Million Dollar Mistakes: Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines

by Moses Avalon

Everyone knows the success stories of the music industry – how Michael Jackson's Thriller blew the roof off and how Clive Davis helped orchestrate Carlos Santana's stunning comeback. But now you'll find out about people who were dead wrong. This book details some of the most expensive blunders ever made by artists and by record executives, managers and producers who've worked with stars such as Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, The Beatles, Madonna, Nickelback, Bob Dylan, Dido, The Rolling Stones, and dozens more. From contract and copyright screw-ups to sheer arrogance and lying, this book includes eye-opening revelations the pitfalls of employing a family member • the marketability of suicide • the industry's accepted levels of lies and thievery • and much, much more.

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Emmett Grogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised more people don't know about this book.

Published in 2005, the references are a little dated, but the author still offers some very interesting anecdotes about the perils and pitfalls of being a creative individual, making art as a business. There are many lessons here that would easily translate to the worlds of film-making and book publishing.

It's hilarious to me how much the book focusses on working with producers in the music business, but I guess that's just the author's experience, having had a full career in the industry, before it all fell apart in the digital age.

CONFESSIONS OF A RECORD PRODUCER will probably read like CONFESSIONS OF A CANDLESTICK MAKER, IN THE AGE OF ELECTRICITY but I'm curious enough about the author and the inside information/insights he shares, I plan to track down CONFESSIONS OF A RECORD PRODUCER as a follow-up to MILLION DOLLAR MISTAKES