Anyone with professional insight please help fast!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Atillah
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Atillah

Atillah

Banned
I met a cat the other day who wanted to hear some beats and i let him... he liked tha joints and told me he had a distribution deal in the works and was going to record at LOBO studios in NYC..he wanted some beats on CD and we made a handwritten contract.

I didn't trust the situation completely so I reduced the quality of the beats on the CD until I got a better contract or some money..

The cat wantsme to go to NY with him to record(so he says).

Anyone know of a quick way to get copyrights or a legally binding contract or precedure i can use?
 
Have you already given him the beats? If not, why don't you put some vocal tags on em (I dont know, just something that won't let him just use it, or be able to loop it endlessly against your will, like @ the beginnin of every run, drop like "ATILLAH!" or something-just an example). As for copyrighting, I have no idea, maybe you should post this in another forum to get a quicker, more useful response! ;)
 
ATILLAH I WOULD SAY DO A SEARCH FOR CONTRACTS CUZ THERE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE ONLINE FREE YOU COULD PULL DOWN AND USE. i'LL SEE IF I GOT ONE ON THE PCYEA AS A MATTER OF FACT I GOT A COUPLE YOU GOT IM HIT ME AND I WILL SEND THEM EITHER YAHOO-BEATMAKERZ OR AIM BEATMAKERSSS
 
EVEN BETTER

New Contract: Work for Hire. PT 1


WORKS MADE FOR HIRE
AGREEMENT


This Agreement is made effective as of this ______ day of _______________, 2002, by and _____________________________, hereinafter referred to as “Company” c/o ___________________________________
____________________________ and Independent Contractor, hereinafter referred to as “you or your(s), etc.”:


Independent Contractor: ______________________
___

Address: _______________________
__

_________________________

Telephone: _____________________
____


Project: _________________________


Performance(s):
_________________________ Song: _______________________
_________________________ Song: _________________________
_________________________ Song: _________________________
_________________________ Song: _________________________


I. SERVICES

I.01 You shall render your non-exclusive services as a performing artist for the purpose of assisting in the making of the aforementioned performances and songs. Such performances shall be fulfilled at the conclusion and acceptance of the Master Recording including your performance and accepted on said project or compilation (herein “Master”).

I.02 Your services shall be rendered at times and locations to be designated by Company.

II. COMPENSATION

II.01Your sole compensation for the services provided and rights granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be:

________________________ ($_________) dollars (hereinafter “Fee”)

and other good and valuable non-monetary consideration, the adequacy of which hereby acknowledged. Other than the Fee, you shall not be entitled to any compensation, royalty or other payment (other than required union scale) in connection with your services or the rights granted herein. The Fee shall be paid to you as follows:

II.02 Acceptance of the Master that contains the use of your skills, talent, voice likeness, etc. Payment may be made otherwise if noted herein and accepted by all parties to this agreement. ___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
_____________________________.


III. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

III.01 If you are associated, signed, attached, or otherwise linked to any Record Company, party or otherwise, this Agreement is not and cannot be valid without the Company’s receipt of this agreement signed by both you and your Record Company where indicated.

IV. RECORDING COSTS

IV.01 As between Company and you and this Agreement, Company shall be solely responsible for paying the recording costs of the Master recorded at recording sessions conducted in accordance with the terms hereof.

V. RIGHTS

V.01 The Master, from the inception of the recording thereof, shall for the purposes of copyright law, be deemed “works-made-for-hire” for Company by you. The Master from the inception of the recording, all phonograph records and other reproduction made therefrom, together with related performances embodied therein and all rights, including but not limited to, all copyrights, therein throughout the territory, and all renewals and extensions thereof, shall be entirely Company’s property, free of any claims whatsoever by you or anyone on your behalf. Company shall be deemed author and owner of said copyright and shall have the exclusive right to obtain registration of the copyright, in Company’s name, as owner and author. If Company shall, for whatever reason, be deemed not the author of the Master or the Master is deemed not to be a “work-made- for –hire” made for the Company, the Agreement shall constitute an irrevocable assignment and transfer to Company ownership of all worldwide rights, including but no limited to, all copyrights, renewals and extensions, in the Master. You shall, at the Company’s request, cause to be executed and delivered to Company, transfers of ownership of copyrights, renewals and extensions, in the Master and any other documents as Company may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate to vest in Company the rights grated to Company in this Agreement. You hereby constitute and appoint Company as your agent and attorney – in – fact, with full power of substitution, to execute and deliver such documents or instruments as you may fail or refuse to execute and deliver, this power and agency being coupled with an interest and being irrevocable.

