The First Stage of a Music Project

This chapter examines how strategies from lean entrepreneurship can be applied to music projects, focusing on the minimum viable product (MVP) as a tool for market testing and iterative development. While commonly associated with software startups, MVPs enable entrepreneurs to gather feedback and achieve validated learning before committing significant resources. The chapter examines how this approach can be used in music entrepreneurship to reduce financial risk, accelerate learning, and inform strategic decisions. It discusses practical applications, such as targeting early adopters, using short development cycles, and leveraging crowdfunding models to test demand and secure financing. Examples include pre-order systems for vinyl production, artist development strategies, and the development of a music festival. The chapter argues that music entrepreneurs can benefit from creating music MVPs to experiment strategically with new forms of value creation with music while reducing risk.