Noah Nelson
New member
I am a rap artist who is looking for beats, and search i found someone who was willing to make them but they are across the country. Instead of paying up front for beats we decided to make a contract where he get 33% of the money for making the beats and we get the rest (which we'll use to pay for production up front and the rest in pocket). He wrote the contract, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND! I am copying and pasting it below so you can see it... MY QUESTION IS...is this legit? should i sign it? should i get a lawyer to read it?? How would you go about this? IDK im nervous to sign what i dont understand fully...
ARTIST BEATMAKER AGREEMENT
This shall serve as the sole agreement between  (hereinafter referred to as "BeatMaker"), professionally known as  and the recording artist(s) ________________________________ (hereinafter referred to as “Artist”), professionally known as ________________________________ for Beat Maker’s services involving the production of the stereo master track and musical composition known as _________________________________ (hereinafter referred to as the “Beat”) as of:
1. Beat Maker shall deliver the Beat to Artist as a stereo master recording as a WAV file sent digitally via email, with Artist having the option to request any secondary audio tracks the Beat is made up of, which, at Artist’s request, shall be delivered to Artist by Producer via a format of Producer’s choice. Artist has the ability to request a second copy of the Beat which would be sent via regular mail to Artist’s address. Artist accepts full responsibility to provide Producer with this address should Artist decide to apply his ability to request a secondary copy.
2. Artist understands that the Beat referred to above created by Beat Maker is an original audio recording. Producer has full rights as the creator of the audio recording and the musical composition referred to above.
3. Producer retains full copyright and all associated rights to the Beat as an unaltered audio recording and musical composition including but not limited to all rights associated with the performance of the Beat by Artist. Producer grants Artist the right to distribute or perform the Beat as an unaltered audio recording non*commercially, providing Artist forward all profits made from the distribution or performance of the beat to Beat Maker. Artist does not have the right to transfer the rights given to him as set forth in this paragraph to any other entity without the Beat Makers written consent.
4. The beatmaker grants Artist the right to use the Beat in whole or in part in a commercial or non*commercial recording exclusively with the following conditions:
a) Producer retains a minimum of 25% copyright as a writer of any future recording Artist creates using the provided Beat in whole or in part. In the event Artist collaborates with any other entity in writing a new song using any or all elements of the Beat, Artist cannot allocate any part of Beat Makers copyright to any other entity.
b) Beat Maker is granted all royalties associated with the retained 25% copyright of the Beat. This includes but is not limited to all profit made from any commercial distribution and/or performance of any
recording Artist creates using the provided Beat in whole or in part.
c) With regards to any commercial or non*commercial distribution or performance of any future recording Artist creates using the Beat in whole or in part, Artist agrees to give full credit to Producer for producing and co*writing the said recording. This credit must be in written form where appropriate. This includes distribution or performance of the said recording digitally via CDs, digital downloads, or any other format whether now known or hereafter created, throughout the universe. In the event of a recording or new musical composition being created written by Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, and Artist presenting the said recording or musical composition to any record company, Artist agrees to inform the said record company that Producer produced the part of the recording involving the Beat.
d) In the event of a recording or musical composition being created written by Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, any derivative work created by any third party of the said recording is made only with both Artist and Producer’s understanding and consent.
e) In the event of a recording or musical composition being created written by the Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, the Artist will not enter into any publishing deal with any other entity without first consulting Beat Maker and having the Beat Makers written consent and does not assume the right to assign any part of Beat Makers copyright in the new recording or musical composition to any other entity.
5. Beat Maker agrees to allow Artist to present the project to major record companies in pursuit of a record production agreement with a major label. Beat maker understands that Artist may be presenting the Beat or a musical composition or recording using the Beat to major record labels and that Beat maker is not to be Artist’s exclusive representative. In the event Artist enters into a record production agreement with a major record label for any audio recording involving the said Beat provided by Beat maker, Artist agrees to pay Producer a commission of ten percent (10%) of the actual cash advances (exclusive of recording budgets) received by Artist from any such major record label. A major record company as defined herein shall be a company or corporation with gross sales of one million (1,000,000) units in the current calendar year.
6. Artist agrees to pay Producer the amount of  in
for Beat makers services in creating the Beat and partially assigning
rights for its use as outlined herein this agreement. This payment will be made via a method of Beat makers choice. Until payment is made by Artist, Beat maker reserves the right to deem this contract invalid. Any and all agreements set forth and agreed to herein are not effective until payment is made and a receipt is given to Artist by Beat maker.
7. a) This contract sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. No amendment or modification of this contract shall be binding unless confirmed in writing by both parties.
b) Nothing herein contained shall constitute a partnership or joint venture between Artist and Beat maker.

c) This contract shall not become binding and effective until signed by Artist and Beat maker.
d) The undersigned understands and accepts that upon signing this agreement he/she is bound by it until an amendment or modification of this agreement is made and confirmed in writing by both parties involved.
