From the course: Music Law: Recording, Management, Rights, and Performance Contracts

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Why bother?

Why bother?

From the course: Music Law: Recording, Management, Rights, and Performance Contracts

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Why bother?

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- A record contract enables a record label to sell, license, and distribute an artist's recordings. In return for granting these rights, the artist's music is promoted and the artist is paid a percentage of the sales revenue. For many musicians, a record contract is a symbol of success. Finally, the world will hear their music. But in all the excitement about landing a record contract, artists sometimes don't realize how much risk is involved. They may be giving up rights to an important recording and end up receiving little in return. Record companies, because of their superior bargaining position, typically have much less at risk. For example, it's not uncommon for a record label to make a profit on a recording but with the same time, the artist who made the recording remains in debt to the company. Because the balance of power can be skewed so heavily in favor of the label, an artist may wonder whether it's even worth reviewing a record contract. Why not just sign it and accept the…

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