Contracts like an artist agreement help avoid miscommunications and confusion over the rights and responsibilities of both parties involved. Artist agreements typically include availability expectations, performance markers, and licensing or ownership rights of the works created during the partnership.
A Recording and Publishing Agreement On Certain Recordings is a type of agreement under which an Artist assigns both recording and publishing rights to a label in exchange for an advance, royalties and a commitment from the label to fund and release the recordings and procure synchronization and/or performance license ...
Record contracts typically state their duration as a requirement for the artist to make an initial recording within a certain time frame (often one year), followed by successive one-year (or occasionally multi-year) options to extend the contract for up to seven total albums for a total of seven years.
A commission contract outlines the conditions for an artist to create a commissioned work. Contracts generally specify project dates, payment schedules, notable project requirements, or constraints. They also build out scheduled check-in points for the artist and commissioner.
The contract term period typically ranges from 1-3 years for young artists or those just starting out. Long-term agreements, which can be 5-10 years long or longer, are usually offered to more established and accomplished musicians or those with a successful track record.
Managers typically receive 15% to 20% of the artist's gross earnings (before any expenses are deducted), but this figure can vary from contract to contract. For example, a manager might start at 20% and decrease his or her cut to 15% after a period of time or once the artist achieves a certain level in their career.
To help you get started, take a look at a few basic components to include in your contract so you can better protect your art business. Client Info. Project Info and Terms. Project Timeline. Costs and Payment Terms. Itemization. Artist's Rights. Cancellation Terms. Acceptance of Agreement.