The music business has changed dramatically since The Unsigned Guide was first published in 2003.

Heralding the importance of the new D.I.Y. scene and the need to be ever more creative whilst being business-like in the new music industry, The Unsigned Guide has launched some new, free features to its website www.theunsignedguide.com to help empower bands and musicians and present a clearer picture of exactly what’s going on and how things are changing in the UK music industry.

These new features include a D.I.Y. music industry news service with RSS feeds at www.theunsignedguide.com/news plus music industry blogs and an exclusive new offering called The Survival Guide – most neatly described as voucher codes for the music industry.

The Unsigned Guide has numerous offers available at www.theunsignedguide.com/survival specifically for emerging bands and musicians from all over the UK. Current offers include discounted recording sessions, cut price band photography, free online shop setups, discounted t-shirt printing and cheap CD duplication rates. New offers are added every week and the service is free of charge to everyone.

Any companies wishing to add a product or service should simply call 0161 233 1885 and speak to Louise Dodgson. Alternatively, email survival@theunsignedguide.com.

The current edition of The Unsigned Guide (2009) contains a jaw-dropping 864 full-colour pages of music industry contacts, industry reports, practical advice and hints & tips on all aspects of music from live performance (including venues & promoters), record companies, music publishers, UK festivals, producers, recording, management companies and much more, with 33 sections in all.

Visit www.theunsignedguide.com/contents to browse the full edition contents.

The Unsigned Guide 2009 UK Edition also comes with a 100% money back guarantee and if you order now you’ll save £10 (offer price £29.99) and get free delivery to any UK address (saving another £6.25!).

THE UNSIGNED GUIDE ONLINE – FREE BETA VERSION NOW AVAILABLE!

Plus, when you buy the latest edition of The Unsigned Guide, you’ll also get free access to the new online database, which is being Beta tested as we speak. The online service allows you to view the entire contents of your directory online, and also has some impressive search facilities built-in.

For example, you can filter the whole of The Unsigned Guide by your nearest city. Simply select from 130 key towns and cities and then filter, and you’ve got (for example) The Unsigned Guide Leeds, The Unsigned Guide Manchester, The Unsigned Guide London, The Unsigned Guide Glasgow…and because The Unsigned Guide extensively covers England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales you’ll always find a city near you! You can now also search by preferred genre in sections including Record Companies, Publishing Companies and Management Companies.

Find all the current music news, blogs, Survival Guide offers, discounts and details of The Unsigned Guide Online beta version.

I’ve been reading books since I was little, but back then, the plots weren’t so hot. I mean, let’s go with ‘The Cat Sat on the Mat’ or the old favourite, ‘Fun with Dick & Jane’.

As I grew, so did my understanding and humour. Now I enjoy reading about all sorts of things. Sci-fi, thrillers, murders. It’s all good. I even get a kick out of some of Dickens books. But this book ‘Kill Your Friends’, man!

‘Kill Your Friends’ is one of those books you really do find yourself laughing out loud to. You laugh at its honesty about the music business – which the book is based on the British music industry in the late 90’s. You find yourself laughing at the nasty things the main character gets up to in order to keep his drug fueled job going.

I know you always hear people saying “You’ve gotta see this movie” or “hey, you really must visit India, man”, but I’m telling you if you’re involved in the music business or not – especially if you’re just picking up a guitar for the first time and thinking “I want to be in a band and get paid for tooling around all day” – READ THIS BOOK! It is the Gospel. It takes a lot to get me out of the pram these days. But I couldn’t put this book down. It was written in a way like you were watching it at the movies (and I can guarantee this will be a movie in the next couple of years).

So I say well done John Niven and thank you for giving me one of the best reads ever!

This book is funny, tragic and educational. Miss it and you will have missed out.

Kill Your Friends on amazon.co.uk

Kill Your Friends on amazon.com

By: Dave Tommo

A successful live music promotions company, which has worked with some of the best breaking artists in today’s music industry (such as Scouting for Girls, Dirty Pretty Things and Guillemots) has teamed up with the national enterprise campaign Make Your Mark to offer aspiring young music promoters across the UK the chance of a lifetime.

