-- CARLSBAD, N.M. — While countless books promise a roadmap to music industry success, author, radio personality, concert promoter, and record label executive Curtis McKinney has taken a different approach: telling the raw truth about the business.
In his newly released book, 4 AM Truths: Chasing the Stage, Surviving the Sharks, McKinney delivers an unfiltered look at the music business, exposing the scams, predatory practices, false promises, and financial traps that derail countless artists before they ever have a chance to succeed.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience spanning radio syndication, national concert promotion, record label operations, artist development, and live entertainment, McKinney shares firsthand stories from an industry often glamorized but rarely explained honestly.
“This isn’t a book about fame,” McKinney said. “It’s about survival. It’s about what really happens behind the curtain when dreams collide with reality.”
The book tackles topics many industry professionals avoid discussing publicly, including pay-to-play touring schemes, misleading endorsement deals, questionable artist management practices, streaming revenue realities, radio promotion scams, and the financial challenges facing independent musicians in today’s marketplace.
But 4 AM Truths is far more than an industry guide.
At its core, the book chronicles McKinney’s personal journey—from a young music fan with big dreams and little money to building nationally syndicated radio programs, producing major live events, launching a record label, battling alcoholism, enduring personal loss, and ultimately finding success on his own terms.
The result is a raw, often emotional narrative that resonates far beyond musicians and entertainment professionals.
Early readers have praised the book for its honesty and emotional impact.
One reader described the work as “raw, real, and no sugarcoating,” while another said portions of the book were so relatable they “had to walk away for a minute” before continuing.
Industry observers note that the book arrives at a time when many aspiring artists are increasingly searching for transparency in a business transformed by streaming platforms, social media, and rapidly changing revenue models.
Rather than offering motivational clichés, McKinney challenges readers to rethink success, avoid costly mistakes, and build sustainable careers based on strategy, resilience, and authenticity.
The title itself reflects the book’s central theme: that 4 a.m. is often when life’s most uncomfortable truths become impossible to ignore.
Part memoir, part business guide, and part cautionary tale, 4 AM Truths offers lessons not only for musicians but for entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone who has ever pursued a dream against long odds.
4 AM Truths: Chasing the Stage, Surviving the Sharks is now available on Amazon and will be released worldwide on June 26, 2026.
For more information, review copies, interviews, speaking opportunities, or media inquiries, contact:
Ballworth Media Group
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 702.300.7526 or 575.302.6722
Book Information:
Title: 4 AM Truths: Chasing the Stage, Surviving the Sharks
Author: Curtis McKinney
Available Now: https://a.co/d/02c2hcvx
Contact Info:
Name: Chad Ballworth
Email: Send Email
Organization: Ballworth Media Group, LLC
Phone: 575-302-6722
Website: http://www.ballworthmedia.com
Release ID: 89195805
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