Some songwriters show resistance to ever signing a publishing agreement: instead, they want to “publish themselves” (so-called...

Licensing for film Licensing of music for film, video and other audio-visual productions has become a key function of publishers...

When a writer is contemplating concluding a publishing agreement, he will want to know the answers to the following questions. Let us try...

The Music Publishing Agreement is sometimes also called the “Exclusive Songwriter Agreement” (particularly in America). In its most basic...

Believe it or not, the big money (and the more immediate money) in the music industry is not in the recording. It is in publishing. Put...

The development deal is what might be offered where the label is prepared to invest in improving the artist, but isn’t quite ready to...

Unlike the full recording contract, the licensing deal allows the record company to hold the copyright of the artist’s work for a period...

This is the agreement entered into between the label and producer, or between the artist and producer. I am sure you want to know a...

Non-controlled songs Sometimes, record companies seek to impose mechanical rate limits not only on controlled compositions, but on every...

The controlled compositions clause essentially puts a limit on how much (in mechanical royalties) the company has to pay a songwriter for...

The controlled compositions clause This is a very, very important topic for recording artists who are also songwriters. A “controlled...

Case studies involving band names There are dozens, and every case seems to be different. That is why it is best to have a clear written...

Video games The latter example, computer games, may be called a “secondary” exploitation right, but I can assure you that the revenues...

Payment And Accounting Of Royalties Consult previous articles for the process that should be followed. However, what should be the action...

Believe it or not, there are some, as long as you negotiate them and put them in the contract. However, when reading any recording...

The “Ten Per Cent Reserve” Record companies often sell “on consignment”, which means that retailers can return what they do not sell. In...

Royalty Statements It is absolutely vital that the artist not only be given regular royalty statements by the label, but also that he is...

At the time of writing, there was a massive legal dispute going on in South Africa with regards to needletime (performance royalties...

Recoupable Deductions As you saw in the previous articles, lots of recoupable deductions are possible, and the label will try to make...

Some of the recoupable expenses a record company can claim include; Music Video Costs With specific regard to video costs, a battle has...