Showing Up
What does it take................
Running a music business is not for the faint hearted. Doesn’t matter what kind of Music Artist you are - local covers, premium brand, touring, recording artist - you need to Show Up. And this is where it starts……….
Ownership
Once you find the right people to work with and you agree on a name, its time to establish who owns what.
Name
Band
Brand
Copyright
Trademark
Assets (Promotional Images, Videos, Content and Copy)
Collateral (Music, Lyrics)
Equipment (Instruments, PA, Lighting, Van)
Agreements
Once you have a clear understanding of who owns what, it is time to agree on who DOES what, when, how, why, where, who and for how much. It’s time to set up the agreements that will underpin all your Music Business activity. *** Make sure that you incorporate Income Split and Rights Assignation Agreement in the Band Member Agreement covering all original material composed, produced, recorded and performed.
Band Members
Team Agreements (Agent, Management, Label)
Supplier Agreements: (Photographers, Videographers, Publicists, Social Media Managers, Web Masters)
ABN and GST
Shop around and find a good Accountant who understands the Music Industry. Get the best advice for the right Legal Entity and GST registration status that fits in with the long term vision for the band as well as the individual band members and their own personal finances. *** Make sure that you apply for the Tax File Number for your Legal Entity at the same time as the ABN
Register for the Following:
Sole Trader sub-contracting other Sole Traders
Limited Liability Partnership
Company
Trust
Not For Profit/Foundation
To ensure you can manage and protect your business, you need to register for the following (not limited to)
Auskey
Business Name
Copyright
Trademark
MEAA or Music Union
APRA AMCOS
Peak Body in your State like Q Music
Regulations, Codes and Licences
Check what Regulations, Codes and Licenses you may need to comply with or obtain by doing a search on ABLIS things like:
Australian Privacy Policy Principles – to manage your Database
Busker Permit – for any council that you want to work with
Commercial Parking Permit – for using Loading Zones when loading equipment into a venue
Commercial Music Activities in a Mall Permit
Amplified Music Venue Permit Approval - if you self promote any shows
Australian Consumer Law
Children and Young Workers Code of Practice (Blue Card) 2006
Commercial Copyright Access Licence
First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2014
Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2011
Home Based Business Approval
Workplace Health and Safety Code of Practice 2011
Noise Management Code of Practice 2011
Risk Management Code of Practice 2013
Sound Recording Reproduction Licence Agreement (ARIA)
Image courtesy of Wave Break Media
Money
Open your Bank Account in the name of the ABN
Create your Budget
Set up your Financial Management System
Set up your Invoices
Nominate a Book Keeper to manage your Books
Workplace, Health and Safety
Based on the legal structure of the band PLUS the agreement that you have each struck, the Safety Obligations of your band will need to be established:
Public Liability Certificate of Currency - Band and/or Individual - which one gets sued?
Leads Tagged every 6 Months - Band and Individual
Work Cover - Band or Individual - based on your Band Agreement and Structure
Personal Injury Insurance
Branding and Marketing
Reserve, Install, Activate, Manage, Strategize and Roadmap your Brand and Marketing Systems: (check out our many blogs for guidance and direction)
Logo
Style Guide
Official Band Photograph
Band Images
Videos
Content
Campaigns
Copy
Hashtags
Domain
Google Identity
Social Media Domains
Website
Mailing List Management Dashboard
Social Media Management Dashboard
Cloud Asset Management Headquarters
Set up your Music Business Management Systems
This is where you establish your advances, activations, delivery, management, development, strategy and planning of your Musoverse.
Brand
Show
Team
Assets
Influence
Offer
Value
Legal Advice
This band will earn you good income if you set it up well. It could also be a money pit if you don’t seek the right advice and protect your asset. A credible lawyer and accountant at the very least. A Trade Mark expert. A Business consultant. A Marketing guru.
Dig the foundation to your band house as deep as possible.
Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2024
