With Hal Leonard's new books by author Moses Avalon, you can get the answers to nearly all of your random questions about the music biz. The first of the two books -- 100 Answers to 50 Questions on the Music Business -- guarantees the answers to a hundred of those pressing questions, while the other book, Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract, details what it takes to take your band or your solo self to the next level. Both books are now available from Hal Leonard Corporation for $19.95 each.

Ideal for any musician, band, or industry professional, 100 Answers to 50 Questions on the Music Business is a 250-page pointed analysis of business issues for musicians, producers, and managers. Chosen from questions submitted by readers of Avalon's blog, the 50 questions he addresses in this book represent the most important issues in the modern music business -- What is a producer, and why do I need one? When do I need a manager? What is a copyright, and do I really need one in the Internet age? What social networks are worth joining to get more fans and sell more music? Am I too old for a record deal? Should I work with a publishing company or just start my own? -- Avalon answers each question from multiple viewpoints to ensure that different perspectives are noted.

In the newly revised edition of Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract, Avalon exposes the record companies' hidden agendas by picking apart the language of actual recording agreements written by major-label lawyers. According to Hal Leonard, by showing what's really going on in a typical record contract, Avalon puts power back into the hands of those who make the music. Focusing on artists' issues such as advances, royalties, and distribution, Avalon explains the purpose of each clause, offers negotiating advice, and outlines alternatives for developing new contracts that protect artists. User-friendly and featuring entertaining inside stories, the book clarifies common terms as they are used by the music industry, reveals over 100 key loopholes that will cost artists money, and includes a glossary of major label recording-contract jargon.

In this 354-page book, the author also introduces the concept of the "360 deal" in which labels participate in revenue from multiple areas of an artist's career. For the first time, the label and artist are partners. Advances and royalties are higher, deals are more complex, and the potential for rip-offs is increased. This new edition illuminates the pros and cons of the 360 deal components: Web site rights, fan-club rights, publishing rights, touring, and more.

Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract and 100 Answers to 50 Questions on the Music Business are now available from Hal Leonard. For more information, please visit halleonardbooks.com.