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The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music

(12 customer reviews)

£10.00£15.00

Want to release your own music?

This book is a must-have resource for anyone looking to release their music–equally valuable for first timers as well as for seasoned experts who want the latest information on industry developments.

“highly recommended” – Sound on Sound

Matthew Whiteside empowers musicians to take control of their careers. With humor and encouragement, he dives deep into the world of self-releasing music. Drawing from his 10 years of experience as a DIY composer, running a record label and promoting his own work, he unveils the potential benefits and pitfalls musicians can expect on the exciting, yet challenging, journey of self-releasing their music.

“essential reading” – Journal of British Flute Society

The book covers:

  • Master Self-Releasing Your Music: Gain the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your music, from recording tips to digital distribution and streaming success.
  • Learn How to Earn From Your Art: Make sure you understand and are getting what you are owed from all royalty streams, as a performer (PPL), composer (PRS/MCPS) and record label (PPL), how they are paid, how the money is generated and how long you might have to wait to get them. .
  • Learn to Budget: Understand how much everything and everyone costs to record an album, getting your music out there, how much you can earn and from where to source funding.
  • The Power of Advertising and Analytics: Discover how to leverage digital tools and platforms to maximise your self-release campaign, build a following and understand who your audience is and where they are.
  • Craft Your Brand Identity: Learn how to develop a powerful artist brand that resonates with your audience and fuels your marketing efforts.

Order your copy of The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music now. Free UK postage or digital download.

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Press Reviews

The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music is a must-have resource for anyone looking to release their music–equally valuable for first timers as well as for seasoned experts who want the latest information on technology and industry developments. Matthew Whiteside focuses on the areas that musicians can manage themselves, and highlights–with humour and encouragement–the potential benefits and pitfalls along the way.

“This is essential reading for anyone starting out as a self-employed musician, and a fabulous resource for those interested in self-releasing recordings.”

– Carla Rees, Pan, The Journal of the British Flute Society

“Matthew doesn’t pull any punches in describing just how much hard work, organisation and commitment is involved in making a professional and successful job of self‑releasing, but in explaining the processes so clearly he makes it all seem more feasible than daunting. If self‑releasing is on your list of things to do, Matthew’s book is very highly recommended.”

– Phil Ward, Sound on Sound (July 2024)

“A roadmap offering clear and actionable advice for artists starting out on a path of bringing music to the world. The author, a musician himself, demystifies the process, covering aspects such as recording techniques, the streaming landscape, understanding royalties, and carrying out effective promotional campaigns.”

Matt Butler, Producer/Sound Engineer

 

“A one-stop guide to support a musician of any genre, at any stage of their career, in recording and releasing their music from start to finish…Conservatoire education never touched on half of the topics covered in ‘The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music’.”

Iona Fyfe, Folksinger

“An essential resource for anyone who wants their music to be heard. The author’s expertise and passion for empowering others shines through every chapter…A wealth of information on every stage of the self-releasing journey, supplemented by links to resources on the author’s website. The analysis of the issues surrounding streaming royalties are as clear-eyed, intelligent, and honest as any discussion of this topic I have seen.”

Stuart MacRae, Composer

 

“A comprehensive guide…written in a warm, knowledgeable way that speaks from experience. The author covers the importance of creating a ‘brand’ from both an artistic and business perspective– something that few creatives have a grip on.”

Scanner / Robin Rimbaud, Electronic Musician

Chapter Headings

  • Chapter 1 – How to use this book
  • Chapter 2 – Choosing the best people
  • Chapter 3 – Budgeting
  • Chapter 4 – Funding and Earned Income
  • Chapter 5 – Choosing the best place to record
  • Chapter 6 – Preparing for the recording session
  • Chapter 7 – Postproduction
  • Chapter 8 – Understanding your rights
  • Chapter 9 – Registrations, licences, and codes
  • Chapter 10 – Choosing a distributor
  • Chapter 11 – Design, branding, and printing
  • Chapter 12 – Public relations
  • Chapter 13 – Marketing and advertising
  • Chapter 14 – Using social media to promote your music
  • Chapter 15 – Synchronisation
    • Industry Thoughts
  • Chapter 16 – The ethics of streaming
  • Chapter 17 – The Long Tail
  • Chapter 18 – Record companies as investors and royalty-earners

Other Info

Paperback £15: ISBN 978-1-7384581-0-3

Ebook £10: ISBN 978-1-7384581-1-0

Sales will be charged in GBP. Non-GBP pricing for guidance.

You may be liable to import tax payable on receipt.

Orders placed directly through my website are usually shipped within five days.

