Recording With Production
When making your own music and recording, you can record under a label, for film, or a production company. You will have to protect yourself in the contract so here is what you do. Put a clause in your contract that says the independent must agree to distribute your records within a certain period of time. Six months in the proper time to release your album. If you have a little bit of clout make sure that the company distributes your album with a major distributor. You can actually get approval from the major distributor. A big one is to make sure that lets say your deal wit an indie is two albums firm, but the distributor drops the indie label after one album. Get a guaranteed release or you can terminate the deal if they hold on your second album if you have a two record firm deal. Make sure you get a six month release or terminate the deal if you have these mentioned clauses.
What's A Producer?
A record producer combines the roles of director and producer in album making process. He or she is responsible for maximizing the creative process. The decide what song goes on the album, deciding arrangements, getting the correct vocal sound. What a producer makes? Just like artist, there are three levels of producers. New producers, mid level, and superstar. Producers get advances just like the artist. Here is the breakdown.
New Producer:
Makes anywhere from zero to $7,500 per master. If the the producer is doing the entire album it ranges zero to $30,000.
Mid level:
$10,000 to $15,000 per master and $30,000 to $50,000 for entire album.
Superstar:
Can make up to $25,000 per track and about $150,000 to $200,000 for entire album.
Hip hop a producer can make more. They are very costly. Here is a post about record releasing in the music business. Click here.
*If you want a great music making software I highly recommend. Click here.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Albums Guaranteed Release
Guaranteed Releases
A very important deal to know about as a recording artist is the release of a record. You want to make sure that a label is highly obligated to you. This is not always the case. When you first sign you do have limited bargaining power with your contract, however you can get a guaranteed release. A label can shelve your record pending the contractual agreement. Remember if you have a delivery clause, you could be in trouble. A label will shelve your record if they feel the timing or the specific sound is not the right timing. Everything is timing on what sells. Make sure you have a guarantee release in your contract. The delivery is between 90-120 days after recording. If this happens you have the right to a written notice saying that "you have not put out my album". After you have submitted the written notice the label has 60 days to release the album. If they don't you have the right to write a second notice. If they don't release within 30 days. If the record is still on hold, you can terminate the deal. The guarantee release clause only works if the record has not been released in the United States. You can negotiate a release provision for foreign territories. This is one of the most important clauses. Make sure you get a guarantee release in the United States.
The Independent Record Label
Over the last few years, deals with indie labels have become more prevalent. This is because lots of big wigs from the major go off and work for indie labels or create there own. Also, the major labels are signing less and less artists. Also, indie labels have better bands and solo acts. Commercial bands lack substance and just put out what sells to a younger audience which buys the majority of the albums these days. The good thing about the indie labels is that the deals with artist are looking more like the major deals. This is a plus when making your own music. If you sign with an indie label, you will get less of an advance than from a major. If you are willing to take a small advance they can offer you %50 of all profits instead of royalties. Make sure that your albums gets released when you are signed with an indie. Indies also want a big chunk of your merchandise rights. This is called a "360 Deal". I will talk about that later. Another clause to watch out for is a "label management fee". This is just another way for them to make money off of you. Make sure that the percentage is very low, or put a maximum limit on what they can take. Indie's will try to take away your manager. Again, a way to get another 15% off of you. Tell them, no way, stay away from my team members. You always have control of your team. Indie's will want to grasp of your publishing rights as well. This means anything you make as a songwriter as opposed to a performer.
*I make daily suggestions on products. This music making software is one of the best on the market. Click here.
A very important deal to know about as a recording artist is the release of a record. You want to make sure that a label is highly obligated to you. This is not always the case. When you first sign you do have limited bargaining power with your contract, however you can get a guaranteed release. A label can shelve your record pending the contractual agreement. Remember if you have a delivery clause, you could be in trouble. A label will shelve your record if they feel the timing or the specific sound is not the right timing. Everything is timing on what sells. Make sure you have a guarantee release in your contract. The delivery is between 90-120 days after recording. If this happens you have the right to a written notice saying that "you have not put out my album". After you have submitted the written notice the label has 60 days to release the album. If they don't you have the right to write a second notice. If they don't release within 30 days. If the record is still on hold, you can terminate the deal. The guarantee release clause only works if the record has not been released in the United States. You can negotiate a release provision for foreign territories. This is one of the most important clauses. Make sure you get a guarantee release in the United States.
