MusicRadar

Donald Passman says you can still make money in the music business - if you know the facts

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Still, 360 deals are now the norm? Even if you're an act out of Bumfuck, Iowa?

"Absolutely. Labels are taking an enormous risk by signing you, and they want to do everything they can to reduce that risk. Owning as much of you as they can is a way to get some sort of return on their investment, particularly nowadays when the business is distressed."

'Distressed' - that's another way of saying 'shrinking'?

"Well, it's shrinking as far as the old way of doing things. But there's other avenues now, such as digital streaming and downloads."

Has the industry come close to a final model for streaming and downloads?

"They're getting close, but then that final model won't be final. The music business is always evolving. But yes, the general parameters are there. If it's streaming, there's going to percentages going to the labels and publishers of the ad revenues or subscription monies, sometimes with minimums, whether it's per-stream or sometimes if's there's a minimum based on the company."

Even so, the Internet can feel like the Wild West at times. Bands - new and established - are offering tracks for free, for twenty-five cents; groups are streaming albums for free before they're released.

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