The Business of Music

Thank you to all of our panelists and participants for an amazing weekend. Sign up for the FMC newsletter to get first word on upcoming events and workshops.

Future of Music Coalition (FMC) and the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) present a new workshop focused on the unique needs and challenges of working musicians. Modeled after CCI’s signature Business of Art™ workshop series and FMC’s Artist Revenue Streams research, this two-day workshop on June 21 & 22, 2014 brought working musicians together with industry experts to explain the tools and considerations crucial to entrepreneurial success and independence in today’s music marketplace. Our experts represented all facets of the industry and led participants in learning key business skills to help advance their art, develop ideas, and increase financial independence.

The two-day program covered: 

  • Identifying your income sources and assets, both tangible and intangible;
  • Spending money, including project budgets, creating cost projections, and recordkeeping;
  • Managing projects, including setting income goals, raising funds, and managing cash flows;
  • Business basics, including taxes, organizational structures, and building your team;
  • Sustainability in a changing industry; and
  • Long term financial planning and goal-setting.

With plenty of time for questions, free-flowing discussion, and the exploration of case studies, this program offered a chance for musicians to dig in on what about their business model was working, and what needed to change. What have you learned about managing your money or assets that you would share? What services and tools have been useful? How do you plan in a world where you have very little control?

Confirmed speakers included:

Bryan Calhoun digital media strategist and entrepreneur
Jean Cook co-director, FMC’s Artist Revenue Streams project
Miata Edoga financial coach, the Actors’ Fund and Abundance Bound 
Gordon Grayson Electronic Media Division Administrator, AFM Local 47
Julia Nunes singer-songwriter/composer
Marcy Rauer Wagman attorney, artist manager and label owner

Stefanie Taub Director of Sound Recordings, SAG-AFTRA
Kristin Thomson co-director, FMC’s Artist Revenue Streams project
Heidy Vaquerano attorney and artist manager

Jacob Yoffee composer

The program fee included two days of training and discussion, lunch, and curated reference materials provided in advance of the workshop.
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC)
244 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA, 90012
United States
See map: Google Maps

Dates: Saturday, June 21 and
Sunday, June 22, 2014 

Time: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm each day

Location: Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC)
244 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Cost: $130 regular registration
(ended June 20, 2014)

Enrollment is limited to 30 students.

To enroll in a workshop, you must first become a member of CCI and create a user name and password. CCI membership is free of charge and open to the public.

Cancellation policy: full refund on registration fees up to 48 hours prior to workshop date.
Fees are nonrefundable within 48 hours of event.