Best Music Books

Explore the world of music with David Byrne's comprehensive guide, updated with a new chapter on digital curation. Drawing on his extensive career and collaborations with Talking Heads and Brian Eno, Byrne delves into the key influences that shape music, from acoustics to social and technological factors. Discover the power of music to shape our experiences and learn more about how songs, symphonies, and rhythms inspire us all. With every chapter, Byrne reveals exciting new insights into the liberating qualities of music.

Explore the fascinating connection between music and the human brain with this groundbreaking and engaging book. Delve into the new discoveries in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology that shed light on why music has such a powerful effect on our emotions. Uncover the mysteries behind how musical preferences are formed, how the brain responds to music, and why musical pleasure is unlike any other kind. This book takes a deep dive into our obsession with music, examining cultural and scientific perspectives, and even studying patients who cannot make sense of music. Discover the unique role music plays in our lives through this informative and enlightening read.

The ultimate guide for musicians navigating the ever-changing music industry. This book has become widely adopted by music schools and is considered "the best how-to book of its kind" by industry professionals. Learn how to build a stable career by taking advantage of social media, mastering merchandising, and authentic fan connections. The second edition includes updated online trends and inspiring success stories on Spotify and Instagram. A must-have for any musician hoping to make it on their own terms.

This book takes you on a journey through the captivating story of two young artists who made a pact to take care of each other during the hungry years of late sixties and seventies New York City. It is a love story, an elegy, a historical snapshot, and a tribute to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions, and their ascent to fame. Written by Patti Smith, an influential artist herself, it serves as a salute to the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics, all colliding and exploding in this unforgettable milieu.

Explore the wild, adrenaline-fueled world of Mötley Crüe in this explosive tell-all book. From their rock 'n' roll glory days to their darkest tragedies, no topic is off-limits in this uncensored account told by the band members themselves. Experience the highs and lows of their hard-partying lifestyle, from their epic exploits with porn stars and drug dealers to their infamous feuds with other rock legends. Complete with rare photos and handwritten lyrics, this book is a must-read for any diehard music fan. Get ready to get dirty with Mötley Crüe.

This comprehensive guide to the music industry is considered the definitive source for novices and experts alike. Written by veteran music lawyer Don Passman, this tenth edition covers the biggest transformation in the industry yet: streaming. Passman offers authoritative advice on how to navigate the ins and outs of record deals, songwriting, publishing, and copyrights in a world where music is monetized by how many times a song is streamed. A must-read for anyone in the industry, from musicians and songwriters to executives and managers.

Explore the entire history of popular music over the past fifty years through the big genres that have defined and dominated it: rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance music, and pop. Kelefa Sanneh, one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture, distills a career's worth of knowledge into a brilliant and omnivorous reckoning with popular music. Major Labels explores music as an art form, cultural and economic force, and tool that we use to build our identities. Sanneh debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes, and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes, the best popular music isn't transcendent. This is a book about the music everyone loves, the music everyone hates, and the decades-long argument over which is which.

Experience the life of the iconic Marvin Gaye like never before through this intimate and definitive biography. Full of interviews conducted before his death, music writer David Ritz paints a portrait of the brilliant and tormented artist surrounded by legends like Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, and Stevie Wonder. Get to know the man behind the word soul.

Learn how to promote your music on a budget, get more YouTube views, turn casual listeners into loyal buyers, and much more with this ultimate guide. Written by industry insiders who have worked with top musicians like The Cure and Animal Collective, this book spills the secrets of building a fanbase and getting exposure without the need for big labels. Featuring insider tricks and ideas, it's the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to do better in the music industry.

This comprehensive guide offers practical and invaluable advice for anyone in the music industry looking to legally start and grow their business. Learn how to understand different types of royalties, own your music and masters, legally sample and cover music, protect your name and logo, structure your music business, avoid personal legal issues, and more. Written by an experienced entertainment lawyer who has worked with major clients and shows, this book is a must-read for songwriters, producers, artists, and musicians seeking success in the music business.