Everything you've ever heard about the music business is true. It's a world where the rewards can be enormous, but the risks even greater. The key to success is knowing how the business works so you can protect yourself - since no one will take as good care of your career as you.

That's where Donald S. Passman comes in. Because if you want the best advice, it pays to turn to the best in the business. His star-spangled list of clients shows that his advice is the best that money can buy. Now, from one of the music industry's most sought-after lawyers, here is a savvy insider's guide to every legal and financial facet of the business.

Whether you want a career as a performer, writer, executive, or professional, or whether you are just curious about the fascinating, multibillion-dollar music industry, you will benefit enormously from this comprehensive, easy-to-read overview of the entire business.

Drawing on his unique professional experience and expertise, as well as many humorous and illustrative anecdotes, Passman gives you the music business from the ground up.

You'll learn how to select and hire a winning team of advisors that will protect you and maximize your success - personal and business managers, agents, and attorneys - and how to structure their commissions, percentages, and fees; master the big picture and the finer points of record deals, including demos, compact discs, and music videos; understand the ins and outs of song-writing, music publishing, royalties, advances, and copyrights; and maximize concert, touring, and merchandising deals.

Additionally, new topics covered in this revised, expanded, and fully updated edition of his classic book include how to secure the rights to your band's name - and how to find out if someone else is using it, the multimillion dollar mega deals, new developments regarding sampling, how a company called SoundScan is changing the music business, and the 1992 Audio Home Recording Act, which taxes digital tapes and recorders.

The music industry can be a gold mine, a mine field, or both, but with a small investment of time in learning the business, you can reap huge benefits. Donald S. Passman gives you the confidence and know-how you need to negotiate your way past the pitfalls and build a solid professional reputation and career. Fresh, practical, and full of insights, All You Need to Know About the Music Business can help put you on the inside track to success.