Guidebook to self-Releasing your music: Resources

This is the webpage with supporting resources for my Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music. If you’ve managed to stumble onto this page and don’t yet have the book then head to The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music page to pick up your physical or digital copy.

The resources are divided up by the chapter they refer to so you can easily navigate to the part you are reading.

I’ve created a playlist on Apple Music for all of the music I mention during the book. You can listen to it here: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/the-guidebook-to-self-releasing-your-music-resources/pl.u-9N9LeVdCx2Kb2k

You will understand why I am not sharing a Spotify playlist once you have read the ‘Industry Thoughts’ section of the book.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Spotify and/or Apple Music or wherever else you get your music from.

Chapter One: Introduction

Workbook download: coming soon in early 2024 when general book release is live.

Chapter Two: Choosing the best people

www.musiciansunion.org.uk: if you are a member of the Musicians’ Union you get access to a searchable member directory. Join the Musicians’ Union, they are an excellent and supportive organisation to be part of.

The Approved Contractor (fixer) List can be accessed here https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/recording-and-broadcasting/working-as-a-recording-session-musician/contractors-fixers/mu-approved-contractors-fixers

Chapter Three:budgeting

Budget Template: make a copy of the budget template and save it to your own Google Drive. Then you can use it as the basis for your own budgets. Make sure to update the figures to reflect the costs you have been quoted. Costs may have changed since the creation of the budget. Access it here.

Recording / Live Session Rates: the page with the most up to date session rates from the Musicians Union: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/recording-and-broadcasting/recording-agreements-rates-of-pay-and-consent-forms/bpi-agreement-and-consent-forms

MU / BPI Session Agreement: direct download. Also can be accessed at above Recording / Live Session Rates link https://musiciansunion.org.uk/MusiciansUnion/media/resource/Rates%20and%20agreements/Recording/BPI-MU-Agreement-2019.pdf?ext=.pdf

Chapter Four: funding and earned income

List of aggregators / digital distributors in no particular order

List of major funders in no particular order. This list is not exhaustive.

Creative Scotland: all genre
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: all genre
Arts Council England: all genre
Arts Council Wales: all genre
PRS Foundation: all genre. They have specific funds that focus on specific genre. Make sure you apply to the right one. Some funds are also supported by the Arts Councils so if you are applying to an Arts Council / Creative Scotland make sure you aren’t applying to a PRSF one funded by them or you are at risk of double funding.
Help Musicians: all genre. They have different funds for different parts of your activity. There is some cross over.
Hope Scott Trust: mainly classical music in Scotland
Vaughan Williams Foundation: only classical music
Hinrichsen Foundation: only classical music

Director for Grant Making Trusts and Funds: this is a link to the most up to date version. Check out new, used and older copies for cheaper options but with similar information.

Entangled: my 2019 album of string quartet music.

Musicians Union & Ivors Academy application check service. You need to be a member of the relevant organisation to use this service. Once you join the service is free. The MU and Ivors have a joint membership.

Chapter Five – recording venues

Chapter Six – prep

My *Quartet No. 4* (*Entangled)* markup page in higher quality

Timothy Cooper’s *The Narrow Way* in full colour.

A great guide from Shure on Microphone Pickup Patterns https://www.shure.com/en-EU/performance-production/louder/microphone-directionality-polar-pattern-basics

Below are a few documentation photos from over the years of recording sessions I’ve been involved in. The photos are of varying qualities but all are good to be posted on social media.