The Musical Pathfinder

About

A roadmap for the business side of music.

Talent gets you in the door. Knowing how the business works is what keeps you in the room. The Musical Pathfinder is about the second part.

Guiding independent musicians

The music industry is complicated on purpose, or at least it can feel that way. Royalties split in ways nobody explains, contracts hide the important parts, and most advice online is either out of date or trying to sell you something.

The Musical Pathfinder is a home for practical music business education: books, ebooks, courses and more, all written in plain language from someone who has done the work. It started with the flagship book, and it's growing from there.

The mission is simple: give independent musicians the knowledge and tools to build careers that hold up for the long haul.

What we cover

  • 01Revenue streams
  • 02Streaming platforms
  • 03Sync licensing
  • 04Touring
  • 05Merchandising
  • 06Rights administration
  • 07Investing
  • 08AI in music

Meet Jon Skaggs

Jon Skaggs has spent more than 30 years making a living in music. He's been the touring drummer and the session drummer, the tour manager holding the settlement sheet, the producer in the control room, the composer writing for TV and film, and the songwriter pitching his own songs.

Along the way he learned the business the hard way, one contract, one tour and one royalty statement at a time. These days he consults with independent artists and writes about the business side of music.

The Musical Pathfinder is where that work comes together: the book first, with courses to follow.

Jon on Amazon jonskaggs.net

Start with the book

The flagship book is the best place to begin. Courses and more ebooks build on it.

Start with the bookBrowse courses