Curious Generation is offering the opportunity to help support people aged between 18 and 30 who are passionate about boosting the live music scene in their local area and have a genuine interest in running regular events. Curious Generation will provide credibility, expertise, advice and some financial support for young promoters who can source the best acts on a local and national level, promote and manage regular live music events and oversee technical details. In return the young promoter will receive a percentage of the profit share and can gain valuable industry experience and contacts, in addition to their normal work or study.

The opportunity applies to any live music from pop to classical and Curious Generation co-founders Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt are especially keen to hear from people who want to get into the music promotions business but do not know how to go about it, need support or do not necessarily fit what they think is the stereotype.

Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt

Alex Martin, said: “This is a great way for young people with a passion for live music to get involved with the music industry. The promoter’s job requires brilliant contacts, from agents and music labels to management and press. This is a unique chance to build up those contacts and get established in the business with a bit of support from us. So if this sounds like something you would be interested in, we want to hear from you!”

Hannah Bourne from Make Your Mark, said: “The music industry is calling out for enterprising types to come up with fresh ideas. This is a very special opportunity for young people to get a foothold in the music business and be entrepreneurial while doing something they love. What better way to make money than promoting gigs and liaising with the hottest acts and venues?”

Paul Latham, President, UK Music and Venues at Live Nation, said: “This is an exciting time to be involved in live music. With income streams dwindling from recording contracts there has never been more demand from artists to tour. Therein lies the conundrum for any aspiring, or indeed established, promoter; how to deliver the artists aspirations both technically and financially.

“Talent is not just what appears on the stage, there is also an art to understanding and developing the potential for those performers. I look forward to seeing the progress of those who take part in Make Your Mark in the Music Business.”

Young people who are interested can apply either individually or as a group via:

Make Your Mark In Music (www.makeyourmarkinmusic.org), which also includes a host of hints and tips about how to get into the music business.

Make Your Mark is the national campaign to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential. It aims to inspire people to have ideas and make them happen, especially those with untapped potential. The not-for-profit campaign is backed by an unprecedented coalition of businesses, charities, education bodies and government.

It was founded by the four leading UK business membership organisations – the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. Their Director Generals sit on Make Your Mark’s board. It is also supported by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and is endorsed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

National organisations working closely with the campaign include:

Arts Council England; Association of Colleges; Black Training and Enterprise Group; Business in the Community; Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Department for Children, Schools and Families; Enterprise Education Trust; Learning and Skills Council; National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship; National Education Business Partnership Network; National Federation of Enterprise Agencies; Prowess; Quality Improvement Agency; Scottish Government; South-East England Development Agency (representing Regional Development Agencies); Shell LiveWIRE; Social Enterprise Coalition; Specialist Schools and Academies Trust; The Prince’s Trust; UnLtd; Young Enterprise

Make Your Mark (www.makeyourmark.org.uk)

Curious Generation is a live music promotions company, with experience of running 30-35 events per month in venues ranging from 100-1000 people; these events are a mixture of residencies, club nights and headline shows in London, across the UK and abroad.

Co-founders Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt are ambassadors for the Make Your Mark in the Music Business campaign. Artists that Curious Generation have worked with include: Dirty Pretty Things, Akala, Guillemots, Captain, The Hours, Scott Matthews, Sophie Solomon, The Upper Room, lethal Bizzle, Cold War Kids, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, Scouting for girls, the noisettes, Infadels, The Young Knives, Art Brut and the Holloways. In addition to working with all levels of artist, Curious Generation remains committed to its original ethos – to help source, develop and work with the most exciting cutting edge bands, artists and DJ’s.

Curious Generation (www.curiousgeneration.com)

I wonder if there are kids still selling papers on street corners yelling out the headlines over and over to passersby. If they still exist that’s what they will be yelling this Sunday in England.