The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music is available to order directly from the author and also available to order from Amazon, Waterstones, Apple Books and others.

The book is printed by Ingram Spark and distributed to resellers on my behalf. Trade and bulk discounts available.

About the Author

Matthew Whiteside is a composer and Artistic Director of The Night With… concerts based in Glasgow. He was one of The List’s Hot 100 for 2019 and in 2020 was named ‘One to Watch Classical’ by The Scotsman. He won the Scottish Music Industry Award for Creative Programming at the Scottish Awards for New Music for the 2019 season of The Night With…, and in 2021 won the Award for the Recording of New Music sponsored by VoxCarynx for his work on The Night With… Live Vol. One.

His 2019 album Entangled, featuring three string quartets with electronic interludes, was described as “effective and unsettling” by BBC Music Magazine and as “post-minimal bold sparseness” by The HeraldArcana.fm said, “It is refreshing to encounter a composer making albums with new classical music in this way, for when used imaginatively the format still has much to give”.

Other works include Night Thoughts, commissioned by Crash Ensemble for New Music Dublin and shortlisted in the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music; the short opera, Little Black Lies, commissioned by Scottish Opera Connect, with libretto by Helene Grøn; Quartet No. 4 (Entangled), commissioned by the Institute of Physics for the Northern Ireland Science Festival; This Too Shall Pass, for Juice Vocal Ensemble; and Ground, Air, Life, commissioned by the Glasgow Barons.

Matthew also regularly lectures on music, composition, sound design, and the music industry as a whole. His focus is on promoting a DIY mentality within the art.

Along with his concert compositions, he composed the music for Michael Palin’s Quest for Artemisia, broadcast on BBC 4, and has scored two feature films (Anna Unbound and The Loudest Sound) along with numerous shorts. His music was also used in Citizens Theatre production, The Macbeths.

Matthew is also an avid Scuba diver who frequently shares his underwater experiences on social media.

Find out more https://www.matthewwhiteside.co.uk/

Press Reviews

The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music is a must-have resource for anyone looking to release their music–equally valuable for first timers as well as for seasoned experts who want the latest information on technology and industry developments. Matthew Whiteside focuses on the areas that musicians can manage themselves, and highlights–with humour and encouragement–the potential benefits and pitfalls along the way. Through the book he shares his experiences gained through setting up a record label, TNW Music, and recording and releasing his own music over the last 10 years.

“This is essential reading for anyone starting out as a self-employed musician, and a fabulous resource for those interested in self-releasing recordings.”

– Carla Rees, Pan, The Journal of the British Flute Society

 

“A roadmap offering clear and actionable advice for artists starting out on a path of bringing music to the world. The author, a musician himself, demystifies the process, covering aspects such as recording techniques, the streaming landscape, understanding royalties, and carrying out effective promotional campaigns.”

Matt Butler, Producer/Sound Engineer

 

“A one-stop guide to support a musician of any genre, at any stage of their career, in recording and releasing their music from start to finish…Conservatoire education never touched on half of the topics covered in ‘The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music’.”

Iona Fyfe, Folksinger

“An essential resource for anyone who wants their music to be heard. The author’s expertise and passion for empowering others shines through every chapter…A wealth of information on every stage of the self-releasing journey, supplemented by links to resources on the author’s website. The analysis of the issues surrounding streaming royalties are as clear-eyed, intelligent, and honest as any discussion of this topic I have seen.”

Stuart MacRae, Composer

 

“A comprehensive guide…written in a warm, knowledgeable way that speaks from experience. The author covers the importance of creating a ‘brand’ from both an artistic and business perspective– something that few creatives have a grip on.”

Scanner / Robin Rimbaud, Electronic Musician

Chapter Headings

  • Chapter 1 – How to use this book
  • Chapter 2 – Choosing the best people
  • Chapter 3 – Budgeting
  • Chapter 4 – Funding and Earned Income
  • Chapter 5 – Choosing the best place to record
  • Chapter 6 – Preparing for the recording session
  • Chapter 7 – Postproduction
  • Chapter 8 – Understanding your rights
  • Chapter 9 – Registrations, licences, and codes
  • Chapter 10 – Choosing a distributor
  • Chapter 11 – Design, branding, and printing
  • Chapter 12 – Public relations
  • Chapter 13 – Marketing and advertising
  • Chapter 14 – Using social media to promote your music
  • Chapter 15 – Synchronisation
    • Industry Thoughts
  • Chapter 16 – The ethics of streaming
  • Chapter 17 – The Long Tail
  • Chapter 18 – Record companies as investors and royalty-earners

Chapter Preview

Throughout my career I have been passionate about making music and helping others do the same. I’m a classical composer and concert producer, supporting fellow composers and musicians through lobbying, commissioning, mentoring, and providing other industry guidance. Teaching others how to develop and promote their music brings me great joy, regardless of genre. 