8) Artist must give beat maker 35% of every album sold with a payment every six months given to beat maker.
_____________________________________
PRODUCER
date (dd/mm/yyyy): ____________________
Agreed and Accepted: _____________________________________
ARTIST
date (dd/mm/yyyy): ____________________
ARTIST BEATMAKER AGREEMENT
This shall serve as the sole agreement between  (hereinafter referred to as "BeatMaker"), professionally known as  and the recording artist(s) ________________________________ (hereinafter referred to as “Artist”), professionally known as ________________________________ for Beat Maker’s services involving the production of the stereo master track and musical composition known as _________________________________ (hereinafter referred to as the “Beat”) as of:
1. Beat Maker shall deliver the Beat to Artist as a stereo master recording as a WAV file sent digitally via email, with Artist having the option to request any secondary audio tracks the Beat is made up of, which, at Artist’s request, shall be delivered to Artist by Producer via a format of Producer’s choice. Artist has the ability to request a second copy of the Beat which would be sent via regular mail to Artist’s address. Artist accepts full responsibility to provide Producer with this address should Artist decide to apply his ability to request a secondary copy.
2. Artist understands that the Beat referred to above created by Beat Maker is an original audio recording. Producer has full rights as the creator of the audio recording and the musical composition referred to above.
3. Producer retains full copyright and all associated rights to the Beat as an unaltered audio recording and musical composition including but not limited to all rights associated with the performance of the Beat by Artist. Producer grants Artist the right to distribute or perform the Beat as an unaltered audio recording non*commercially, providing Artist forward all profits made from the distribution or performance of the beat to Beat Maker. Artist does not have the right to transfer the rights given to him as set forth in this paragraph to any other entity without the Beat Makers written consent.
4. The beatmaker grants Artist the right to use the Beat in whole or in part in a commercial or non*commercial recording exclusively with the following conditions:
a) Producer retains a minimum of 25% copyright as a writer of any future recording Artist creates using the provided Beat in whole or in part. In the event Artist collaborates with any other entity in writing a new song using any or all elements of the Beat, Artist cannot allocate any part of Beat Makers copyright to any other entity.
b) Beat Maker is granted all royalties associated with the retained 25% copyright of the Beat. This includes but is not limited to all profit made from any commercial distribution and/or performance of any
recording Artist creates using the provided Beat in whole or in part.
c) With regards to any commercial or non*commercial distribution or performance of any future recording Artist creates using the Beat in whole or in part, Artist agrees to give full credit to Producer for producing and co*writing the said recording. This credit must be in written form where appropriate. This includes distribution or performance of the said recording digitally via CDs, digital downloads, or any other format whether now known or hereafter created, throughout the universe. In the event of a recording or new musical composition being created written by Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, and Artist presenting the said recording or musical composition to any record company, Artist agrees to inform the said record company that Producer produced the part of the recording involving the Beat.
d) In the event of a recording or musical composition being created written by Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, any derivative work created by any third party of the said recording is made only with both Artist and Producer’s understanding and consent.
e) In the event of a recording or musical composition being created written by the Artist using the Beat in whole or in part, the Artist will not enter into any publishing deal with any other entity without first consulting Beat Maker and having the Beat Makers written consent and does not assume the right to assign any part of Beat Makers copyright in the new recording or musical composition to any other entity.
5. Beat Maker agrees to allow Artist to present the project to major record companies in pursuit of a record production agreement with a major label. Beat maker understands that Artist may be presenting the Beat or a musical composition or recording using the Beat to major record labels and that Beat maker is not to be Artist’s exclusive representative. In the event Artist enters into a record production agreement with a major record label for any audio recording involving the said Beat provided by Beat maker, Artist agrees to pay Producer a commission of ten percent (10%) of the actual cash advances (exclusive of recording budgets) received by Artist from any such major record label. A major record company as defined herein shall be a company or corporation with gross sales of one million (1,000,000) units in the current calendar year.
6. Artist agrees to pay Producer the amount of  in
for Beat makers services in creating the Beat and partially assigning
rights for its use as outlined herein this agreement. This payment will be made via a method of Beat makers choice. Until payment is made by Artist, Beat maker reserves the right to deem this contract invalid. Any and all agreements set forth and agreed to herein are not effective until payment is made and a receipt is given to Artist by Beat maker.
7. a) This contract sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. No amendment or modification of this contract shall be binding unless confirmed in writing by both parties.
b) Nothing herein contained shall constitute a partnership or joint venture between Artist and Beat maker.

c) This contract shall not become binding and effective until signed by Artist and Beat maker.
d) The undersigned understands and accepts that upon signing this agreement he/she is bound by it until an amendment or modification of this agreement is made and confirmed in writing by both parties involved.
8) Artist must give beat maker 35% of every album sold with a payment every six months given to beat maker.
_____________________________________
PRODUCER
date (dd/mm/yyyy): ____________________
Agreed and Accepted: _____________________________________
ARTIST
date (dd/mm/yyyy): ____________________