Last Updated: February 2026

The Music Foundation Course is a self-paced educational program designed to help independent artists, songwriters, producers, and aspiring music-business owners understand and organize the business foundation behind their music.

The course covers the foundational areas of operating professionally in the music industry, including business setup, finances, copyrights, publishing, royalties, distribution, contracts, catalog organization, artist management, and starting an independent record label.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for:

• Independent artists
• Songwriters
• Producers
• Independent musicians
• New artists preparing to release music
• Artists who already have released music
• Artists who want to better understand their royalties and rights
• Artists building a professional music business
• People interested in starting an independent record label
• Artists who may eventually manage additional artists

You do not need to already have a record deal, manager, label, or large catalog.

Is this course only for beginners?

No.

The course can be useful whether you're just getting started or you've already been releasing music.

Someone with an established catalog may use the course to identify areas they need to organize, while someone new to music can use it to understand the foundation before building.

Do I need to have music released already?

No.

You can take the course before releasing your first song.

If you already have released music, the course can also help you understand the information and systems surrounding your existing catalog.

Is this a marketing course?

No.

Marketing instruction has been intentionally excluded from this course.

The focus is on the business foundation behind the music, including organization, rights, finances, contracts, royalties, distribution, publishing, and related music-business systems.

COURSE CONTENT

What will I learn?

The course covers topics including:

• Business formation and structure
• Professional business setup
• Business systems
• Banking and financial organization
• Taxes and financial concepts
• Copyright
• Music ownership
• Songwriter and publishing information
• Performance rights organizations
• Publishing administration
• Royalties
• Music distribution
• ISRCs
• UPCs
• Song splits
• Contracts and agreements
• Catalog organization
• Release organization
• Artist management
• Starting an independent record label
• Artist and label systems
• Business checklists
• Financial/money mapping
• Practical music-business resources

Does the course tell me exactly which company I have to use?

No.

The goal is to help you understand what the different categories are and what they do, so you can make informed decisions about which services or providers may be appropriate for your business.

The course may discuss examples of industry services and resources, but it does not require you to use a specific company.

Will you choose my business structure for me?

No.

The course provides educational information and a framework for understanding business structures and setup considerations.

Your specific legal and tax circumstances may require advice from a qualified attorney or tax professional.

Does the course provide legal advice?

No.

The course is educational and is not a substitute for legal advice.

Contracts, copyright disputes, ownership disputes, business formation decisions, and other legal matters specific to your circumstances should be reviewed with a qualified attorney when appropriate.

Does the course provide tax advice?

No.

The course provides general educational information about financial organization and music-business tax concepts.

Your individual tax situation should be addressed with a qualified tax professional.

Does the course guarantee that I will make money?

No.

The course does not guarantee income, royalties, career growth, record deals, streams, or any particular financial outcome.

Its purpose is to help you understand and organize the business foundation behind your music.

MUSIC & RIGHTS

Will I learn about copyright?

Yes.

The course introduces important copyright concepts relevant to music creators, including the distinction between musical compositions and sound recordings and how ownership and documentation can affect the business side of music.

Will I learn about publishing?

Yes.

Publishing is covered as part of the music-business foundation, including terminology, ownership, registrations, collection concepts, and the role of publishing-related organizations and services.

Will I learn about royalties?

Yes.

The course explains major royalty concepts and the different parts of the music ecosystem that may be involved in collecting and distributing money generated by music.

Will I learn about PROs?

Yes.

The course discusses Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) and their role within the music industry.

Will I learn about music distribution?

Yes.

The course explains what music distribution is, how distributors fit into the music ecosystem, and important information artists should understand when releasing music.

What are ISRCs and UPCs?

The course explains both identifiers and why they are important when organizing and distributing music.

ISRC generally identifies an individual sound recording.

UPC is generally associated with a release or product, such as a single, EP, or album.

Does the course help me organize my songs?

Yes.

Catalog organization is an important part of the course.

You'll learn what information is useful to maintain for each song, including titles, contributors, ownership, splits, identifiers, registrations, distribution information, and other relevant documentation.

What if I have different artists or multiple people on my songs?

