Entertainment Business

An NPR Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025 A revealing exploration of a quarter century of cultural stagnation, examining the commercial and technological forces that have come to dominate contemporary culture—from music and fashion to art, film, TV, and beyond Over the past twenty-five years...

In the world of competitive dance, biased scoring, skimpy costumes, and toxic rivalries are the additional line items of a bill that exceeds thousands of dollars. Time and money are at stake for parents, but reputation is also at risk. For Chasta Hamilton, six years of sending dancers to competitions was six years too many. She swore off competitive dance and rewrote her curriculum to focus on the whole person within each dancer. In Trash the Trophies, Chasta shows you how she challenged preconceived notions of success in the dance industry and transformed her studio.

Not so long ago, studio quality recording, mixing, and music production was only available to the rich and famous artists. However, these days it's now possible to produce professional sounding music from your own home. In fact, you don't even need to know how to play an instrument or know anything about the technology or need expensive equipment. All you need is a decent computer + inspiration, and this book will show you the rest.

Thomas Dolby's hit songs "She Blinded Me with Science" and "Hyperactive!" catapulted him to international fame in the early '80s. A pioneer of New Wave and Electronica, Thomas combined a love for invention with a passion for music, and the result was a new sound that defined an era of revolutionary music. But as record company politics overshadow the joy of performing, Thomas finds a surprising second act.

Sports journalist and veteran shoe tester Brian Metzler takes runners and kicksologists deep inside the $10 billion running shoe industry with a behind-the-curtain look at what makes iconic running shoe brands tick. Kicksology follows a shoe from inspiration to store shelf to show how innovative ideas evolve into industry-wide trends and fads. Metzler tours shoe labs where scientists advance our understanding of shoes and running mechanics as well as the domestic and overseas shoe factories where the world's favorite kicks are assembled.

Nice women never wore makeup. Even the word was taboo in polite society—until Max Factor entered the scene. Born in Poland in 1877, Factor worked as a beautician for the Russian royal family, the Romanovs. In 1904, he fled to America, where he opened a cosmetics store in Los Angeles. Creating makeup originally for silent films, then the talkies, and, ultimately, color motion pictures, Factor designed looks for Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, and countless other beauties of the day. Soon women everywhere wanted to look like their favorite glamorous stars, and Factor was there to help, bringing his innovative cosmetics to the general public.

Marc Guss’s advice is impeccable; he says the things no one else in show business will, things that those who want into the business need to know. He has a heck of a story to tell. It is powerful, outspoken talk from a widely recognized agent on how to master the industry using an entrepreneur’s specific skill set. Guss shares deeply personal experiences from the trenches, experiences he has shared with such eminent names as Lauren Bacall, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Christopher Reeve, Quentin Tarantino, Whoopi Goldberg, Dr. Phil, and others.

Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle. This audiobook explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.

Michael Jackson, Inc. reveals the incredible rise, fall, and rise again of Michael Jackson's fortune - driven by the unmatched perfectionism of the King of Pop. Forbes senior editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg uncovers never-before-told stories from interviews with more than 100 people, including music industry veterans Berry Gordy, John Branca, and Walter Yetnikoff; artists 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, and Jon Bon Jovi; and members of the Jackson family.

"Message for Success" by Francesco Vitali is a powerful guide to effective communication strategies for achieving personal and professional success. Drawing on his extensive experience as a Business advisor, Vitali provides practical insights and actionable tips to help listeners craft compelling messages that resonate with their audience.

In addition to founding Twisted Sister, a world-famous heavy metal band that has sold more than 20 million records worldwide, Jay Jay French is one of the top entrepreneurs in entertainment. After taking over as manager in the 70s, French developed Twisted Sister into the most heavily licensed heavy metal band in history.

Six Second Stories: Maximize Your Impact in Minimal Time with Video Storytelling was written with you in mind -- the beginner storyteller, entrepreneur, small business owner, nonprofit director, content creator, or influencer. Filmmaker and storytelling expert, Rain Bennett, will walk you through how to utilize the power of storytelling via video as a key marketing technique to help boost your overall audience engagement, and keep them engaged for the long haul.

This book that I've written is a collection of proven strategies to maximize your success in the music industry presented to you in a no-BS, matter-of-fact manner.

Creating colorful candles by themselves, with various shapes and pleasant scents, is certainly a way to have fun and test your manual skills using your imagination. But how do you make candles artisanally? All this is possible using the right ingredients and following step-by-step a very simple procedure contained in this audiobook, directly at home, and turn this magnificent hobby into a real, highly profitable business! Making candles will be a pleasant pastime, not tiring, and will give the satisfaction of being able to decorate your home with objects made with your own hands.

You're in a career where it's considered "normal" to be broke. If you were doing anything else for a living, you'd have given up by now.

And I'm sure there are people in your life who wish you'd do just that... They want you to settle down, get a "real" job, and make music a hobby. Screw 'em. The truth is, if you know what to do, you can make a lot of money as a musician. This book shows you what to do.

In The Glory of Giving Everything: The Taylor Swift Business Model, author Crystal Haryanto delves into the extraordinary business dynamics behind Taylor Swift's career. This book addresses how Swift has not only revolutionized the music industry but has also created a sustainable brand that resonates deeply with fans. Haryanto provides valuable insights on leveraging personal branding, fan engagement, and innovative marketing in today's competitive landscape.

Josh Blaylock's now classic how-to prose book about the business of comic book publishing, after selling out of its updated 2012 edition, is now being rereleased to include Tim Seeley's companion writings on the behind-the-scenes realities of being a comic book artist.

How to Succeed in the Music Industry in 2025 and Beyond is your ultimate guide to thriving as an independent artist, producer, or DJ in today’s digital landscape. This audiobook breaks down the essential steps to build your brand, market your music, and create multiple income streams while staying true to your artistry.

Beauchamp writes about the pictures Kennedy produced, the stars he made - and destroyed - and the men who did his bidding. She also writes about the Hollywood titans in his midst: William Randolph Hearst, Cecille B. DeMille, and David Sarnoff, whose collaboration with Kennedy resulted in the formation of RKO Studios.

Design Like Apple uncovers the lessons from Apple's singular approach to product creation, manufacturing, delivery, and customer experience. Learn how design can create a competitive advantage by delivering beauty, ingenuity, and charisma. Get guidance on how to nurture taste, talent, and a design culture at every level of your organization.