MUSIC BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS*

Master Today’s Music Industry Essentials with
Natasha Stanisavljevic.

24th June, 6pm CET. Online.

THE WORKSHOP

Are you an independent artist, music producer, or aspiring professional looking to break into the music industry? This online music business workshop is a practical, beginner-friendly crash course designed to help you understand the fundamentals of the modern music industry. Perfect for musicians, label managers, and creatives, the session covers essential topics including how music rights and royalties work, digital music distribution, marketing and pitching strategies, copyright basics, and common music industry contracts and deal structures. Gain the knowledge you need to navigate today’s evolving music landscape, protect your creative work, and take control of your career in the music business.

The Details:

  • A brief introduction to Natasha and her background, followed by an overview of the workshop and key takeaways.

  • An explanation of how the industry is structured, including the roles of artists, labels (independent vs. major), distributors, Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), publishers, and more. Introduction to key industry terminology and an overview of revenue streams: streaming, downloads, sync licensing, live performances, merchandise, and publishing.

  • A breakdown of copyright fundamentals, including the difference between master and composition rights. Overview of PROs and collecting societies, mechanical royalties, and digital royalties from streaming platforms, YouTube, and downloads.

  • An introduction to digital distribution and how to get your music on streaming platforms. Exploration of streaming strategies, including playlisting, marketing, and direct-to-fan engagement. Discussion of alternative revenue sources such as crowdfunding, NFTs, and sync licensing.

  • A look at key artist agreements, including artist-label, publishing, distribution, and remix contracts. Overview of common deal structures like 360 deals, licensing, advances, and recoupment. Guidance on red flags to watch for and key negotiation tips.

  • Strategies for building an artist brand and online presence, including effective pitching techniques. Insights into social media, fan engagement, PR, promotion, and networking in the music industry.

  • Open session for participant questions, final insights, and wrap-up of the workshop.

MEET NATASHA

A black-and-white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a fur scarf and a long-sleeve top, standing against a gradient background with dramatic lighting.

With over a decade of experience in music and entertainment, Natasha is both an established industry professional and a dynamic electronic music artist. Her journey began in Johannesburg, first in event promotion and later on stage as a DJ, deepening her connection to the art.

She has since played some of South Africa’s most renowned festivals and clubs —including Ultra South Africa, Origin Festival, and Mixmag’s The Lab—sharing stages with global icons like Amelie Lens, Stimming and Stephan Bodzin.

Behind the scenes, Natasha has managed label operations for Ryan Murgatroyd’s imprint Swoon Recordings and, during her time at the esteemed music distributor LabelWorx, worked closely with leading record labels such as This Ain’t Bristol, Stashed, Seeing Is Believing, NowNow Records, Dreams On Wax, Nano Records, Rejected, Spectrum and The Gardens of Babylon.

Currently, she serves as an Account Manager for Labels & Artists at Sonomo, a pioneering financial exchange for music royalties. Deeply immersed in both the creative and business sides of music, Natasha brings a well-rounded and passionate perspective to the industry.