The course addresses situations involving multiple contributors and explains the importance of documenting participants, ownership, and splits.

The accompanying checklists can help you determine what information should be gathered and organized.

What if my songs are already registered?

That's okay.

The course can help you understand what registrations and information you should be tracking so you can compare what has already been completed against what still needs attention.

What if I discover incorrect information?

The course can help you identify information that may need attention or correction.

However, the appropriate organization, service provider, attorney, or other qualified professional may need to handle the actual correction depending on the issue.

CONTRACTS & AGREEMENTS

Does the course include contracts?

The course provides access to contract-related educational resources and discusses common music-business agreements and what they are designed to address.

These resources are intended to help you understand and organize your business—not replace individualized legal advice.

Can I use the contracts without an attorney?

You may review the educational resources provided, but you should understand that a template or educational resource does not automatically make an agreement appropriate for your particular situation.

For important agreements or circumstances involving significant rights, money, ownership, or obligations, consulting a qualified attorney is recommended.

Will you review my contract and tell me if I should sign it?

The course itself does not provide individualized legal opinions or determine whether you should sign a particular agreement.

If you need legal interpretation or advice about a specific contract, consult a qualified attorney.

FINANCES

Does the course teach me how to organize my music-business finances?

Yes.

Financial organization is part of the foundation.

The course covers concepts such as:

• Business income
• Business expenses
• Financial records
• Revenue sources
• Royalty tracking
• Money mapping
• Separating business and personal finances
• Financial organization

What is the Money Map?

The Money Map is a practical organizational tool designed to help you visualize where money can enter your music business, where it may flow, and what areas you should keep track of.

Does the course do my taxes?

No.

The course provides educational information and organizational tools. It does not prepare or file your taxes.

MANAGEMENT & LABELS

Does the course teach artist management?

The course introduces the role of management, when management may become relevant, what managers generally do, and how responsibilities can change as an artist's business grows.

Does the course help me start a record label?

Yes.

The course includes a section on building an independent record label.

It builds upon the same foundational concepts an artist learns—business setup, finances, systems, contracts, artist onboarding, catalog organization, and other operational considerations—while expanding the framework to multiple artists.

Do I need to own a label to take the course?

No.

The label material is simply another stage of music-business development for people who want to eventually operate a label or manage multiple artists.

COURSE ACCESS

Is the course self-paced?

Yes.

You can work through the material at your own pace.

There is no requirement to complete the course within a specific number of days.

How long do I have access?

Lifetime access.

There is no course expiration date.

You can return to the material as your music business develops.

Is this a monthly subscription?

No.

The course is a one-time purchase.

Will I have access to the checklists and resources?

Yes.

Applicable checklists, worksheets, reference materials, and practical resources are included with the course.

Can I come back to the course later?

Yes.

That's one of the purposes of lifetime access.

Your needs may change as you release more music, begin earning money, work with other people, or expand your business.

You can return to the course when you need to revisit a topic.

GETTING STARTED

What happens after I purchase?

After purchasing, you'll receive access to the course and can begin working through the material at your own pace.

We recommend starting from the beginning because the modules are designed to build your understanding progressively.

Do I have to complete every module?

You can move through the course at your own pace.

However, completing the full foundation can give you a broader understanding of how the different areas of a music business connect.

What if I already know some of this?

You can move through familiar sections and spend more time on the areas where you need additional understanding.

The lifetime-access model also allows you to return to topics later.

NEED MORE HELP?

What if I don't want to figure out my foundation alone?

That's exactly where our additional services may help.

The course teaches you the foundation.

If you need help applying that foundation to your existing music business, our team can help walk you through the process of organizing what you already have, identifying gaps, and determining what needs attention next.

GET HELP BUILDING YOUR FOUNDATION 

or 

Contact our Support Team. 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

The Music Foundation Course is an educational resource and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, or other professional advice. No attorney-client, accountant-client, or other professional relationship is created through your purchase or use of the course.

Information provided in the course should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional familiar with your individual circumstances. Laws, regulations, industry practices, services, fees, and requirements can change, and users are responsible for independently verifying information applicable to their situation.

The course does not guarantee income, royalties, career advancement, business success, or any particular result.