The Independent Record Label
Over the last few years, deals with indie labels have become more prevalent. This is because lots of big wigs from the major go off and work for indie labels or create there own. Also, the major labels are signing less and less artists. Also, indie labels have better bands and solo acts. Commercial bands lack substance and just put out what sells to a younger audience which buys the majority of the albums these days. The good thing about the indie labels is that the deals with artist are looking more like the major deals. This is a plus when making your own music. If you sign with an indie label, you will get less of an advance than from a major. If you are willing to take a small advance they can offer you %50 of all profits instead of royalties. Make sure that your albums gets released when you are signed with an indie. Indies also want a big chunk of your merchandise rights. This is called a "360 Deal". I will talk about that later. Another clause to watch out for is a "label management fee". This is just another way for them to make money off of you. Make sure that the percentage is very low, or put a maximum limit on what they can take. Indie's will try to take away your manager. Again, a way to get another 15% off of you. Tell them, no way, stay away from my team members. You always have control of your team. Indie's will want to grasp of your publishing rights as well. This means anything you make as a songwriter as opposed to a performer.
*I make daily suggestions on products. This music making software is one of the best on the market. Click here.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Greatest Hits Albums
Greatest hits albums are a compilation of songs from your albums prior.
Greatest Hits Advances
You should be able to get an advance for your Greatest Hits albums. The amount of the advance will depend on how much bargaining power that you have. A new artist on a major label will be 75k less the unrecouped deficit. If you are a mid level, the deal with often have a "floor" on the Greatest Hits advance regardless of the deficit. This is how it works:
1. If the artist was recouped, the advance would be $400,000.
2. If the artist was unrecouped $100,000, then $400,000 minus the $100,000 deficit equals a $300,000 advance for the Greatest Album.
3. If the artist's was $350,000, then $400,000 minus the $350,000 deficit equals $50,000, but the floor is $150,000, so the artist would get a $150,000.
New Songs for Greatest Hits
Now and days it is becoming more common for companies to require two or three new songs for Greatest Hits released during the term. This is good for everyone because a hit single will pump up your sales on Great Hits album. You will get a higher advance for Greatest Hits album with new tracks on it when making your own music.
*If you want to record at home, this is a great software. Click here.
Greatest Hits Advances
You should be able to get an advance for your Greatest Hits albums. The amount of the advance will depend on how much bargaining power that you have. A new artist on a major label will be 75k less the unrecouped deficit. If you are a mid level, the deal with often have a "floor" on the Greatest Hits advance regardless of the deficit. This is how it works:
1. If the artist was recouped, the advance would be $400,000.
2. If the artist was unrecouped $100,000, then $400,000 minus the $100,000 deficit equals a $300,000 advance for the Greatest Album.
3. If the artist's was $350,000, then $400,000 minus the $350,000 deficit equals $50,000, but the floor is $150,000, so the artist would get a $150,000.
New Songs for Greatest Hits
Now and days it is becoming more common for companies to require two or three new songs for Greatest Hits released during the term. This is good for everyone because a hit single will pump up your sales on Great Hits album. You will get a higher advance for Greatest Hits album with new tracks on it when making your own music.
*If you want to record at home, this is a great software. Click here.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Delivery Requirements Under Contract
Today I will discuss delivery requirements for your album under contract.
Delivery Requirements
Apart from the numbers of your recordings, contracts also talk about the kind of recordings you can delivery. Delivery means much more than just dumping material to someones doorstep. It means the company accepts the recordings as complying with your deal, and the contract will specify what standards the label can use in deciding whether to accept. These standards depend on your bargaining power. Two major requirements are
1) Commercial Satisfactory
This basically means that the label will take recordings that they believe will sell. Records that the label really likes. This will be in your contract as well. If you have not delivered a good album that is required by the deal then the label can terminate your contract.
2) Technically Satisfactory
This means if the record is produced as is high quality technically, then the label has to accept the recording if under contract. This clause is very rare, because it is all about money and how many millions the label can make. The label rather have a average making album that sells than a high quality made album that doesn't sell.
