I've been working in the music industry all my life. I was one of the first to capitalize on the commercial potential of computers and music and have been having lots of fun ever since. When I was 19, I co-invented electronic drums at Synare, which (much to our surprise) helped ignite the disco era. In 1980, I founded the first music software company, Passport Designs, where we made it possible for musicians to record and produce their music at home with our award-winning software Master Tracks Pro, Encore, and MusicTime.
I was one of the people who helped to develop the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard that opened up electronic music to literally millions of people. We got MIDI working across many different instruments and manufacturers and this set the stage for the desktop music market that we have today. In 1993, along with my friend Larry Hamby at A&M Records, we designed and developed the first commercially available enhanced CD that connected audio CDs to a personal computer. I also went on to produce interactive DVDs for BMG Music, Windham Hill Records, and Berklee Press.
In 1995, I co-wrote what has become the best selling music business book *"The Future of Music, Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution"* which has sold over 25,000 copies worldwide with my pal Gerd Leonhard. A lot of what we wrote about has come true, and a lot more is going to become true. You can get the book on Amazon. I actively blog about the Future of Music on MPN.
Today, I am Vice President at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., the premier school for aspiring professional musicians for over half a century. I run the team responsible for the college's online music school Berkleemusic berkleemusic.com, where we have won the national award for the Best Online College Course 5 years in a row. I also helped to develop Berklee Shares berkleeshares.com, where we distributed free online music lessons; and am a Berkleemusic Faculty member, teaching "The Future of Music and the Music Business"
I have written for or been quoted in Billboard, Boston Globe, New York Times, Wired, BBC, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, NBC-TV, Nightly Business Report, NPR, Corante, The Deal, Inside Digital Media, and the Financial Times. I have been interviewed by over 50 radio stations worldwide and have been a speaker and lecturer at Berklee College of Music, MacWorld, Comdex, PC World, NAMM, AES, IEBA Transmission, and California State University.
Lots of people have asked me to help them with their careers. I think the possibilities of making a living in music today are better than they've ever been before. Communication tools like Twitter, Blogs, Facebook and mobile phones make it possible to develop direct relationships with YOUR fans. There is a tremendous opportunity for talented people to succeed with a music career if you are willing to take control. Right now that means aligning your goals with the marketplace, marketing directly to your fans and building your career.
The reality of the past is that only a few percent of the people involved in recording ever made any real money off of records. The Myth of "Getting Signed" and having someone take care of your career is just that, a Myth. The reality is that nobody is going to take care of you - YOU have to do that for yourself. YOU have to build a strategy,a team and a solid plan. MPN will help you do that.
I developed MPN to show YOU how to build that team and create a musician business around yourself. You can do it with our training, expert advice, resources & custom workbooks. Let MPN help you create the life in music that you always wanted and realize your vision. And know that part of the proceeds from MPN go to support online music scholarships at Berkleemusic.com.
I guarantee that you will be satisfied with MPN and what it can do for your career.