If you are like me, you want to get your music out there in the world. You’ve realised that recording could give you many opportunities to showcase your music. Maybe you want to use a recording to promote a live performance or to market yourself as a composer. Perhaps you’ve already had some success in the music business, getting onto development schemes, a commission, artistic residencies, or teaching engagements, and you want to take your ‘brand’ to the next level. If you can relate to any of these goals, this book is for you.

During the pandemic, I held webinars to teach people how to release their own music; everything from producing and recording through to promotion, marketing, rights, distribution, and sales. My aim was for attendees of these webinars to know everything they needed to release their music either as a single or an album. The webinars packed an overwhelming amount of information into a 70-minute session. Participants often asked me for a reference book distilled down to the main points that would help them navigate their own self-releasing journeys. This is that book. While it is UK-centric, the skills I talk about can be applied globally. In addition, the book focuses on the most relevant topics regardless of musical genre. I have provided contact information and other resources for additional support along with a page on my website where these recourses will be collated along with other relevant things. 

In this book, I share my knowledge and experience. I hope it will help you sidestep potential pitfalls, employ new strategies to promote yourself and your music, and help you find your way to a successful career in music. If you decide that self-releasing is not for you, and you opt to sign with a record label, that is totally fine as well. This book is about giving you that self-understanding and ability to enter a negotiation with a label from a place of knowledge. Knowledge that will help you secure a better deal for yourself, your career, and your business. 

Releasing your own music is a lot of work! The first time I went through the process, I was overwhelmed learning about rights and registrations, budgeting and funding, the contracts I needed to sign, marketing and advertising, creating a presence on social media, and making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time with the right equipment in a quiet venue that sounded good and was affordable. It was challenging! But I was determined to sort it out and make it work. The ‘prize’ at the end was that I would own my music entirely. I could earn money from it and license it for synchronisation. I didn’t need to share any royalties. 

But releasing your own music is not for everyone. Are you sure you want to take on the work that’s required for the promise of earning more income, assuming all artistic control, and a guarantee that your music will be released?  Or would you rather take on less work, sacrifice artistic control, and live with the possibility that your music might never be released? Of course, you might write the next mega-hit, and you and someone else’s record label would benefit greatly. These are the trade-offs you need to consider. There is no wrong answer. Each person’s life situation is different. This book will help you make an informed decision about what’s best for you.   

As you start this process you should think about how releasing your music fits into your business goals. Do you want to earn money from it? Do you want to raise your profile to get commissions, residencies, or other funding? Or do you simply want a high-quality documentation of your work? Your specific goals will determine how much effort you will need to put into various parts of the process. If you want to develop an income stream from your released music, then you should follow the guidance throughout this book; if you want to create recordings for the purpose of seeking other commissions, you might want to invest more on PR when you release to make sure your music reaches those decision makers; or if you just want high quality documentation of your recordings you can just concentrate on the recording section. Though if you go to all that effort, why not release your music anyway?

I’ve used the word, ‘business’, a few times and will continue to do so throughout the book. I know some of you may have bristled at the word already! The music industry is a vast business set up to entertain people in exchange for money. Some parts of the business are blatantly commercial, like the pop music industry that is sustained by vast numbers of fans attending concerts and buying or streaming music. Other parts of the business can’t be supported financially by audience numbers alone and rely on funding organisations to keep them going to develop the artform and the performance practice. Regardless, all music ventures require the producers and musicians to deal with the pressures of marketing to audiences, marketing to businesses (e.g., pitching a gig to a venue), making touring decisions, building release schedules, creating business development plans, and paying bills. If you can’t pay the bills, you won’t be able to create music. All of this sounds like a business to me. The business of art. 

When I was starting out, one of the things that helped me get into the business mindset was to think of myself as Matthew Whiteside, the Composer. A completely separate entity to Matthew Whiteside, the Person. The Composer, Matthew Whiteside, didn’t mind talking about his music on the internet or giving interviews about his work, and was quite outgoing. On the other hand, Matthew Whiteside, the Person, was shy and didn’t want to impose his music projects onto others. In fact, he preferred to sit at home listening to and writing music, reading, watching films, and occasionally going scuba diving. This distinction helped Matthew Whiteside, the Composer, develop his music business without Matthew Whiteside, the Person, getting in the way. I realised  that this is what a lot of pop artists do; they create a stage persona that becomes their business brand. 

