PANDORA’S Artist Marketing Platform (AMP) is a suite of free, self-serve marketing tools to help artists promote their music and careers. These tools support the artist’s goals of breaking music, connecting with fans, and making more money – both on and off Pandora. The marketing tools on AMP are supplemented by artist data insights and analytics on Next Big Sound. We sat down with Heather Ellis, from Pandora's marketing team, to talk about artists - from how the industry has changed to the tools now available - and why it's never been a better time to be a songwriter. 

The first day into my first job in music publishing, my boss took me aside and said, with earnest, “Give it time, Mandy. It will take many years to master music publishing administration”. How right he was! I’ve been working in music publishing for over a decade now and I’m still learning. The landscape is currently vibrant. There is erosion and evolution.  

The definition of a successful artist or songwriter is evolving. To thrive, you have to learn the business to make informed decisions. We know, perhaps better than most, that the music industry is flooded with acronyms and terms, probably a few hundred too many. Sometimes just adding a word to an existing term can create a whole new definition! As a part of our continued mission to help songwriters and rights holders become better business people through expert resources and explanation of the music business and music publishing industry, we’ve curated a collection of music industry, business, and publishing terms. Below are a few of the top ten commonly used industry terms and their definitions. Check out the Songtrust Glossary for our full list of terms and educate yourself on their definitions.

There is no denying that the more that you know, the more that you are able to grow. Learning on (and off!) the job is essential to developing your working self, regardless of what your job technically is. I am excited to share some tips that I’ve learned through being a vagabond intern, an unemployed graduate, and, currently, the Publishing Coordinator at Songtrust, as well as show you how Songtrust enables you to “know and grow” as a songwriter.

AS A MUSICIAN, Jason takes a wholesome approach, learning from the various business models and opportunities that exist in the music industry for all types of creators. Working with clients at all levels and from so many different countries presents him with the opportunity to learn about how individuals and businesses find success in a very mercurial market. From hitting ‘record’ to managing thousands of copyrights, Jason is dedicated to helping others navigate and enjoy the world of music.

The music industry is full of acronyms - ASCAP, BMI, IP and DSP are just a few. As a songwriter, you probably know about PROs (performance rights organizations) like ASCAP and BMI, but you may not know the terms ISRC or ISWC, or even what they mean – and that these two acronyms can have a major impact on collecting your royalties.  

Like any new entrepreneur, songwriters may experience cash flow problems and look for additional financing to keep the lights on. However, unlike businesses that have inventory to put up as collateral, songwriters have only their intellectual property and the royalties that property can earn. This limits the options from traditional banking sources and requires songwriters to seek out alternative funding that’s available as an advance against royalties or from selling some rights in exchange for quick cash.

 Last month we held our first-ever webinar - Songwriters: Setting Yourself Up For Success - for new songwriters and those songwriters looking to refine their process. Hosted by Songtrust's own Elizabeth McBride, Publishing Specialist, and Adam Schwartz, Client Success Manager, we covered topics from the creative process and how to get yourself organized, to understanding publishing, PROs, and royalties. The turnout was tremendous and we were asked a lot of excellent questions from the community that tuned in.

Hitting the road in support of your latest songs can be an exciting experience. Even so, it's important to remember that touring isn't just a chance to travel and meet your fans, but also a chance to bring in income. Taking care of business before you leave home can be the difference between making money and returning with little or nothing to show for all your hard work. Every experience is different, we get that, so here are just a few things to keep in mind when you’re preparing to go on tour: