Music contract analyzer

Legal information only. Music industry contracts vary widely by label, publisher, and specific deal terms. This tool explains common clause types only and does not review your actual contract. An entertainment attorney reviews your specific agreement. See our full disclaimer.

Music contract clause checker

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Unfavorable rights, royalty, or recoupment terms can cost you far more than a legal review would. An entertainment attorney reviews your actual contract at no cost for the initial consultation.

What clauses actually matter most in a music contract?

A handful of clauses determine most of a contract's real value: the royalty rate and how it's calculated, recoupment terms (which expenses get deducted from your earnings before you see royalties), rights ownership (who owns the master recordings or publishing), the length of the deal and how many albums or songs it covers, and termination or reversion rights that determine whether you ever get your rights back. Each of these can dramatically change what a deal is actually worth to you over time, regardless of the upfront advance.

Recoupment is where many artists get an unpleasant surprise - even a seemingly generous royalty rate means little if recording costs, marketing, tour support, and other expenses are recouped from your share first, sometimes leaving artists owing money back despite meaningful sales. If your contract includes trademark or brand elements for your artist name, our trademark screener is worth checking separately, and any specific clause language that seems unusual or one-sided benefits from a closer look with our general contract clause analyzer.

What's the difference between a recording contract and a publishing deal?

A recording contract governs your rights and royalties as the performing artist for specific master recordings, typically with a record label. A publishing deal is entirely separate and covers your rights as a songwriter or composer - the underlying composition, not the recording of it. Many artists have both types of deals simultaneously, often with different companies, and the terms of one don't automatically apply to the other.

What does "360 deal" mean and why does it matter?

A 360 deal gives the label a percentage of revenue from areas beyond just recorded music - touring, merchandise, endorsements, and other income streams. These deals became common as recorded music revenue declined relative to other income sources, but they significantly expand what the label is entitled to, so understanding exactly which revenue streams are included, and at what percentage, is critical before signing one.

What are rights reversion clauses and why should you care?

A reversion clause specifies when and whether rights to your masters or compositions return to you, sometimes after a set number of years, sometimes tied to specific sales thresholds not being met, and sometimes never under the contract's original terms. Without a reversion clause, certain rights can remain with the label or publisher indefinitely, which has been a significant point of contention and later renegotiation for many well-known artists.

Frequently asked questions about music contracts

Royalty rates vary enormously based on the artist's negotiating position, the label size, and the specific deal structure, and the stated percentage matters far less than what expenses get deducted before that percentage is calculated. A seemingly high royalty rate with extensive recoupable expenses can net an artist less than a lower rate with fewer deductions, so always evaluate the rate alongside the recoupment terms together.

Given how much long-term value these contracts can involve, an entertainment attorney experienced specifically in music deals is strongly recommended, even for smaller independent deals. Many terms that seem standard or non-negotiable are actually negotiable with the right approach and framing, and an attorney who works in this specific industry knows which terms are truly standard versus which favor the label unnecessarily.

Contracts generally transfer automatically to the acquiring company unless your specific agreement includes a clause requiring your consent for assignment, which is uncommon but sometimes negotiable for artists with significant negotiating power. This means your rights and obligations typically continue unchanged under new ownership, for better or worse, which is worth considering when evaluating a deal with a smaller or newer label.

It depends heavily on the specific termination clauses in your contract and whether the label or publisher has failed to meet their own obligations, which can sometimes support a claim that they breached the agreement first. Simply being unhappy with promotional effort or creative direction, absent an actual contractual violation, generally isn't enough on its own to exit a contract early.

The commission percentage, what income the commission applies to (some managers take a percentage of gross rather than net income, which matters significantly), the length of the agreement, and whether commission continues on deals made during the relationship even after it ends, sometimes called a "sunset clause." Management agreements are often less formally negotiated than label deals but can meaningfully affect your take-home earnings over time.