No matter what genre of music, you are a business. If you want to be a professional musician or composer, you need to think of yourself as a business. Even if you aren’t completely onboard with this idea, I hope you will think otherwise by the end of this book. 

* * *

 

So, how do you release your own music? 

This book is a step-by-step guide that includes how to identify and hire the best people for your project, how to estimate costs, tips for saving money, how to apply for funding, how to plan, record, and finalise your recording for release, and how to create your unique brand and market your music to the world.  

The book is roughly divided into five sections:

• Choosing the best people

• Budgeting and fundraising

• Recording, postproduction and preparing your music for release

• Public relations, marketing, branding, and synchronisation

• Perspectives on the music industry

The earlier sections focus on studio recording, working with notation-based music and recording live players. If you are a bedroom producer, this might not be relevant to your work now but will equip you for when and if you want to go this route. You’ll learn the skills to work with classical players even if you aren’t working with them…yet. If you are a band going into a recording studio, these chapters will help you understand all the different roles and parts of the process and how to track the development of the album. 

I’ve included a few non–skills-based chapters, too, which cover different perspectives on the music industry, such as the ethics of streaming and conflicts of interest across record companies. 

This book is not going to teach you how to craft a composition or write a song.  It will, however, guide you through the confusing process of getting your works recorded and out into the world. The confusion isn’t helped by the fact that the landscape of the music industry is constantly shifting with new services starting or businesses opening, new payment models being developed, old ones being changed, and new legislation being written. 

Although I received an excellent, in-depth university and music college education on how to compose music and work with musicians, I didn’t get information on the business of music. While many institutions are starting to offer courses and modules that teach students how to survive and thrive in the music industry, most music students are still graduating with limited understanding of making music in the ‘real’ world. In addition to these university graduates, a plethora of talented, self-taught producers, composers, and songwriters are creating music without any professional guidance.

This book is for all of you: whether you have had a formal music education or are self-taught; whether you are working in your bedroom or in a rehearsal space; whether you were given the opportunity to learn how to survive as a freelancer or are just graduating. In fact, this book is for anyone who wants to release their music or include recorded music as part of their business. I hope I can support you on your journey.

12 reviews for The Guidebook to Self-Releasing Your Music

  1. Diva

    Incredibly well researched and clearly written. Highly recommend for anyone looking to demystify the process of releasing any music at all, under any circumstances. There is so much that nobody ever tells you about – the entire recording industry is full of protectionist nonsense and this book will prove invaluable in going somewhere to repair the damage done to creative practice by industry gatekeepers and streaming platforms.

  2. sound ark studios

    Really direct writing on all you need to knwo on the process of self-releasing music. Equaly valid for sound artists.

  3. Jeff

    Great book that removes the “fog” from getting your music noticed and placed.

  4. Nicola

    Matthew was a big help when I self-released Night Vision 2023.
    Great to see this book out, full of practical,relevant info. Recommended!

  5. Kenneth

    An excellent informative read!

  6. Paul

    Great book! Many thanks!

  7. Willdavenport (Apple Books)

    An invaluable resource for indie composers. Would recommend to all composers looking to self-release, clear and simple!

  8. Natalie Black

    It’s quite in depth and probably really useful for someone self-releasing music using other musicians etc. I did skip over a lot of it though, but it encouraged me to join PPL for my own releases.

  9. Ben (verified owner)

    Highly detailed and very clear information – I strongly recommend this book to anyone intending to self-release.

  10. Johan Schulte

    This is a must have: why? would you say? Since it is important, to have a good insight into the contemporary music business. every self-respecting producer needs this book on his bookshelf, and not just there. Read the inside and outside and again. Because knowledge is power!

  11. Paul (verified owner)

    Matthew’s book is written in a relaxed and easy to read style. It is a treasure trove of information about every aspect of recording and releasing your own music. Matthew illustrates every step with examples of his own releases.
    The sections on legalities, regulatory bodies, royalties and rights makes clear sense of a very complex subject and for me is the most useful part of the book. The business side of music is a minefield, Matthew guides you through it clearly and succinctly.
    Each chapter ends with bullet points of the essential takeaways from its subject.
    The whole book is very readable, utterly invaluable and a great investment in your musical career. It’s backed up with resources on Matthew’s website that you’ll also find useful.
    I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

  12. Christine Jones (verified owner)

    This is a brilliant book; simply written but containing all of the information you need to get started (and continue!) on your self-releasing journey. I wish I’d bought it sooner!

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