VI. NAME AND LIKENESS

VI.01 Company and any person, firm or corporation designated by the Company shall have the perpetual, non-exclusive right throughout the territory and universe to use and to permit others to use your name ( both legal and professional, whether presently or hereafter used by you), image, likeness, voice, photographs and biological material concerning you for the purposes of trade and advertising in connection with the exploitation of the musical content which is the subject matter of this Agreement embodying the Master. Your cooperation with the Company in providing photographs and biological material and you will not unreasonably withhold or delay providing such.

VII. MUSICAL COMPOSITION

VII.01 Your contribution to the Composition, including your authorship, if any, from the inception of the creation, shall, for the purposes of Copyright law, be deemed a “work-made-for-hire” for Company by you. The Composition from the inception of authorship, including but not limited to, copyrights, renewals and extensions of the copyright, shall be entirely the Company’s. You shall not and cannot make any claim for rights granted Company by this Agreement.

VIII. VIDEO

VIII.02 Company is free to use said musical composition that is the subject matter of this Agreement for the creation of music videos or documentary’s. You are under no obligation to render your services or performances or otherwise participate, however, if you shall choose to do so, then you hereby waive any right you may have to be paid union scale or any other sums in connection with the production. Company shall have the sole rights and shall be sole owner of any and all videos and documentary’s and free of any claims by you. You further agree that Company may use your name, likeness and other biographical material concerning you.

IX. RESTRICTIONS

IX.01 You shall not, for a period of not less than four (4) years after completion of your services, perform, produce or record the Composition or any portion thereof for any person, firm or corporation other than Company for the purpose of making commercially marketable music or Master Recordings. Additionally, upon the expiration of four (4) years, you may only perform, produce or record that portion of any Master Recording that you authored or performed.

X. WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

You hereby warrant, represent and covenant that:

X.01 You have the right, power and capacity to enter into this Agreement. You are at least eighteen (18) years of age and of competent mental capacity. If you are under eighteen (18) years of age or of incompetent mental capacity, your parent or legal guardian has read and will sign on your behalf.

X.02 You shall not perform any act that may impair the rights granted to Company.

X.03 You shall become and remain a member in good standing of any labor union or guilds with which Company may at any time have an agreement lawfully requiring membership.

X.04 The talent furnished by you, whether musical, aesthetic or otherwise shall not violate or infringe upon any law or right, whether it be contractual, copyright, trademark, trade name, right of publicity.

X.05 You will cause to be signed any and all written waivers from all interested parties who may be entitled to your exclusive recording services.

XI. INDEMNITY

XI.01 You will indemnify and hold Company, Artist, Producers, and anyone else on this project, their families, affiliates, successors, assigns, in addition to all officers, directors and employees of the foregoing, harmless in respect of any loss or damage, including reasonable attorney’s fees arising out of any breach or alleged breach of warranty, representation, agreement or obligation made by you herein and hereunder. You agree to reimburse Company for any payment made by Company with respect of any liability or claim to which the foregoing indemnity applies.

XII. NOTICES

XII.01 All notices shall be sent in writing via personal delivery or mail with all charges prepaid to the addresses identified in this document. All changes of address shall be made in writing and shall be effective only after actual receipt.

XII.02 Notice of any claimed breach shall be given within thirty (30) days of the alleged breach and the alleged breaching party shall be given sixty (60) days in which to cure said breach, unless said breach can or will cause irreparable harm, then said breach must be immediately cured.


