Exploring Music Contracts By: Ty Cohen Music contracts are complex little things, aren’t they? It is many an artist’s dream to be offered incredible music business contracts! Understanding them when they do come along is crucial to the survival of your career. The ins and outs of recording contracts can be reviewed by an entertainment lawyer, but why not understand everything on your own in addition to this. There may be a place in music contracts that talk about Tour Support or something along that line. Well, what exactly is tour support you ask? This is basically the funding that the label will advance to the band, group or artist. This is meant to pay for any losses that occur from touring. This may typically apply to new artists because tours sometimes cost more than the artist earns from the tour. Unfortunately though, tours are absolutely necessary to promote CDs, acquire exposure and sell merchandise. The label will often have to front the money so that the tour is possible. recording contracts usually state that tour support money is reimbursable from royalties. So, in the end the band will pay the entire cost of the tour. Another important question that is covered in recording contracts is whether or not you can appear on other albums. While you will not be able to record solely for other companies, you will be able to make a guest appearance, no problem. Guest performances are usually called sideman performances in music contracts. The Record Label usually always benefits from their artists doing sideman performances. Your record company will require a courtesy credit on the album that acknowledges you are signed exclusively with their label. Different rules many apply to groups when it comes to recording contracts and guest performances. It all depends on whether or not your label has included it in the music business contracts or not. recording contracts are complex but you can gain a firm understanding of them and all that the entail. Having an entertainment lawyer is completely and totally up to you as an artist. But let me warn you, they can get expensive. But if you are going to hire one, then make sure you pick them and you pay for them. You want them on your side no matter what. Either way, it is important that you have a good idea what is going on as well so you aren’t a sitting duck. About the Author: Ty Cohen, the online music industry's most recognizable voice is the former owner of a successful independent record label, current owner of Platinum Millennium publishing and nation-wide music industry seminar speaker and panelist. He is also the author and creator of over 40 best-selling music business books, reports, courses, audio products and other music industry "How to" resources, that have helped tens of thousands of individuals like you to successfully find their way in the music business. Visit http://www.musiccontracts101.com/cmd.php?Clk=2417381/ for more information on music contracts, recording contracts & music business contracts.

Put it in Writing! by: Ty Cohen Don’t ever underestimate the importance of putting everything, and I mean everything, in writing, especially when it comes to music contracts. You just can’t trust promises or handshakes that people give you anymore. Anything and everything that is discussed must be put in writing in music business contracts. Over the next few minutes, I hope you will grasp just how vital this is. It is crucial to put every promise and every single decision made, no matter how minuscule it seems at the time, in writing. If the deal goes sour, you don’t want to end up penniless and caught in a he said, she said type of situation. You could spend years in court and end up in more debt than you were before. Your signed recording contracts will be the only defense you have. If the issue at hand is not included, you might just out of luck in the judge’s eyes. You may have heard that oral contracts can be legally binding and you are right, some can be. There are four types of oral contracts that will not stand up in a court of law, an illegal act, if the terms of the agreement were not specified, if one or both the parties were mistaken or if the subject or terms are prohibited by law. But honestly, there is no way to prove something 100% unless you have written and signed music business contracts or several unbiased witnesses. Otherwise, you may be involved in a situation where it is your word against another person’s and no one can predict the outcome of that. You should also be careful with emailing and text messaging and trying to apply these to the terms of recording contracts. At this time, laws relating to electronic communication and their validity in a court of law are still in their infancy. Don’t count on an email or a text message as your proof of the contractual obligations of any party. The only thing that you can rely on is a written contract, typed up and signed by both parties, with witnesses. Unfortunately, the best way to protect yourself, your career and your income is by doing everything by the book. There have been several famous cases of bands or artists, such as Vanilla Ice, O-Town, Toni Braxton, Garbage, N’SYNC and Courtney Love claim that they have been given a raw deal with their music business contracts and have ended up in very bad positions. So, it definitely pays to put, not only everything in writing but to have a firm grasp and understanding on every last drop of information in your music contracts. About the Author: Ty Cohen, the online music industry's most recognizable voice is the former owner of a successful independent record label, current owner of Platinum Millennium publishing and nation-wide music industry seminar speaker and panelist. He is also the author and creator of over 40 best-selling music business books, reports, courses, audio products and other music industry "How to" resources, that have helped tens of thousands of individuals like you to successfully find their way in the music business. Visit http://www.musiccontracts101.com/cmd.php?Clk=2417385 for more information on Music Contracts, Recording Contracts and Music Business Contracts.