Making It in Country Music: An Insider's Look at the Industry

by Rich Redmond, Jennifer Della'Zanna (With), Dave Pomeroy (Foreword by)

Overview

Rich Redmond, drummer for superstar Jason Aldean, provides a shot of inspiration for those interested in jump-starting a music career.

Any successful musician will tell you the most common question asked of them is, “What does it take to make it?” Rich Redmond is no different. He moved to Nashville more than twenty-five years ago with his drums, a cat, and a vision, and he’s made his dreams come true. Over one too many lattes, he decided to put all of his advice in one place.

Making It in Country Music is filled with practical advice, stories of how Redmond did it himself, and insights from a chorus of other musicians. This is the ultimate behind-the-scenes and fun-to-read book looking at the country music industry and music careers.

Redmond takes you on a tour of Nashville and many other country music meccas: from the massive stadiums to the honky-tonks and the wide variety of jobs that make the industry go. You’ll learn the various skill sets needed to become successful in the industry as well as predictions for the future of country music among many other things. There is no better guide to the country music business than Redmond with his unique blend of encouragement, detailed advice, humor, and experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538172520
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/15/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Rich Redmond is a top call recording drummer/percussionist and has toured, recorded, and performed with more than forty acts, including Jason Aldean, Hank Williams III, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Ludacris, Jewel, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. He has played on thirty #1 hit singles. Redmond also trains new drummers, provides motivational speaking for Fortune 500 companies, consults, and hosts a successful podcast in his spare time. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and his website is https://richredmond.com/.

Jennifer Della’Zanna is an award-winning freelance writer from Woodbine, Maryland, who has published more than fifty feature articles on a variety of topics, and her fiction has appeared online at Daily Science Fiction and in two anthologies. She enjoys hosting house concerts and playing piano. Her website is https://www.jen-dellazanna.com/.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Dream On: Aspirations
2. You Can’t Always Get What You Want: Realistic Goals
3. Walk This Way: Planning and Preparation
4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Kansas May Not Be Best
5. Sympathy for the Devil: Understanding the Music Industry
6. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number: Social Media and Networking
7. Any Way You Want It: The Law of Attraction
8. Comfortably Numb: Be Careful of the Dark Side
9. With a Little Help from My Friends: Pay It Forward
10. Don’t Stop Believin’: The Future of Country Music

Appendix

Notes

Index

About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Rich’s passion and experience in the music industry jump off the pages! It’s tough to get inside information on how the music business really works, but Rich offers you a front row seat.

Pete Fisher

Rich has an infectious personality and is such a positive person. His reputation as a drummer is known across all genres. I am proud to be able to call him a friend for the past twenty years, and that’s why he is the perfect person to author a book like this.

Kevin Neal

Making It in Country Music is a cornucopia of engaging narratives, showbiz facts, personal tales, and valuable insights. The book is infused with nuggets of wisdom, such as the impactful quote: "Most successful people achieve their dreams because they never take their eyes off the top of that pyramid." This serves as a powerful reminder for readers to maintain their focus and tenacity in the face of challenges.

Literary Titan

Rich is one of the hardest working people I’ve ever known. His energy is infectious, and his passion is undeniable in this book. This is great read if you want a true glimpse into making it in Music City!

Danny Rader

Rich is one of the most uplifting people I’ve been around. He brings my songs to life! He’s a freak behind the kit, and for these reasons, this is a must read.

Neil Thrasher

Rich Redmond truly delivers and provides a clear road map about how to prepare, where to go, what it takes to participate, and what to do if you get a shot. His extensive background allows him to teach from the inside out, and that's what makes his information so valuable. If I were starting out in the music business, I wouldn’t leave town without this book in my back pocket!

Edgar Struble

The best way to learn about something is to learn from someone who is at the top of their game. Redmond is the definition of what makes a person successful. Hands down, my favorite drummer to work with.

Michael Knox

The real deal from an actual industry insider in the know. Full of fun stories—insightful and charming, Rich has a way to invite you along his journey and inspires you to dream bigger.

Marion Kraft

Rich Redmond has a front row look at the music business. This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the inner workings of a complicated business.

Clay Bradley

05/01/2023

Drummer Redmond (Crash! Course for Success), who performs with country singer Jason Aldean, provides tips for aspiring Nashville musicians and others in the industry, cowriting with Jennifer Della'Zanna (Twisted Love). The book contains 10 chapters and the opening lines of many rock and blues songs. With clearly composed insights drawn from his and others' careers (managers, singers, technicians, and agents), Redmond offers helpful job-counseling advice for beginners in nearly any industry. The book demonstrates the importance of assets and habits such as patience, resilience, personal branding, college degrees, passion, a positive attitude, regular exercise, versatility, success-visualization, and a commitment to continuously improving skills. For job interviews, he advises being over-prepared and projecting an enthusiastic but not aggressive ambition. Particularly for musicians, the book highlights the importance of being able to read music, social media networking, and joining a union. Redmond discusses the country-music job prospects in Nashville, Austin (which he calls the "live music capital of the world"), and other locales. A comparable guide that Redmond himself recommends is Donald Passman's All About the Music Business, slated to be released in its 11th edition later this fall. VERDICT Readers will want to study this instructional book from beginning to end.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr.

Library Journal