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

Music contracts are tricky, but you're more likely to have a successful career in the music business if you can understand and negotiate their terms. In this course, author and attorney Rich Stim covers the main language, concepts, clauses, and stipulations in four major types of contracts: recording, management, performance, and rights agreements.

For example, when it comes to record contracts, it's important to know how advances and royalties work, how to maintain creative control, and what happens when a member leaves a band. Rich also tackles management contracts, describing what managers can do for you—and what to do when you need to let them go. Next, he explores the basic terms, riders, and payment options in performance contracts. Then learn about releases, artwork permissions, publishing and producer agreements, and other types of legal arrangements. Rich wraps up the course with a discussion of oral agreements, attorney fees and roles, and five basic rules worth remembering for every music contract.

Learning objectives
Why bother with a contract?
Understanding terms, options, royalties, and deductions
Making provisions for marketing
Including warranties and indemnity clauses
Hiring a manager
Understanding performance contracts
Getting permission to use samples
Creating a band partnership
Record keeping
Going through mediation or arbitration