One of the ways I stay in touch with how the Music Industry operates is by doing something that is, from the responses I have gotten upon suggesting this to other people, a nasty, filthy thing: I READ!!!

I read constantly. This habit, acquired when I was a child, enabled me later in life to become an honor roll student at Wayne State University in Detroit. I was able to breeze through college, finishing a 4 year course of study in only 2 years because I had already acquired study habits which proved to be highly beneficial in my college work: reading about the subject or topic discussed in class until I knew it intimately.

I read music books the same way, trying to find something new in them that I did not know before. Even if I feel I know a subject—for example, publishing—I will still read more books on the subject simply to see if a concept or idea is explained in another way, thus increasing my comprehension on the matter even more.

When I try and explain this simple concept to people who initially ask for my help, they look at me with an expression that says “you gotta be kidding”. My wife is one of those folks. When she was going back to school to get her Master’s degree, she had to take numerous history classes to fulfill the graduation requirement. She said she has always thought history was an incredibly dry, dull, and boring topic, one where it seems that the books talk about nothing else than wars, long-dead politicians and rulers, and dates to be forgotten.

I, on the other hand, have always had a fascination with history thanks to a remarkable 3rd grade teacher at Chaney elementary school in Detroit (thank you Mr. George Hawkins!). Mr. Hawkins was my band teacher, yet he was a Civil War buff and would sometimes speak before the class about some new fact or topic he had discovered or read about as it concerned American history. Mr. Hawkins’ obvious passion and earnestness for the subject made the topic crackle with energy so much so that many students like myself could not wait to run to the library and read more about it. This is when I realized the true power of reading, for no matter how complex the history subject was, there were several books on it that made the topic more understandable. With my wife, I tried to explain this approach to her—to read more than one explanation or description of the subject—but she looked at me amazed that I was trying to get her read MANY books on a topic when she could barely stand to read the ONE assigned!

With music business, the same method applies: read, read, READ!!

Over the last decade or so, many well-written books on the subject of the Music Industry have been published, many of which are part of my personal library. What follows is just a sampling of the books I highly recommend, along with a short synopsis on why these books should be in the possession of anyone who takes their craft, art, and business of Music Production seriously.

**CONFESSIONS OF A RECORD PRODUCER

**SECRETS OF NEGOTIATNG A RECORD CONTRACT

(Backbeat Books)

Both of these books are by Moses Avalon, the pseudonym this engineer and producer uses as he talks about personal experiences, industry secrets, and anecdotes in the music business. These books blend humor, tales of professional mischief, actual legal documents such as contracts and production orders, to tell a riveting account of how the music business ACTUALLY operates and not just how it should. I often challenge my students to TRY and put one of Avalon’s books down when they pick it up, for They are just that compelling and informative.

**DANCING IN THE STREET: MOTOWN AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF DETROIT- (Harvard Books)--SUZANNE E. SMITH

Smith, an Assistant Professor of History at George Mason University, does an outstanding job in researching the social, cultural, and political landscape of 1920's, 30's, and 40's Detroit and how they impacted the rise of Motown records. Not only is the origin of Motown carefully dissected and analyzed, but Smith provides a closer look of some of the lesser-known record labels, musicians, businessmen, and political figures who contributed to the music emanating from Detroit's neighborhoods. This book is a must for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Motown.

**HIT MEN--(Vintage Books)--Fredric Dannen

The record distribution system of the late 50's and 60's comes under scrutiny in Dannen's book. The reader is taken inside the politics of early radio and how organized crime dominated labels both small and large. Also discussed is the "payola" scandal which saw many radio DJs indicted by the federal government for taking bribes to play records. Dannen also gives colorful accounts of the many executives who dominated the major labels including Clive Davis, Walter Yetnikoff, Goddard Lieberson, Neil Bogart, Irving Azoff, and others.

**THE VIBE HISTORY OF HIP-HOP--(Editors of VIBE) M

Many people who love rap music know little of the historical antecedents of this artform, such as its origins in African communities in the Carribean.Many also do not realize that Rap is just ONE expression of Hip-Hop(Breakdancing, Graffiti art, and Fashion styles are some of the others). A definite read for those who want to take Hip-Hop to the "next level

**FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM--THE HISTORY OF THE NEGRO IN AMERICA--John Hope Franklin

Although this is not a book that deals with music, I include this book to show to today's "gangsta" rappers that there is a rich and vibrant history of the Black community and that there should no longer be a need to put forth negative, degrading images of our people as entertainment.The need to act like modern-day minstrels should come to an end. Rappers in search of stories to rap about should read history books like Franklin's and develop a greater sense of the responsibility they have to tell the tales of forgotten heroes like Fannie Lou Hamer, Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosser, and many others.

Again, this is just a few of the many books which make up my personal music business library. I encourage everyone reading this to make it a habit to purchase at least ONE book on the muisc industry each month. I encourage my readers to then take that book and read it as if their career depends upon it.