How to crash the industry's annual bash

Record Deals

And how they are got. We talk to five recent getters of the said deals, and relay advice and tactics

Discover that this means different things to different people — from free gear for life (perhaps) to a half-price plectrum (maybe)

Everything you wanted to know about A&R men - but only MT dared to ask.

As October is Guitar Month we chat to Hap Kuffner, Vice-President of Steinberger Inc who proffers a few wise words about the current state of the industry

The mouth behind Nik Kershaw opens to Mike Hrano

Level 42's Svengali gets his comeuppance

Chas Chandler unleashes some tales of yore and gives some astoundingly simple tips for would-be managers

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' man winds up the series.

Immaculate Fools' man in a suit is immaculate certainly, but no fool concludes Mike Hrano

Who you are, what you're worth, your chances of success... Geoff Wills analyses the average musician

PRS - The Performing Right Society

The first of an occasional series in which David Mellor takes a look at the organisations that help musicians and composers earn an honest crust in this hard world. This month: the Performing Right Society.

In the third of an occasional series on the professional bodies who look after the interests of musicians and engineers, David Mellor talks to the APRS, the body which represents many of this country's leading recording studios.

The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society

The second of an occasional series in which David Mellor takes a look at the organisations that help musicians and composers earn an honest crust in this hard world. This month: the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.

Greater reliance on hi-tech instruments in the studio means there's more demand for people able to programme them. Paul Gilby spoke first to Karin Clayton about her recently formed agency that supplies programmers for studio sessions, and then to Fairlight programmer Simon Lloyd about his work.

Touring In America

In a real State again

Concluding our series on bass styles, Simon Trask goes ethnic

The Nightcatchers

First of an occasional series on the twilight zone between recording first demos and collecting that first gold disc. Birmingham's Nightcatchers talk to Tim Goodyer about tight budgets and big-name producers.

More controversy and heated discussion on the subject of blank tape levies.

Warp Records

MT's enquiry into the health of the independent label scene continues with a visit to the home of electronic listening music.

Who are the music biz' management, and do you really need them? David Bradwell talks to the people who take care of the stars and their affairs.

Recording your own music is only the first step to getting it heard; to do that, you need to deal with A&R people at record companies. Paul Tingen meets them, and discovers why so few bands succeed in impressing them.

Rivalled only by War and Peace for its length and emotional content, this article by our own Neville Unwin presents both sides of the 'blank tape levy' argument.

Simon Garfield

Fiddlers on the rack