Music Law: Recording, Management, Rights, and Performance Contracts

Learn how to understand and negotiate terms for the four major types of music business contracts: recording, management, performance, and rights agreements.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Recording Contracts

• Why bother?
• The grant
• Term and options
• Advances and royalties
• Deductions
• Controlled composition
• Creative control
• Leaving members
• Copublishing
• Marketing provisions
• Warranties and indemnity
• One-offs

2. Management Contracts

• Before you sign
• What will your manager do for you?
• Paying the manager
• Post-term commissions
• Terminating a manager

3. Performance Contracts

• Basic terms
• Liability and safety
• Getting paid

4. Rights Agreements

• Musician releases
• Artwork permissions
• Using samples

5. Other Agreements

• Band partnership
• Publishing
• Record shopping
• Producer agreements

6. Contract Basics

• Oral agreements and record keeping
• Boilerplate
• Attorney fees, mediation, and arbitration
• Five rules for all music contracts

Conclusion

• Next steps