• Beware! The Tax Man
• The Majors Push Techno: Why?

Beware! The Tax Man

• Keep good records
• Get an accountant for your business taxes
• Don't answer any audit notices without consulting an accountant first

As a small—excuse me, I mean tiny—business, it's often your goal to cut as many corners as possible to try to save and/or make money. You may choose to design your own promo materials or buy the least expensive computer possible. But one area that we caution against scrimping on is professional accounting help for taxes.

You may even forego hiring a professional for monthly bookkeeping and as long as you keep every receipt and can tell what each purchase was for, you'll be alright. However, when the IRS calls, you'll want to be armed with expert help.

It's no secret that the IRS has music-based businesses on its hitlist*. It's hard for Uncle Sam to believe that a business that's this much fun can be legitimate. It's for this reason that we must be especially careful. And though Grandma Betty can do your business taxes for you, it's our advice that you get an accountant familiar with the everchanging small business tax codes.

An additional benefit to hiring this professional is that during your tax session, you can ask valuable advice that can help prevent you from being audited.

Even if you don't have an accountant and have never had one, be sure to find one before answering any audit notices! Take it from a business that knows; an accountant, though seemingly expensive, can save you headache, heartache and keep you from losing your shirt, shoes and entire operation!
Save a few pennies on studio time, but don't scrimp when the tax man cometh!

*Info gathered from "How the IRS Targets Small Business" by Jeff Carlson, Your Company Magazine, Apr/May 1997.

 The Majors Push Techno: Why?

That there's no diversity on the radio doesn't concern them . . . . as an independent . . . it should concern you.

Dead artists:

• Notorious B.I.G.
• Tupac Shakur
• Selena
• Curt Cobain

Interchangeable pop stars:

• Spice Girls
• Celine Dion
• Jewel

Hot new techno acts being pushed mercilessly:

• Prodigy
• Goldie
• DJ Spooky
• Tricky
• Murk
• The Chemical Brothers

After signing up every grunge band from here to Coocamonga and successfully sucking all the life from this previously long-lived underground scene, now the majors are trying to tell you throw out all your grunge and get with this new techno thing.

Every major news outlet from MTV to E! to Entertainment Weekly are telling you that success in the music business rests with dead artists, pop interchangeables and techno clones (see sidebar). So, in order to get "with it" bands have got to trade in your guitars for turntables, or else get shot to death in grand gangland-style.

Well, after all the tremendous media push for everyone to appreciate the intrinsic value of techno (ala the DJ-as-artist), I'm here to tell you that the majors are not looking for anything new to love; they're looking to control the market. It's their goal to force whatever would be most profitable for them down the throats of radio DJs, retail outlets, and music consumers globally.

The fact that there's no diversity on the radio doesn't concern them. The fact that many of the artists on their roster aren't getting a chance to showcase their individual talents because it is not fiscally viable doesn't concern them. The fact that channels previously open to new varieties of music become closed once the labels do an all-out assault for one type of genre over another doesn't bother them. But as an independent artist or label, it should concern you. After all, that's why you (and me!) got into this business in the first place; to make the music you love, no matter what kind of music it is.

How can a major label dictate to you what music you should love? Music is not canned peas. True musical expression cannot be bottled. And you can't simply change what type of music you'll listen to just because some accountant in the boardroom at the major label says you should.
For the record, I have absolutely nothing against techno. (In fact, I've had techno artists on my label since 1991.) But to exclude all other kinds of music in order to make room for one kind simply is wrong. It is against everything I believe in.

Hopefully, the public won't buy into it lock, stock and barrel. We've got to let big brother know that we want to listen to all the kinds of music.

I already know as an independent label or artist you'll do your part and not let the majors make you dump your lead singer in favor of a turntable.

Bruce Henderson, President
PMG Records