XIII. MODIFICATIONS

XIII.01 All modifications shall be made in writing and shall be agreed upon and signed prior to their acceptance. Until said acceptance, no modification shall be binding on any party to this Agreement. No waiver by you or Company of any term of this Agreement or any default hereunder shall affect your or Company’s respective rights to said term or any other right granted per this Agreement.


XIV. CONFLICTS OR BREACH

XIV.01 This Agreement has been entered into in the State of Georgia, and is therefore accepted by all parties to this Agreement that the State of Georgia, its laws and courts maintain the only jurisdiction, with the only exception being the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, located in Atlanta, Georgia. The parties, though, agree to resolve disputes with binding arbitration.

XIV.02 All parties to this Agreement shall acknowledge service at the addresses listed above. Company’s attorney, ___________________________________
______________ will accept service on behalf of the Company.

XIV.03 You acknowledge by signing this Agreement that ____________________ (Lawyer Name) does not and has not represented you or advised you concerning this Agreement. You further warrant that if ____________________ (Lawyer Name) has represented you in the past or present concerning any issue that you hereby waive any conflict that may arise or has apparent ability to rise and that you accept the attorney’s good faith efforts to deal fairly with all parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto lay their hands in signature this __________ day of ____________________, 2002

___________________ (Company Name)

BY: _______________________ BY: _______________________
REPRESENTATIVE

TITLE: _______________________ _______________________
SOCIAL SECURITY NO.


_______________________
DATE OF BIRTH




By signing where indicated below, this shall confirm that _________________________ (RECORD COMPANY) does hereby acknowledge and consent to the performance of ______________________________ pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and, accordingly, that RECORD COMPANY hereby waives any applicable rights it might hold in connection with such performances and agrees to the terms provided herein.

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:



BY: ___________________________
REPRESENTATIVE

___________________________
TITLE
 
Production Deal Memo:

Here's what you need to get started:

Your company name
c/o your lawyers/managers name and address


Date

Artists names and addresses

Re: Deal Memorandum - ___________________to produce ____________________ ("Artist")

Gentlemen:

The following sets forth the terms on which we have agreed that __________________("Producer") will engineer and produce master recordings (the
"Masters") for Artist:

1. Fee: Advance: Artist shall pay Producer a non-recoupable fee (the "Fee") of $000.00 per day, which shall be payable as follows: (i) one-half prior to commencement of recording, and (ii) the balance upon delivery of the Masters to Artist. In addition, for each Master that is embodied on a record which is released by a Qualifying Label, Producer shall be paid an advance (the
"Advance"), recoupable against the Producer's Royalty, of $0,000.00 per Master. Payment of such advance shall be due within ten (10) days after delivery to, and acceptance by, the Qualifying Label of such record. A "Qualifying Label" means a record label owned by, or distributed in the United States by, AOL/Time Warner, BMG, Universal/Vivendi, EMI, Zomba or Sony, or a record label distributed in the United States by a national independent distributor such as RED, Rykodisc, Koch or the like.

2. Royalty: For sales of records by a Qualifying Label, Artist shall pay Producer a pro-rated producer's royalty (the "Producer's Royalty") of three percent (3.0%) of SRLP of net sales of full-priced records through normal retail channels in the US embodying the Masters. Producer's Royalty on other sales (including foreign sales) shall be reduced, escalated, adjusted and paid in the same proportion, and at the same times, as is Artist's basic "all in" royalty. Producer's Royalty shall be paid retroactive to record one after recoupment of all recording costs incurred in connection with the Masters at the net artist rate (i.e., Artist's basic "all in" rate less the royalty rate payable to Producer), subject, however, to recoupment of the Advance.
Producer's Royalty shall be paid directly to Producer by the Qualifying Label releasing the Masters pursuant to an irrevocable letter of direction.

