Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract
Composer/Author: Moses Avalon

Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract has the inside story on how to decipher music recording contracts - Shows artists, lawyers, managers, and others how to read and understand recording contracts - Sheds light on complex industry issues, such as music distribution on the Internet. - By the author of Confessions of a Record Producer To help artists avoid signing contracts laced with hidden agendas, Code Cracker exposes the multi-layered language of recording agreements that are crafted by major label lawyers. This book dissects and deciphers actual recording contracts, literally translating them into "real English" and presenting the originals and translations side by side. Grouping the contracts' clauses by issue - advances, royalties, distribution, and more - Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract  explains the need for each clause, offers advice on negotiating certain points, and outlines alternatives for developing new contracts. This user-friendly guide defines common terms that have been uniquely redefined by the music industry and label lawyers, and features plenty of entertaining insider stories.

To help artists avoid hidden agendas, this book exposes the multi-layered language of recording agreements crafted by major label lawyers. Clause by clause, it deconstructs actual contracts and translates them into real English, presenting the original and decoded versions side by side. Focusing on artists' issues, such as advances, royalties and distribution, this revealing handbook explains the need for each clause, offers advice on negotiating fine points, and outlines alternatives for developing new contracts. User-friendly, it clarifies common terms uniquely redefined by the music industry, and has entertaining inside stories. Considerable wit and wisdom on this festering snake pit of a business. - New Times