13
artists, writers, or producers, and
to
acquire existing song catalogs. He is
also
heavily involved in the area of film
and
television music and works closely
with
the firm's in-house music
supervisors.
PREREQUISITES
To be successful, you must have the
ability to recognize good songs and
tal-
ented songwriters. It is important to
have
a broad knowledge of how the music
industry works and solid personal contacts
within it. To achieve an executive posi-
tion, you must have an understanding of
publishing contracts and copyright law in
the United States and around the world. The
capacity to motivate and work closely
with a diverse group of people is also
helpful.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
A large part of Stone's day is spent on the
telephone with lawyers negotiating con-
tracts, discussing pending deals, and
exchanging information with music industry
contacts about potential acquisitions. "I'm
constantly working the phones trying to
find new catalogs to acquire. I have an open
door policy. My staff is in almost every
ten minutes with news that they've heard, and
we're constantly sifting through all the
information that comes into our company on a
daily basis, picking and choosing. I
listen constantly to music and analyze new
deals." Scattered throughout the day, Stone
has meetings inside and outside the company
with songwriters and artists, often
going out to see them perform at showcases or
concerts. Part of his day is spent
talking with staff songwriters about upcoming
projects or renegotiating contracts,
and attempting to interact with all 60
employees on a daily basis. "It's not uncommon
to have 10- or 11-hour days."
"Patience is important. It takes
a long time to see the fruits of
our labor in the music publish-
ing business. From the time you
find a writer, sign him, and get
a song cut, it's another two or
three years before you see any
money from your investment."
CAREER
TIPS
Listen to what songwriters say. Listen between
the lines when talking
with Artist & Repertoire (A&R) people
and producers to discover what
they are really looking for. Listen for
information that can help you be
successful.
No job is too small when you are trying to get
your foot in the door. Be
the best tape copy or lyric typist there is and
use the opportunity to listen
and learn.
CAREER
TIPS
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