3. Credit: Artist shall accord Producer the following credit in all trade and consumer advertisements relating to the Masters of 1/4 page or larger, and in and on the outer packaging, label copy, liner notes and labels of all records embodying any Master (and always in the first position):

"Produced by ___________________"


Deal Memorandum
Page 2

4. Major Label Release: If Artist enters into a recording agreement with a Qualifying Label within eighteen (18) months of the date of delivery of the Masters to Artist, Artist shall either: (a) cause Producer to be designated by the Qualifying Label to produce the first long-playing, studio album required to be delivered by Artist under the recording agreement (at the same
royalty rate and "per master" advance specified above), or (b) pay Producer a non-recoupable fee of $5,000.00, payable upon delivery and acceptance by the Record Company of such record.

5. Grant of Rights: From the inception of the recording of the Masters and in perpetuity, Artist shall own the entire universe-wide rights, title and interests, including, without limitation, the copyrights, in and to the Masters, the performances embodied therein and the results and proceeds of Producer's services hereunder, as Artist's employee for hire for all purposes of the applicable copyright laws, free of any claims by Producer or any
person, firm or corporation. Alternatively, Producer grants to Artist the entire universe-wide rights, title and interests in perpetuity derived from Producer, including, without limitation, the copyrights, in and to the Masters.

6. Definitive Agreement: Upon the request of Producer, Artist shall execute a more formal agreement, along with a letter of direction, containing the above terms and such other consistent terms as Producer and Artist shall negotiate in good faith. However, until a more formal agreement is executed, this Deal Memorandum shall be binding on Artist and Producer.

IF THE ABOVE IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN TO MY ATTENTION. THANK YOU.

Sincerely,


_____________________________
_____________________________
ARTIST:


_______________________________ _______________________________



_______________________________ _______________________________



_______________________________ ____________________________
 
Thanks fellas....i gave him a voice tagged cd with the quality reduced, but he said it was unacceptable(maybe because every beat was only 8 bars long also)

then i wrote a ontract and had him, myself, and two witnesses(one for him, one for me) sign and FINGERPRINT it.

The contract bassically said that he could not use the beats for anything except recording(not selling, marketing the recorded work, ect...).It also said that he couldn'tattempt to create any derivative works from my arrangements(ie looping a short portion).
 
Wait, he said these exact words (unacceptable)... aren't you doing him a favor? I don't know, this seems a bit shady in my eyes, but I don't know the whole situation. Make sure you know this guy's credentials too, and that your contract is legally binding, see if you can get some legal advice on this, ACTUAL legal advice. Its too late now I suppose since you gave him the beats already. MAKE COPIES OF THE CONTRACT! Hope it all works out for you and you get paid in the end!
 
Yeah theresa alot favors in the biz...or in any art...at least your gettin stuff out there...

I remember a little trick from some shit i did awhile ago....

If it works out w/ u and w/ him...best of luck....

I sense ur caution so:

record an exact copy of the CD u gave him, and mail it to yourself....

yeah mail it 2 yourself...

If ever any portion of your creative work is "jacked"....

you have an officially *sealed* and dated proof of your original creation...

u wouldn't open the mail until (god forbid) u were actually IN the courtroom..

having prepared a case with specific points...that u prepare off listening from your computer to get the exact track times, blalbiddy blah...

just a thought....good luck tho....

uno
 
My friend suggested that once... so I suppose it is true... BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT! Explain cause I might need to do the same!
 
That is the Poor Man's Copyright

You should be able to find more info about it by Google. I have personally been told by musicians (when I was in college) that it is binding but I have also heard that it is not binding. The Poor Man's Copyright is at least a good start. But, without GOOD MONEY, aint nothing going your way in a court of law -- regardless of the case -- "music" is no different from any other legal environment. MONEY MAKES THE CASE GO ROUND!!!
 
Atillah said:
I met a cat the other day who wanted to hear some beats and i let him... he liked tha joints and told me he had a distribution deal in the works and was going to record at LOBO studios in NYC..he wanted some beats on CD and we made a handwritten contract.

I didn't trust the situation completely so I reduced the quality of the beats on the CD until I got a better contract or some money..

