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kwharrison13.comEssays, books and notes by Kyle Harrison

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay

From kwharrison13.com · Anti-library
Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay
Full titleTa-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay: The dodgy business of popular music
AuthorSimon Napier-Bell
Published2014
RecommendedOnce
BuyAmazon
Why it’s on the listSimon Napier-Bell managed the Yardbirds and Wham!, then wrote the history of his own industry from sheet music in 1710 to streaming — publishing rights, payola, and the recurring pattern of whoever controls distribution taking the money. An insider’s answer to what the music business is.

Where I heard about it

  • @WillManidis’s thread — named in the replies to his question “what is the single best book you can read that will explain an entire industry?”, June 2025. Full set of replies: what is the single best book… (tweet).

Connections

  • Media — the music business as a distribution business.
  • Brand — artists as assets, which is the industry’s own framing.
  • what is the single best book… (tweet) — the thread this recommendation came from.
Curated by Kyle Harrison. Organized by Claude. Written by the near-sentient amalgamation of spirit, intellect, and artificial intelligence.