Contract templates

Intro

Below is a list of the kinds of contracts a musician might come across in his or her career.

Getting Started – band names, logo, website

Bands – band member sharing percentages worksheet

When forming a band, it’s good to go over all the questions below and come to a decision on all these issues. Then, members should sign an agreement laying out all the terms so that in case of a dispute, a per-determined agreement would control.

who owns/shares in the name, logo and service mark?
right to be contract signatory (who signs for the band on all the contracts?)
rights to writer royalties (who gets paid songwriting royalties? only band members involved in the writing of the song)
rights to sound recordings (shared equally among all members)
rights to accounting – all members usually have rights to view records and books
rights to performance income – shared equally by all band members
rights to merch income – shared equally by all band members
right to outside income (endorsements) – shared equally except where product endoresement is by one band member as an individual
physical and hard assets of the band – owernership of equipment paid for by band is owned equally by the band. ownership of items purchased by individual band members – resides in just those who bought that property.
right to expel a member – majority vote? how will you do it?
…. [see p.36 of Music Business Contract Library]

Solo artists

working with venues and clubs [booking agreement]
Hiring backing musicians – work for hire agreements

Working with agents

Working with publishers

Working with producers

Working with managers

Working with indie labels

Working with a recording studio

Working with publicists

Working w photographers/videographers

360 Management Deals

Digital Rights Management

A collection of templates of the most common contracts and agreements you will come across as an independent musicians.

*DISCLAIMER: These contract templates are for educational purposes only. Always consult a lawyer before writing or signing a contract or other legal document.