The Local Music Journey… is a resource for independent music professionals outlining necessary steps to build a solid foundation from which to grow a successful independent music career. Amongst the plethora of useful information Venturella provides, based on his own experiences, the author interviewed many independent music professionals who share their take on their own music journey.
“Some of the best answers related to indie music industry questions come from those in the indie music community -- they're more experts than they know, and collectively the expertise is certainly more than mine alone," said Venturella.
Venturella continues, "The goal of the book is to serve as a snapshot in time creating a wider understanding of what it takes to be successful in the independent music industry -- however, one defines success -- and provide some ideas and resources to help indies achieve their success beginning with small, local steps as needed working toward larger and farther reaching -- regional, national and international -- career victories.
"This book is really for anyone involved in indie music no matter if you're just beginning or a veteran," said Venturella.
The Local Music Journey was written and compiled independently by Venturella. He conducted several personal interviews and many more were captured with the help of social media. "This is really the first book that I'm aware of that covers the business of independent music on a local level here in Wisconsin. It's also the first book of its kind to tout new media tools used to capture the majority of the book's interviews," said Venturella.
The book's forward was written by Roy Elkins, Founder and CEO of Broadjam. Some of the key interviews include: musician, Peter Mulvey; artist development company, Machine Records; members of the iconic Madison, WI-based recording studio, Smart Studios; Founder of the Madison Area Music Association, Rick Tvedt; and many more.
Additional features surrounding the book are found on the book's website, www.localmusicjourney.com, which includes the Resourceful Musician Blog--valuable innovative, and often low-cost, ideas for independent musicians to market and promote themselves. Also on the website is an opportunity for independent musicians to shamelessly self-promote on the Promote Yourself page.
The book's website even offers a chance to give back with an option for supporters to make a donation. Donations are then disbursed quarterly to area organizations that promote the enrichment of music, music education, and providing instruments to kids.