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Audio Recording for Profit

Audio Recording for Profit

by David Goggin, Chris Stone
Publisher: Focal Press
Release Date: November 2012
ISBN: 9780240803869
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Book Description

This book is the first real inside look at the business of professional audio recording, which fuels a multibillion dollar global music industry. Industry pioneer Chris Stone, founder of the legendary Record Plant, provides hard-earned business strategies, guidelines, and advice on every aspect of launching and managing a professional audio recording business. This book is for every audio profit center - from the project studio in the garage to the multi-room diversified recording facility. With 30 years of practical business experience, Mr. Stone reveals the secrets of profitable survival in the pro audio world of today and tomorrow.

Why be a player in the professional audio recording industry? What is the attraction and potential payoff? How big an operation are you contemplating? To succeed, one must categorize the various types and sizes of pro audio facilities and their customer bases. It is also essential to understand creative management, marketing, promotion, and the modern economics of pro audio. The professional of tomorrow anticipates recording for new media and is prepared for diversification. All of these issues and more are addressed in this book.

Table of Contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Preface
  7. Special Thanks
  8. About the Author
  9. PART I. ROCK AND ROOTS
    1. 1. The L.A. Goldrush—Thirty Years of Studio Excellence
    2. 2. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow—Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow—Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
  10. PART II. GOING GLOBAL – THE NEW REALITIES
    1. 3. The Global Recording Village Is Now
    2. 4. What Is World Class?
    3. 5. Motherships and Satellites: The New Generation
    4. 6. So You Want to Build a Recording Studio?
    5. 7. Tips for the Smaller Studio
  11. PART III. CREATING AND MAINTAINING SUCCESS
    1. 8. Twelve Steps Toward Better Management
    2. 9. YOUR Studio Time
    3. 10. Management by Exception
    4. 11. Covet Your Second Thoughts
    5. 12. Praise and Productivity
  12. PART IV. DIVERSIFY OR DIE
    1. 13. Audio Recording in the 21st Century
    2. 14. Diversification: Providing New Services to Different Clients
    3. 15. Secrets of Success on the New Recording Frontier
  13. PART V. CREATIVE MARKETING AND PROMOTION
    1. 16. Pro-Audio Pro-Motion
    2. 17. Attracting the Client: Record, Film, and Television Companies
    3. 18. Attracting the Mix: Music Producers and Audio Engineers
    4. 19. Working (with) the Press
    5. 20. Market-Driven Profit Centers—Finding Your Niche
  14. PART VI. FINANCIAL CONCERNS
    1. 21. Protect Your Success
    2. 22. Profit Today, Prepare for Tomorrow
    3. 23. Profit from Your Financial Statements
    4. 24. The Art of Credit and Collection
    5. 25. Equipment Leasing—Is It for You?
  15. PART VII. SOUND ECONOMICS
    1. 26. Smart Studio Pricing
    2. 27. Examining Your Profit Centers
    3. 28. A Few Good Chess Moves Can Boost Your Profitability
    4. 29. Learn from Outsiders What Is Best for Your Business
  16. PART VIII. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONVENTIONS
    1. 30. AES the Smart Way
    2. 31. AES Europe—A Different Perspective
    3. 32. NAB Means New Audio Business
  17. PART IX. EFFICIENT FACILITY MANAGEMENT
    1. 33. Communication Then and Now
    2. 34. Good Insurance Is the Best Policy
    3. 35. Projecting Future Business—While You Enjoy It!
    4. 36. The Paper Tiger Can Destroy You—Training Is the Answer
  18. PART X. THE SOUND OF MONEY
    1. 37. Absolute Symbiosis—Suppliers and Providers
    2. 38. The Changing Roles of Music Producer and Audio Engineer
    3. 39. Console Obsolescence—What Do I Do Now?
    4. 40. Acoustics for the 21st Century
    5. 41. The Second Digital Revolution
    6. 42. Recording for Profit—The Sound of Money
  19. Epilogue: Woodstock ‘94—A Major Pro Audio Case History
  20. Appendix I. The Record Plant—A Legacy of Hits by David Goggin
  21. Appendix II. Financial Statements
  22. Appendix III. Studio Business Forms