Free book · The Independent Musician's Library
Music First
The short one. The manifesto underneath everything else I've written: why the music has to come back to the front — and how to win back the time to actually make it.
It's free. Always has been. Pop your email in below and it's yours — you'll also land on The Soundcheck, my short weekly note from the road.
Free download
Where shall I send it?
Enter your email and the book is yours instantly — no charge, ever. You can unsubscribe from The Soundcheck any time.
If this lands with you
Music First is the why. The rest of the library is the how — eleven guides on the actual craft of making a living from music, plus the AI tools I now use to take the admin off my plate so I can get back to the songs.
Every guide can be bought on its own. But if you want the honest best value, the bundles save you the most.
Common questions
Is there a free book for working musicians?
Yes — Music First is a free short book about why the music has to come back to the front of a music career, and how to win back the time to actually make it. Enter your email and it's yours instantly, no charge.
How do you make a living from music?
It's a mix of craft — getting gigs, weddings, reading a room, running your own sound — and using modern tools to take the admin off your plate so you can focus on playing. Music First is the why; The Independent Musician's Library is the how, with a guide on each part of the job.
What is The Independent Musician's Library?
A set of practical guides by working musician Aaron Norton on the real business of making a living from music: getting gigs, live sound, home recording, weddings, and using AI without losing the song — plus three bundles and free reads to get started.