The Music Industry we knew 20 years ago has evolved into a completely different business. Major labels are scrambling to adapt to a new market created by digital streaming and the heavily dominated mobile environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the choice of remaining independent as a musician, and develop a systematic process that any aspiring artist or band manager can confidently follow to ensure their project has the best chance of success. Most of the published writings on this subject are either too broad, or too business-minded for the typical musician. This thesis provides a creative approach with the organization of the information. I present the process of band management in five chapters named after the five movements of traditional sonata form: The Introduction (Chapter 1) presents the various themes that are covered throughout the study, and describes the reasoning for using sonata form for organization and also elaborates on the author’s background. The Exposition (Chapter 2) describes the beginning stages of creating a band and establishing a creative project in the local music scene. This includes the initial formation of the band and its members, the process of networking within the local music scene, and an in depth explanation of how to effectively utilize all the “Essential Websites.” The Development (Chapter 3) describes the process of developing a band into a consistently gigging1 project. The main topics covered are booking shows, performing shows, recording and releasing an album, and what to focus on after it is released. The Recapitulation (Chapter 4) condenses the main topics of the thesis into a more palatable checklist of essential steps that musicians can easily reference throughout the process of managing their project. The Coda (Chapter 5) looks towards the future of the music industry, and serves as a prediction of how the previously effective methods apply to new technologies and website. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection