“Success in the music business is not a solo act, it’s a collaboration,” writes Barbone in this concise debut—an examination of the army of team members required to not only establish an entertainment star but also to ensure their career longevity. Promising readers an “all-access pass to the inner workings of artist development,” Barbone differentiates between important industry figures, including artist managers, record producers, and entertainment attorneys, while also including shorter sections on lesser-known jobs like image consultants and tour managers. Each role, she argues, is crucial to building a high-achieving, harmonious team.

A longtime music industry player who’s worked at Sony and Universal—and helped discover icons such as Madonna in the early 1980s—Barbone knows that pop stardom is far from a one-person deal. “Talent, while occurring naturally in certain individuals,” she writes, “must be developed, nurtured, packaged, and marketed through the untiring and unwavering efforts of this team of experts.” In outlining specific industry roles, she covers topics like the cost of vocal coaches, contract particulars for booking agencies, the importance of legal counsel, and why sound and light technicians (“sound wizards,” as she calls them) are so crucial to success. The guide also touches on contemporary developments changing the industry, including how the digital age—virtual events, streaming, and more—is transforming the marketplace.

Industry readers may wish for more personal anecdotes from such a longtime entertainment professional, though Barbone’s general tips—studios with open schedules are more likely to invest in new artists, detailed marketing plans can attract investors, and artists must be holistically prepared for the arduous work ahead of them—are both interesting and helpful. At its heart, this brief rendering functions as a survivor’s guide of sorts for artists in an industry filled with people who could “literally and figuratively” rob them blind.

Takeaway: Compact, inviting look at how entertainment stars can navigate a treacherous industry.

Comparable Titles: Ebonie Caldwell’s DIY Fame, Art Linson’s A Pound of Flesh.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+