Before You Pay Anybody, Ask These Five Questions

Every artist has met them. The guy who can "push" your song onto the big playlists for a fee. The one who wants to be paid to "listen". The stranger after your show who will handle everything if you hand over your passwords. Or it is your first EP, you hire six people on monthly fees, and three months later the money is gone.

Before you pay anyone, ask five questions: what exactly do you do, when do I need you, how are you paid, who do you answer to, and what should I expect? Vague answers mean no. And remember, you never pay a platform's editorial team for playlist spots, while paid "promo" playlists can get your release removed and your royalties withheld.

Start lean with a producer, an engineer, a distributor and a lawyer you can call, then add people only when the work and income can carry them. Music Industry 101 breaks down 21 industry roles, what each one does and what they are normally paid, so you can tell a fair offer from a bad one. Take the course on Crux Global Academy: cruxmusic.global/academycrux.