Controlled Composition
One of the most important provisions when making your own music. This limits how much you can make as the songwriter. This means you and your lawyer need to know the extensive knowledge of publishing. I will get into that another time.
If you want to record at home and save money, I recommend a great music making software. A great software for under $30. Click here.
Delivery Requirements
Apart from the numbers of your recordings, contracts also talk about the kind of recordings you can delivery. Delivery means much more than just dumping material to someones doorstep. It means the company accepts the recordings as complying with your deal, and the contract will specify what standards the label can use in deciding whether to accept. These standards depend on your bargaining power. Two major requirements are
1) Commercial Satisfactory
This basically means that the label will take recordings that they believe will sell. Records that the label really likes. This will be in your contract as well. If you have not delivered a good album that is required by the deal then the label can terminate your contract.
2) Technically Satisfactory
This means if the record is produced as is high quality technically, then the label has to accept the recording if under contract. This clause is very rare, because it is all about money and how many millions the label can make. The label rather have a average making album that sells than a high quality made album that doesn't sell.
Controlled Composition
One of the most important provisions when making your own music. This limits how much you can make as the songwriter. This means you and your lawyer need to know the extensive knowledge of publishing. I will get into that another time.
If you want to record at home and save money, I recommend a great music making software. A great software for under $30. Click here.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Mega Record Deals
Mega Deals
Over the past several years there have been what is called "mega deals" in the music industry. Names like,
U2, R.E.M., Madonna, Prince, Micheal Jackson, etc. These contracts are multi-million dollar deals. So what is the actually truth behind the deals and how to obtain a contract such as this? You need to have a long run and be consistant selling millions of albums and selling out concert tours for years. Remember that record labels take options on mew artist up to eight albums. The other reality is that most new artist deals have low end royalties and advances or, at best, are in the midrange. As soon as an artist has big success, they will demand more substantial advances and royalties. If both parties agree on a contract like this the record company wants more albums. The fact is that the record labels continue to extend the deals, and artist rarely end up in a position to change labels. This is the reason why artists tend to spend their entire career at one company.
The Mega Deals Three Big Clauses
When making your own music, there are three major clauses in the mega deal.
Advances
The advances are in the multi-million dollar range. At this level, the deal becomes a big banking transaction-the record company makes its best guess as to what the artist will sell and then computes its potential profit against the risk factor.
Royalty
Superstar royalties tend to be over 20%.
Product
The amount of product in a mega deal has two big aspects:
A. There will be many more firm albums, three or four.
B. The total amount of product tends to be less. A superstar owes a lot of product to the existing label, but the deal is with a new label. The label will get fewer albums than a normal deal.
Mega deals tend to be less than reported in the press. Also, a number of the deals, involving not only a record deal but also a publishing company, film projects, and merchandising. This is my post for today.
*I mention daily great recording products. This is a product I highly recommend. It is a music making software. You can record at home and save money on recording costs from a studio. Click here.
Over the past several years there have been what is called "mega deals" in the music industry. Names like,
U2, R.E.M., Madonna, Prince, Micheal Jackson, etc. These contracts are multi-million dollar deals. So what is the actually truth behind the deals and how to obtain a contract such as this? You need to have a long run and be consistant selling millions of albums and selling out concert tours for years. Remember that record labels take options on mew artist up to eight albums. The other reality is that most new artist deals have low end royalties and advances or, at best, are in the midrange. As soon as an artist has big success, they will demand more substantial advances and royalties. If both parties agree on a contract like this the record company wants more albums. The fact is that the record labels continue to extend the deals, and artist rarely end up in a position to change labels. This is the reason why artists tend to spend their entire career at one company.
The Mega Deals Three Big Clauses
When making your own music, there are three major clauses in the mega deal.
Advances
The advances are in the multi-million dollar range. At this level, the deal becomes a big banking transaction-the record company makes its best guess as to what the artist will sell and then computes its potential profit against the risk factor.
Royalty
Superstar royalties tend to be over 20%.
