The Independent Artist's Survival Scripture

How to Not Get @#$% in the Music Business

The complete guide to publishing, copyright, royalties, distribution, sync, and owning what you create.

THE INDEPENDENT ARTIST'S SURVIVAL SCRIPTURE

HOW TO NOT GET
@#$%
IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS

OWN · PROTECT · COLLECT
10
Chapters + Bonuses
69
Action Steps
90
Day Build System
2x
Copyrights Per Song
Why This Book Exists

Every year, hundreds of millions in royalties go uncollected

Not stolen — uncollected. The money sits in accounts waiting for artists who never showed up to claim it.

The music industry runs on a simple bet: that you won't understand what you own, how it makes money, or how to collect it. This book is the other side of that bet.

Inside the Book

Ten chapters that turn confusion into infrastructure

Chapter 1

What Is Music Publishing?

The two copyrights in every song.

Chapter 2

Copyrights, Branding & Ownership

Registration, trademarks, entities, split sheets.

Chapter 3

Performance Rights Organizations

ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, the MLC, SoundExchange.

Chapter 4

Publishing Administration

Money you already earned, without losing ownership.

Chapter 5

Distribution Without Getting Robbed

Metadata, contracts, Content ID.

Chapter 6

Sync Licensing

TV, film, ads without a major publisher.

Chapter 7

Producer, DJ & Sampling Guide

Clearance, beat leases, agreements.

Chapter 8

The 90-Day Music Business System

The operational framework.

Bonus

Understanding Contracts

Every clause, every landmine.

Bonus

Taxes for Musicians

Quarterly reality, real deductions.

Free Companion

Don't just read it — build it.

The Build-Along Workbook walks beside every chapter. Your progress saves automatically.

  • Reflect, build, and check off every chapter's action steps
  • Track your catalog, splits, and registrations in one place
  • Your answers save to your device
Open the Workbook
Who Wrote This

Written by people who work in the rooms you're trying to enter

H. Adam Leamon Jr.

Author

A music publishing professional writing the guide he wishes every independent artist had on day one.

Charlie Ware

Co-Author

Bringing the artist's-eye view to every chapter.

Get the book. Keep what you create.

Drop your email and we'll send you the book and the free workbook.

Own. Protect. Collect.