Recording Contract Received

[TexRoadkill]

What are they going to do for him? Are they going to finance an album, tour any guaranteed promotions? Any advances against royalties?

First time contracts will always suck for the artist. I would get rid of any stipulation that they own the name after the contract expires.

A shitty record deal is still better than no record deal but you haven't mentioned what if anything they are offering.

 

[DigitalDon]

Tex - From talking to this guy in the past I have a good idea of what would happen. The company would pay to record a single and float it around to do some market testing. If it went very well they would then record a complete CD. Of course all costs would go against the artist royalties, etc. If it didn't go well, my son would still be locked in with the company not willing to spend anymore money (very limited finances I'm sure). The company could basically put him on the shelf, take a loss and hope that my son does something on his own that they can get their fingers into. No thanks. He's 20 years old and the (musical) creative spark is just now igniting. He's been performing since he was 15 but his vocal and guitar abilities are fusing together right now. It's really exciting for us (as parents) and we won't allow him to get screwed or his spirit shit on. Lots of stuff ahead for him. Did I get off subject

DD

 

[TexRoadkill]

It sounds like you've already made up your mind.

If they are willing to pay for some real studio time and a good demo it may be worth it.

If you can get them to release the demo to you or allow you to purchase it at the end of the contract it could be worthwhile. Obviously them owning his name forever would have to go, lol.

 

[zer0sig]

unless these guys play switchfinger with tommy motola regularly, a few man operation is not going to be able to make this standard corporate robbery artist contract worthwhile. if this was a label with the resources to record an album and pay for a tour and get some national radioplay, it might just be worth it, because once your son/his band became real breadwinners, the contract would be destroyed by public opinion/the court system. that's your best bet when getting signed with any conventional label, be they big or just wannabes. the being big allows exposure that can get one a big enough media voice to take their life back as well as priceless industry experience.

contracts with lifetime rights to a person's name are horseshit. looks like all these guys really have going for them is someone's nest egg and a vicious lawyer.

 

[Fusion2]

typical riaa contract terms, i just saw where independents are selling there own now, there's a new site, sorry, i surf way to much and fast to recall where it is, do a google, excuse the vagueness...

it's hard times for us musicans now with all the greed going around the industry, to many fat money grubbing middle men in it now...

15 maybe 20% of 100 profit just sucks, its criminal is what it is, hang em high i say...

there will bw a day when musicans get paid for what "they" do and not the fat paper pushers... excuse the vent please...

best luck though...