ABSTRACT

This chapter introduces the concept of entrepreneurial thinking and discusses how it can benefit you in whatever career you choose. Entrepreneur Brian McTear will explain how his company, Weathervane Music, is helping to build a healthy musical ecosystem in Philadelphia and beyond. We’ll explore music as a venerable industry in transition and reflect on the tension between music as art and commerce. You will be encouraged to consider why we as humans are addicted to music, and how we struggle to balance the artistic and the commercial aspects of art. You will meet Third Rail, the fictional indie do-it-yourself (DIY) band whose adventures will reappear throughout the book. Chapter 1 concludes with Talking Back, a section in every chapter that will help you review the key concepts and prepare for a lively class discussion.