Lucinda Carver, Senior Lecturer in Keyboard and Early Music Studies at USC’s Thornton School of Music, shares how she knows that the piece she is conducting is working on a musical and dramatic level.

Phil Galdston, a long time songwriter and producer, talks about what it takes to be a songwriter.

Jeff Rona, an electronic music specialist and notable film composer, discusses the craft and life of film composing. He addresses what it’s like to write for film or TV and why it’s different from any other composing challenge, how to work collaboratively with directors and producers, how film composers get paid, balancing work and family, being a well-rounded person, what it takes to have a successful career in film composing, and more.

Jerry Moss, cofounder of the legendary A&M label, advises people aspiring to a career in the music business on what qualities will help you to excel, and on identifying the point in your life when you should make the critical decisions about who you are, what you do, and how you want to achieve your goals.

Jim Ellis, a musician and composer based in Atlanta, GA, discusses professionalism in the music business, and why acting the part of a professional musician and businessperson is an essential part of becoming an actual music industry pro.

Producer, engineer & songwriter Aaron Sternke discusses what it takes to maintain success as an independent artist. He stresses the importance of getting educated to be able to produce your own albums, develop your own website, and book your own shows.

Producer, engineer & songwriter Aaron Sternke discusses what it takes to maintain success as an independent artist. He stresses the importance of getting educated to be able to produce your own albums, develop your own website, and book your own shows.

Producer, engineer & songwriter Aaron Sternke discusses what it takes to be an independent producer. He shares his view that being skilled in multiple areas–engineering, musicianship, producing, and editing–can help to get and maintain work as a producer.

In this excerpt from a lecture delivered at the Self-Employed Artists Conference in 2008, Benjie Hughes, a musician and music business entrepreneur based in Aurora, Illinois, discusses how to dream up business idea, and then take practical steps to turn that dream into a real business. He shares with the audience some key questions that have to be answered if any entrepreneurial effort is to have a shot at success.

Lenny Waronker, co-head of Dreamworks and former head of Reprise and Warner Bros. Records, reveals what qualities he looks for in artists he signs to his labels, and offers tips on working with an A&R staff to make those decisions.