The cat wantsme to go to NY with him to record(so he says).

Anyone know of a quick way to get copyrights or a legally binding contract or precedure i can use?

ok beatmakers gave you some good info to use..you can change it around as you need to ..i got one somewhere..the only way to copyright is the right way..and thats the only way it will stand up in court..the poor mans way doesnt work.. http://www.copyright.gov ..and it will be useless to tagg a beat that someone wants to record on..as long as you have a sign contract you are covered..and once its signed then you send him a good quality wav file..hope this helps
 
Edit how you please...

ARTIST PRODUCER AGREEMENT


Date:_______________

This shall serve as the sole agreement between _________________ (hereinafter referred to as "Producer") for services in producing Master Recordings, (hereinafter referred to as "Masters") for and of the recording artist(s) professionally known as _________________ (hereinafter referred to as "Artist").


1. The term of this agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and shall continue until the completion of Producer's services.

2. (a) Recording sessions for the Masters shall be conducted by Producer under this Agreement at such times and places as shall be mutually designated by Artist and Producer. All individuals rendering services in connection with the recording of Masters shall be subject to Artist's approval. Artist shall have the right and opportunity to have Artists representatives attend each such recording session. Each Master shall embody the performance by the Artist of a single musical composition designated by the Artist, and shall be subject to Producers approval as technically satisfactory for the manufacture, broadcast and sale of phonorecords, and, upon Artists request, Producer shall re-record any musical composition or other selection until a Master technically satisfactory to Artist shall have been obtained, provided additional production costs will be paid by Artist. Producer agrees to begin preproduction, rehearsals, and recording on _____________________, 19____.

(b) Producer shall deliver to Artist a two-track stereo tape suitable for duplication and manufacture of phonorecords for each Master. All original session tapes, rough mixes and any derivatives or reproductions thereof shall also be delivered to Artist, or, at Artists election, maintained at a recording studio or other location designated by Artist, in Artists name and subject to Artists control.

3. All Masters produced hereunder, from the inception of the recording thereof, and all phonorecords and other reproductions made therefrom, together with the performances embodied therein and all copyrights therein and thereto, and all renewals and extensions thereof, shall be entirely Artists property, free of any claims whatsoever by Producer or any other person or person engaged in the production of the Masters. (It being understood that for copyright purposes Producer and all persons rendering services in connection with such Masters shall be Contractors for hire).

4. (a) Conditioned upon Producer's full and faithful performance of all the terms and provisions hereof, Artist shall pay Producer, as an advance recoupable by Artist from any and all royalties payable by Artist to Producer hereunder, the sum of $ ________ DOLLARS payable upon commencement of recording, and the balance upon the delivery to you of the Masters.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in (a) above to the contrary:

(i) in the event the Masters are released on any label other than ___________
or it's subsidiary or affiliate label or labels, Producer shall not receive a royalty in connection with the sale of such records;

(ii) in the event the Masters are released on the ______________ label or a subsidiary or affiliate label, Producer shall be paid in respect to the sale of such phonorecords a royalty rate of three percent (3%) of the suggested retail price of each phonorecord sold and paid for in the United States. Payments of royalties from foreign sources shall be ONE HALF of the United States royalty rate. All fees paid to Producer hereunder shall constitute recoupable advances which shall be recouped prior to further payment of royalties.

5. Producer has agreed to assist Artist in presenting the Masters to major record companies in pursuit of a record production agreement with a major label. Producer understands that Artist will also be presenting the Masters to major labels and that Producer will not be Artists exclusive representative. Therefore, Producer agrees to notify Artist prior to making any formal contact with representatives of any major record company on Artists behalf in order to coordinate respective efforts and agrees to contact on Artists behalf only those companies mutually agreed upon. In the event Artist enters into a record production agreement with a major label for the Masters recorded hereunder and the further services of Artist as a result of substantial efforts and negotiations by Producer with such company within the period of ONE YEAR following the completion of the Masters Artist agrees to pay Producer a commission of six percent (6%) of the actual cash advances (exclusive of recording budgets) received by Producer upon execution of said agreement. 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 calender year.

