The text lists four entertainment capitals:  New York  Nashville  Los Angeles  Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area – home of Pandora, Ingrooves, Amazon MP3, iTunes, Rhapsody, Google Play, and more These areas have the highest concentration of music-related businesses.

 Addition of Silicon Valley as fourth entertainment capital is a result of the Internet becoming the predominant vehicle for music discovery, distribution, promotion, etc.  What if you don’t live in one of the entertainment capitals? No problem!  You can develop and use your skillset in other large metropilitan areas such as: Seattle, Austin,  Denver, San Antonio, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, etc.

“Rather than jumping feetfirst into one of the top music markets, it’s an excellent strategy to work in a smaller market to really learn the basics of how the industry works.” In San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas, there are recording studios, record labels, management companies, booking firms, concert promoters, etc. The Texas Music Office in Austin offers internships that will usually connect you with most of the music-related businesses in Texas. They also have a database of those businesses you can view online!

Question: Do you really have to move to L.A. to have a career in the music industry? Answer: Not anymore! New tools, business models, promotion and marketing techniques, (due to the Internet) make it possible for a music industry startup to grow and posper just about anywhere they have access to a broadband connection EXAMPLES: (next page)

Two DIY music companies;  Saddle Creek – indie record label in Omaha, Nebraska (  Righteous Babe – indie record label in Buffalo, New York ( Both labels are great examples of this new paradigm that can work for entrepreneurially minded individuals who have no desire to sit in traffic in one of the major markets.

 Author suggests, when you feel you are ready to move to one of the big markets, Visit first!  Take two weeks off current job  Rent a room, stay with a friend or family member  Network and do informational interviews (covered later in book) also, try to make appointments ahead of time if possible  Check it out before making the big move, it can be expensive and emotionally intense  Prepare yourself to succeed when you make your move to one of the four entertainment capitals!