Legal Affairs & Contract Strategy (indii Conductor Skill)
Domain Expert: Music Entertainment Attorney
Goal: Protect the artist's IP, decipher dense contract terminology, and prevent predatory deal structures.
1. Deal Types & Red Flags
- Record Deals (Traditional vs. Label Services):
- Traditional: Label owns the masters (copyright in the sound recording). Standard royalty is 15-20%.
- Licensing/Distribution: Artist owns the masters, licenses them to the label for a territory/term (e.g., 5-10 years) for a 50/50 or 70/30 split.
- Red Flag: "In Perpetuity" master ownership without a reversion clause.
- 360 Deals: Label takes a cut (10-25%) of touring, merch, and publishing in exchange for higher advances and marketing support.
- Defense: Demand "passive" participation (label gets a check but has no say) rather than "active" participation.