6. Producer hereby warrants, represents, and agrees that he is under no disability, restriction, or other incumbency with respect to his right to execute and perform the services described in this Agreement.

7. Artist shall have the right, at Artists election, to designate other producers for recording sessions with the Artist, in which event Producer shall have no rights hereunder with respect to the Masters produced at such other recording sessions.

8. Artist shall have the right, at Artists election, to assign any of Artists rights hereunder, in whole or part, to any subsidiary, affiliated, or related company, or to any person, firm or corporation acquiring rights in the Masters produced hereunder.

9. (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) Artist shall not be deemed to be in breach of any of Artists obligations hereunder unless and until you have given Artist specific written notice of the nature of such breach and Artist have failed to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after Artists receipt of such notice.

(c) Nothing herein contained shall constitute a partnership or joint venture between Artist and Producer.

(d) This contract has been entered into in the State of ______, and its validity, construction, interpretation, and legal effect shall be governed by the laws of the State of __________________.

(e) This contract shall not become binding and effective until signed by Artist and Producer.

_______________________________
PRODUCER


Agreed and Accepted:

_______________________________
ARTIST
 
also edit as you please..

ARTIST - MASTER PRODUCER AGREEMENT

1. This is an agreement made this day of , 19 , in,
, between the undersigned MASTER PRODUCER and the undersigned ARTIST.

2. The ARTIST has signed a recording contract with the following RECORD COMPANY:
and the date of the contract was 19 .

3. In this agreement RECORD COMPANY promised to make royalty payments to ARTIST.

4. ARTIST promises to pay to MASTER PRODUCER the following percentage of the amounts received by ARTIST from RECORD COMPANY:

5. ARTIST promises to make the payments to MASTER PRODUCER as soon as the check from the RECORD COMPANY is received by ARTIST.

6. ARTIST promises to send all royalty statements (or copies) and other communications (or copies) from RECORD COMPANY to MASTER PRODUCER.

7. ARTIST hereby instructs his bookkeepers and accountants to make available for inspection and copying the RECORD COMPANY contract and all statements rendered by the RECORD COMPANY to the ARTIST.

8. This agreement does not cover and is not intended to cover any agreement between the RECORD COMPANY and anyone else (including the ARTIST and the MASTER PRODUCER) concerning song publishing and mechanical licenses. In the event either is entitled to share in songwriting and/or publishing rights and/or royalties, a separate agreement will cover that aspect.

9. ARTIST hereby requests, instructs, authorizes and empowers RECORD COMPANY to pay said percentages directly to MASTER PRODUCER.

10. The duration of this agreement commences as of the date of the contract between ARTIST and RECORD COMPANY, and shall continue as long as ARTIST is entitled to monies from RECORD COMPANY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have entered into this written agreement as of the date above written.

MASTER PRODUCER:

ARTIST:
 
Hey man

If he wants you to go to the studio with him an track the beat, tell him your gonna need your advancement before you can start working with him. It don't wanna what kinda distro deal he is workin an might back out of get your advancement b4 work starts, also the poors man copyright IS NOT legally binding, spend the $30 an get your beats officially copywritten by the goverment. Cover your own ass cuz no 1 is gonna do it for you.
 
Hey man

If he wants you to go to the studio with him an track the beat, tell him your gonna need your advancement before you can start working with him. It don't wanna what kinda distro deal he is workin an might back out of get your advancement b4 work starts, also the poors man copyright IS NOT legally binding, spend the $30 an get your beats officially copywritten by the goverment. Cover your own ass cuz no 1 is gonna do it for you.

Good advice Big. The copyright can be done online here http://www.copyright.gov/ The poor mans copyright doesn't stand up in court and either will a computer/CD generated time stamp. They can be manipulated. Check the FAQ's and the electronic copyright office link to the right. Too many leeches in ANY business. C.Y.A.:cool:
 
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