Product
The amount of product in a mega deal has two big aspects:
A. There will be many more firm albums, three or four.
B. The total amount of product tends to be less. A superstar owes a lot of product to the existing label, but the deal is with a new label. The label will get fewer albums than a normal deal.
Mega deals tend to be less than reported in the press. Also, a number of the deals, involving not only a record deal but also a publishing company, film projects, and merchandising. This is my post for today.
*I mention daily great recording products. This is a product I highly recommend. It is a music making software. You can record at home and save money on recording costs from a studio. Click here.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
New Artist Deals
Fresh New Artists, Bands And Deals
New artists and bands these days are seeing commitment from labels to do only one album or sometimes just two or three master recordings. Label now insist on getting a total of five or six album over the course of the contractual deal. In years past, labels wanted options for eight to ten albums a deal. Recently, the labels now commit to two albums at the beginning of the deal. This term is called two firm. This is how it works. If the first album sells less than 150,00 units in the United States, the label is no longer committed to the second album. So make sure the first album is a seller and doesn't tank.
Minor League And Farm Teams
In sports this is referred to as the developmental league. Meaning if a label likes your material but the band is just not ready for the big leagues. Your contract is referred to as a demo deal. This work by the record label spending very little money on your album. Recording costs usually. Demo is a short term for demonstration
recording. The label records you for a demo deal, and executives site around and discuss and decide if they want to sign you to a major deal. If they decide yes, the next step is then sign you to a regular deal. A developmental deal is the same as a demo deal, except the record label spends more money say $50,000. The difference is they will record a couple of master copies. Unlike the demo deal, the recoding contract is pre-negotiated so you can transition smoothly.
Minimize Options In Your Contract
The more options, terms, and clauses that are in your contract the worse it will be for the band or artist. These are added by the label to protect themselves from losing money and if you are a bust you will not see any money. A lot of options give the power for the record label to get out of your deal. This is never good for you. Keep the contract straight and to the point. Negotiate the best you can. So many options in the contract are never good for you at all.
Term And How Long?
When making your own music, the record company keeps you under an exclusive agreement called the term of your deal. In past years the term of your deal use to be a year, with options to renew for additional periods of one year each. These segments are called periods. Artist or bands would usually deliver two albums each year.
Next post, I will continue more about the artists deals.
* Each post I highly recommend a product that will help artists in recording. If you want to save money and record at home with a high quality recording product. This is a great music making software that is one of the best on the market! Click here.
New artists and bands these days are seeing commitment from labels to do only one album or sometimes just two or three master recordings. Label now insist on getting a total of five or six album over the course of the contractual deal. In years past, labels wanted options for eight to ten albums a deal. Recently, the labels now commit to two albums at the beginning of the deal. This term is called two firm. This is how it works. If the first album sells less than 150,00 units in the United States, the label is no longer committed to the second album. So make sure the first album is a seller and doesn't tank.
Minor League And Farm Teams
In sports this is referred to as the developmental league. Meaning if a label likes your material but the band is just not ready for the big leagues. Your contract is referred to as a demo deal. This work by the record label spending very little money on your album. Recording costs usually. Demo is a short term for demonstration
recording. The label records you for a demo deal, and executives site around and discuss and decide if they want to sign you to a major deal. If they decide yes, the next step is then sign you to a regular deal. A developmental deal is the same as a demo deal, except the record label spends more money say $50,000. The difference is they will record a couple of master copies. Unlike the demo deal, the recoding contract is pre-negotiated so you can transition smoothly.
Minimize Options In Your Contract
The more options, terms, and clauses that are in your contract the worse it will be for the band or artist. These are added by the label to protect themselves from losing money and if you are a bust you will not see any money. A lot of options give the power for the record label to get out of your deal. This is never good for you. Keep the contract straight and to the point. Negotiate the best you can. So many options in the contract are never good for you at all.
Term And How Long?
When making your own music, the record company keeps you under an exclusive agreement called the term of your deal. In past years the term of your deal use to be a year, with options to renew for additional periods of one year each. These segments are called periods. Artist or bands would usually deliver two albums each year.
Next post, I will continue more about the artists deals.
* Each post I highly recommend a product that will help artists in recording. If you want to save money and record at home with a high quality recording product. This is a great music making software that is one of the best on the market! Click here.
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