you second-guessing everyone and everything. This really is a series going from strength to strength

—— Caz Frear, Richard and Judy bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies

Thrilling

—— My Weekly

Praise for Gytha Lodge

—— :

A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud

—— Val McDermid

An excellent detective novel. The opening scene is superb, and sets up the story beautifully. Gripping, multi-layered and fresh. Terrific

—— Will Dean , author of Dark Pines

An absolute gem - I was hooked from the first page

—— Jo Jakeman , author of Sticks and Stones

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