If you haven’t already heard the news, Prince will be giving away his new ‘Planet Earth’ CD in the Mail on Sunday. That’s this Sunday (July 15th 2007) mind you. There’s been so much talk about this free CD that every Sunday for the last month or so, I’ve been stealing cheeky glances at the papers to see if the Prince CD has been packaged yet.

Actually the hype has reached its peak this week and now the story has been all over the major TV news channels. I admit – the hype has worked it’s magic and I will be taking a trip to my local Londis early Sunday morning to buy my copy of the Mail on Sunday.

The negativity surrounding Prince’s decision to give away his CD for free in what the Mail on Sunday calls “The World’s Greatest Newspaper Giveaway Ever”, has created what I would call an interesting intentional or unintentional publicity stunt.

There have been many stories and articles mentioning that Sony BMG in the UK is so upset with this move that they have “refused to handle the release”.

Music retailers in the UK are upset with the concept of giving away CDs for free in the paper, that this devalues music. Virgin is angry with HMV for deciding to stock the papers in their stores this Sunday.

This is certainly interesting dinner table conversation for music industry types. Going over the pros and cons of the move. Prince apparently wants to reach as many people as possible with his music – so at least his fans are happy.

(Update: I’ve listened to the CD – Read my review of Planet Earth!)

Watch Prince “Guitar” video preview:

Buy: Prince – Planet Earth on amazon.com.

Prince will be playing his 21-date “The Earth Tour” at the new O2 Arena in London beginning August 1st 2007. Apparently a copy of ‘Planet Earth’ will be included with each ticket sold for the O2 Arena dates.

Prince: The Earth Tour dates at the O2 Arena are as follows:

Dates could be added or changed! For the latest tour dates and information go to Prince’s Official Website.

August 2007 – Wednesday 1st, Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th, Tuesday 7th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Tuesday 14th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Tuesday 28th, Friday 31st.

September 2007 – Saturday 1st, Thursday 6th, Sunday 9th, Wednesday 12th, Thursday 13th, Sunday 16th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st.

The O2 Arena

Mail on Sunday

Prince Official Website – 3121.com

Prince on Myspace

By: Jenny May

“The music industry is moving faster than it ever has before,” Eric was quoted in MIDEM ‘The News’ magazine. “You now need to innovate on a continuous basis, and not all music industry professionals are wired to do that. Music has been at the forefront of having to respond to the challenges posed by technological change. It’s like a game of chess: you always need to be two steps ahead.”

MusicDish will also be hosting a ‘10th Anniversary’ showcase as part of the NewMusicWest festival, following the first in a series that was held at Canadian Music Week 2007 in March. NewMusicWest is the largest and most influential new music festival on the West Coast, attracting businesses and individuals from all over North America. NMW showcases 200 bands, in 25 venues over 5 nights and invites the public and the music industry to attend.

About The Workshop
There is broad consensus that progressive digitization of the music industry, from the studio to the retail product and finally the marketplace itself, is transforming the way music is produced, packaged and distributed. At the same time, digitization is changing traditional media markets. With the explosion in new distribution platforms, from satellite radio to MySpace, consumers are enjoying greater flexibility, choice and control over music products, a process that started with the 8-Track and has culminated in peer-to-peer file sharing and the iPod.

But there is much less consensus with regard to how the industry must react and transform in response to these market changes, in part because technological changes are challenging the industry’s fundamental approach to marketing and selling music. For example, the shift from broadcast platforms (radio/TV) to digital platforms, such as social network sites, has fundamentally changed the flow of communication between music providers and music consumers. What once was a one-to-many, unidirectional monologue controlled by music providers has transformed into a to many-to-many, multidirectional conversation between music providers and music consumers as well as between music consumers, and no one appears to have much control.

The workshop will go beyond a synthesis of the market changes created by digitization to a discussion about how labels, artists and others in the music industry must now approach marketing and selling music during a dramatic market transition. Concrete and practical strategies on how to tackle some of the important choices facing today’s music industry decision maker will be presented. As such, the workshop is meant to provide a framework for decision makers considering how to internally innovate to succeed.

For more information on MusicDish at New Music West 2007, visit http://www.musicdish.net/nmw/