Recording contract

Plate Agreement means the agreement between a record label and a music artist or a group of music artists.

The musicians undertake here to publish their releases only via their record company. In return, the record company takes care of financing, production and marketing of music. Many record companies hinder by their strong influence (which are motivated by financial interests ) in the artistic freedom of the musicians whose independence. However, it would be too heavy for the musician or group of musicians to market their music. The name comes from record record deal, a sound recording or musical medium.

Types of record contracts

There are mainly two types of record contracts: the band Underwriting Agreement and the artist contract.

Band transfer agreement

For the band- transfer agreement ( band in the sense of the phonogram, in some contexts also called tape - lease deal, master tape Deal or shortly BÜV ), the record company obliged to publish one or more recordings of an artist over a certain period and will have an option on it the following productions.

The name comes from the fact that earlier the individual tracks were recorded in the studio on a tape, and that the record company committed itself to "accept " the tape as a basis for publication.

Usually, these are so-called master tapes. This master is used as the basis for reproduction. Even the mandatory transfer of master audio files or CD master is called Master handover.

Band takeover contracts are usually awarded to established acts or newcomers, as well as artists on the music itself can influence independent of influences from the record company / want. The BÜV (Band Acquisition Agreement ) guarantees the band or the artist the greatest economic independence, as it to all other parties except the record company acts as a client after completion of the BÜV and is entirely responsible for the success of the recordings. This in turn holds the record company free of many organizational operations such as producers search the Book of musicians and the studio itself Furthermore, for the record company compliance with the pre-established production budgets ensured by the conclusion of a BÜV what in other situations is often not the case.

As with the artist 's exclusive contract settlement "pro rata ", ie a share of the sales of recorded music per piece. Usually here also assumed from the HAP (Dealer selling price ). Since the entire production is licensed, license fees in the amount of 12 % to 23 % for the entire production are possible. This, however, also all necessary licenses have to be paid ( to authorized producers, management, promotion, for example ). Often, by the record companies still called art prints downscaled, reduce the agreed royalty distributions.

Also, the distribution of production over download portals, the artist is involved in the contractual licenses.

Artist contract

With an artist contract manufacturers bind performer for a certain time ( a certain number of productions ) itself. About one-sided options, the producer can extend the life (with success). The producers go an obligation of disclosure.

The artist contract also regulates the ways to pronounce the end of the contract options. This connection are contracts whose maturities, allowances and volume of production meant.

The artist - exclusive contract usually includes, however, ALL types of artistic presentation and the transfer of all personal rights to the record company. For the artist himself, this type of contract design is often a problem because the record companies do not or are unwilling able in many cases to support an artist or a band over the duration of his or her career equally good and competent, or often not have the stamina and the artistic vision. For this reason, be more and more large record companies these tasks off to affiliated labels and producers.

The remuneration of the artist on such a treaty is an investment in the sales of recorded music. Here, the dealer selling price ( HAP) has established itself as a settlement basis. The HAP is the amount that the record company provided upon delivery of the total production in the form of a CD or DVD to the wholesaler into account, ie well below the so-called sales price. From the HAP, the artist receives a percentage, which can be of the order of 4% to 14%. For established artists that may well be more in newcomers also significantly less. The artist - exclusive contract is becoming increasingly rare completed by major record labels, as most artists now have their own network of musicians, producers, studios, managers, and promoters, and thus have more economic and artistic independence and prefer to conclude a tape transfer agreement. From a certain size of the business of the artist, the artist often also founded his own record label and produces his music alone.

On the basis of these artists' contract negotiated in royalty interests will usually also have the right to merchandising, so for the exploitation of bearing the image of the artist or logo merchandise, licensed. Stark is currently also discussed the extent to which record companies share of the revenues of the live concerts.