Are They A Good Mix?

mixing the pop world's most powerful cocktail: should your music have a message?

what exactly do promoters do, and are they worth the money?

In depth question and answer session on the musician's worst nightmare.

Chris Denning, former Radio 1 DJ, tells you how to go about presenting a demo to record companies and what pitfalls to avoid.

"There's No Need to Read the Small Print so Just Sign Here, Ok?"

the ins and outs of music-biz contracts

Who's making the cash out of record sales - the artist, the record company, the management, the record shops? David Bradwell investigates record royalties.

the average album costs over six quid: where does it go, and why?

Third party, fire and theft, mad fans and crashed vans... Phil Walsh looks into insurance for musicians

What happens when you start making money from music? Just before you buy the Porsche? You see an accountant, OK?

A European music co-operative explained by Henry Cow/Art Bears percussionist Chris Cutler.

The first of our new series on the very live issue of sampling, taking all the technicalities into account. Dom Foulsham begins with an examination of the law as it currently effects all involved. An indispensable guide, if you're concerned about clearance and want to avoid that nasty little rubber glove

Songwriters's Special

Lorna Read Explains 'How To Sell Your Songs'

Sessionmen Special

Behind the scenes stuff with ace players Ian Lynn (keyboards) and Dave Mattacks (drums).

who does it where to whom and with what

Label Owner.

Jim Betteridge on how to sign yourself up

How To Copyright

Why Bands Break Up

A unique Making Music survey; plus a quiz to find out if you're the splitting type.

Dave Stewart On Going It Alone In The Music Biz

The major record company route is not the only one to musical success. Dave Stewart has successfully avoided the majors and still manages to make a good living from his home-produced music. Here, he charts his musical history.

Dan Goldstein sifts through the stack of independent vinyl that landed in the E&MM offices following our appeal, and finds each record has a different tale to tell.

Time to Play

Nottingham's Time Recording give an independent label's-eye view from the front line of dance music. Simon Trask checks his Swatch...

Riff Raff, FON

In Part 1 of a series on independent labels, MT looks at the case histories of Fon and Riff Raff to discover just what it takes to get going and avoid the pitfalls

Negotiating a record contract

Don’t sign a thing until you’ve read this