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Go at your own pace
14 Sessions / 1 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Royalty, Music labels, Recording contracts, Record deals

Not available for purchase in India

Open for Enrollment

The Musician's Guide to Record Labels & Record Deals

Open for Enrollment
You can also start immediately after joining!

Would you like to enroll?

Enrollment for this course has closed. But you can enroll in a future offering (please select)

Enrollment has closed

Go at your own pace
14 Sessions / 1 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Royalty, Music labels, Recording contracts, Record deals

Not available for purchase in India

Course Description

This class is all about how bands (and any musical collaborators) work together.


We will start with traditional record label deals, and progress forward to talking about more modern deals. We will talk a lot about the "need" for a record deal in the modern age, and how you can get by without one at all. I'll walk you through every issue in the contract so you fully understand what is being asked.


This series is pulled directly from the courses I've created for my university position in Music Business. All of these courses are designed for the everyday musician - amateur or professional - who has little or no knowledge on the topic, but wants to master it.


Here is a list of some of the questions we will answer:

· Working with Producers

· Owning the "Master"

· Distribution

· Loan-Out Companies

· Roles of a Record Company

· Work For Hire

· Scope of the Record Deal

· Term of the Record Deal

· Additional Song Options

· Other Options

· Release Commitment

· Advances

· Recoupment

· Payback

· Royalties

· Royalty Rate

· Royalty Basis

· Royalty Deductions

· Merchandise

· Videos

· 360 Deals

· Producer Contracts

· And much, much more!

Reviews
schedule

This course is in adaptive mode and is open for enrollment. Learn more about adaptive courses here.

Session 1: Getting Started (April 29, 2024)
Welcome! We will start with traditional record label deals, and progress to more modern deals. We will talk a lot about the "need" for a record deal in the modern age, and how you can get by without one at all. I'll walk you through every issue in the contract so you fully understand what is being asked.
4 lessons
1. Welcome!
2. What We Are Covering Here
3. Tools You Will Need
4. Disclaimer: I Am Not A Lawyer
Session 2: Definitions (May 6, 2024)
5 lessons
1. Producer
2. The "Master"
3. Record Company
4. Distribution
5. Loan-Out Company
Session 3: How a Recording Company Works (Traditionally) (May 13, 2024)
3 lessons
1. The 5 Roles of a Traditional Record Company
2. What We can Do Ourselves
3. Do Artists Still Need a Record Label?
Session 4: Parties & Scope (May 20, 2024)
4 lessons
1. Work for Hire
2. Loan-Outs
3. Scope of The Contract
4. The 360 Deal
Session 5: Term (May 27, 2024)
4 lessons
1. What is a Term?
2. Additional Songs
3. Options
4. Making 10 Albums Doesn't Mean Releasing 10 Albums
Session 6: Release Commitment (June 3, 2024)
6 lessons
1. The Fiona Apple Situation
2. Listen Unreleased Version.pdf
3. So What Happened?
4. How did it Get Solved?
5. The Release Commitment
6. Listen Released Version.pdf
Session 7: Advances (June 10, 2024)
3 lessons
1. The Million Dollar Record Deal
2. Recoup
3. Payback
Session 8: Royalties (June 17, 2024)
12 lessons
1. What Kind of Royalties?
2. Royalty Basis
3. Royalty Rate
4. "All In" Contracts
5. Deductions: Breakage
6. Deductions: Licensed Re-Sellers
7. Deductions: Container Charges
8. Deductions: Bargain Bins
9. Deductions: New Configurations
10. Deductions: Foreign Territories
11. Deductions: Sales Incentives
12. Deductions: Promotional Copies
Session 9: Math Time (June 24, 2024)
4 lessons
1. Calculation for Royalties of a Physical CD
2. Recoup Amount
3. Calculation for Royalties of a Digital Sale
4. Recoup Amount
Session 10: Merchandise (July 1, 2024)
3 lessons
1. Merchandising Rights
2. Merch Companies
3. Payments
Session 11: Videos (July 8, 2024)
3 lessons
1. Works For Hire
2. Who Pays?
3. Whose Vision?
Session 12: 360 Deals (July 15, 2024)
2 lessons
1. Why?
2. Taylor Swift Example
Session 13: Producer Agreements (July 22, 2024)
4 lessons
1. The Producer
2. Example: George Martin
3. When George Martin met the Beatles.pdf
4. "Development Deals" With a Producer
Session 14: Wrap Up (July 29, 2024)
2 lessons
1. What Comes Next?
2. Thanks for Watching!
Learning Outcomes

Below you will find an overview of the Learning Outcomes you will achieve as you complete this course.

Instructors And Guests