HAMMERHEAD BLOG

2019 was a landmark year for independent music on multiple fronts, and while there have been no shortage of intriguing trends to follow in the last twelve months, certain movements – surreal pop, the reprisal of melodic hip-hop and self-aware country music among them – were simply impossible to ignore. …

I recently attended a SWSW Music and Media Conference in Austin Texas. The first day I was there I witnessed a punk band walk over to give a Top Music Executive one of their latest CD’s following a hot live performance. Everything was going fine until she turned the CD …

So we’re not talking about PRO as in “music professional”. The PRO we’re going to look at in this installment is an acronym for Performance Rights Organization.  A PRO is one of several organizations that are highly beneficial to producers, songwriters and musicians and if you’re a studio owner or operator, …

For new bands, artists, writers the music business will probably not be a lucrative venture at first. It’s so true that you have to start somewhere, and you must prove yourself on a smaller scale before you can do it on a larger scale. It can also be said that …

Any band or artist that’s either paid their dues, or spent time on the Front Lines knows how much work is involved in becoming a paid professional. Logistically it can be way to much for a band to handle, and it’s easy to get in way over your head. If …

I might add 99% percent of the time a non-payment issue is due to the band screwing up. True local club owners, bookers, etc. tend to be hardnosed but they are always fair, and when they are right they usually dig I their heels. Below are a few of the legitimate …

Sure being a roadie is the toughest job in the Music Business, but keep you head up, you just might be a Rock Star one day. –        David Gilmour was a roadie for Pink Floyd before Nick Mason asked him if he would be interested in joining the band as …

Many years ago I went and saw a popular local band play at a small club in downtown Seattle then called the OFF RAMP now called the GRACELAND. I convinced a prominent label representative who was in town at the time for a local Music Festival to come out and check out the band. I …

So you’ve arrived at the set, set up and performed a blinding gig to a lively and appreciative crowd. All that remains is packing up equipment and collecting your fee right? Guess again. Over the years I’ve seen many bands fail to do the following immediately after a show. You …

Below are just a few hints and reminders for anyone aiming to get their own gigs by telephone or “cold calling.” For most new bands don’t forget you have to start somewhere – so this article mostly applies to you. –        Make a top to bottom venue listing within your locale and adjacent regions. –        …