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Music journalism

I have written for magazines including Making Music, Musician, Melody Maker and Future Music and I have a particular interest in music technology. Read some of my music journalism, together with articles about music written for this website, below.


How to record music on your PC

Photo of the Novation Mininova with distorted colours so the white keys are vibrant green

I'm working on recording my synth music now, and am writing articles that share my experience along the way. Discover useful reviews, tips, tools and techniques here:


Earworm

Book cover: Earworm

In this entertaining techno-thriller, Sean McManus takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair. The story explores how fans relate to their favourite bands, how businesses can use technology to manipulate consumers, and what would happen if the music business disappeared overnight.

"Raising a number of surprisingly sophisticated issues, this book is enjoyably cynical about the seemingly cold-hearted and impenetrable nature of the record industry and peppered with a number of highly comical cameos from the cream of rock'n'roll, which ensures that it never feels like heavy going."
- Record Collector Magazine. More great reviews!


The Future of the Music Industry

From the Beatles to Frank Zappa, bands have sung about being free. But they meant spiritually, not economically. At a time when music is being devalued, how can record labels fight back? In this article, Sean McManus looks at how bands and record labels are finding creative ways to create value around music.

As bands, record labels and fans work out the economics of the new music industry together, I've been watching with interest. Read my blog for the latest views, or check out my archive posts Nine Inch Nails in the coffin of the music industry, Gwen Stefani's licence to print money, Radiohead: Is DRM somewhere over In Rainbows?, Prince and the price of music, and The Independent and free music.


Reviews and interviews

See also my blog post, 100 bands I've seen live. The post keeps growing and has gone way beyond 100 now.


Playing music on the Nintendo DS

If you've got Nintendo's DS handheld games console, read my blog posts about Electroplankton, Jam Sessions, Korg DS-10 and Guitar Hero.


Promoting your music online

I wrote a regular column for Making Music about music technology and promoting your music on the internet. I've archived some of those columns in the section of my site formerly known as the 'virtual a&r list'. Click here for the music technology articles and advice on promoting your music online.


Rock and Pop concert photography

I'm interested in concert photography and have a selection of concert photos in my gallery. While many of them are exclusive to this website, some have appeared with my reviews in Making Music. Bands featured include My Life Story, Kenickie, Radiohead, T'Pau, Babybird, Noel Gallagher, Whale and Right Said Fred.

Credits

© Sean McManus. All rights reserved.

Visit www.sean.co.uk for free chapters from Sean's coding books (including Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps and Coder Academy) and more!

Discover my latest books

Coding Compendium

Coding Compendium

A free 100-page ebook collecting my projects and tutorials for Raspberry Pi, micro:bit, Scratch and Python. Simply join my newsletter to download it.

Web Design in Easy Steps

Web Design IES

Web Design in Easy Steps, now in its 7th Edition, shows you how to make effective websites that work on any device.

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

Power up your Microsoft Excel skills with this powerful pocket-sized book of tips that will save you time and help you learn more from your spreadsheets.

Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

Scratch Programming IES

This book, now fully updated for Scratch 3, will take you from the basics of the Scratch language into the depths of its more advanced features. A great way to start programming.

Mission Python book

Mission Python

Code a space adventure game in this Python programming book published by No Starch Press.

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps book

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps

Discover how to make 3D games, create mazes, build a drum machine, make a game with cartoon animals and more!

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