| In these days of do it yourself (DIY) music | | | | producer contracts, song writer contracts and the |
| recording, with a laptop and a bunch of software, | | | | list goes on and on. So you're going to need a lot |
| Online distribution with the likes of The Orchard | | | | of time on your hands and a strong willingness to |
| and Tune core, Retail outlets like Itunes and | | | | study for possibly several years to master this |
| Amazon, and even low cost internet marketing | | | | subject area. |
| strategies to boot, you might be left with one last | | | | Although I am a musician, who fully embraces this |
| nagging question. Should musicians, independent | | | | new and exciting paradigm of the online music |
| record companies etc now start writing their own | | | | industry, I have some initial reservations. I've had |
| music contracts as well? Well it definitely would be | | | | a lot of dealing with contractual law as a property |
| cheaper. | | | | landlord and despite the fact I also have a 1st |
| Also, by writing your own music contract you | | | | class Honours degree in Psychology, I have learnt |
| might be able to resolve the issue of musicians | | | | that real life experience in a discipline such as |
| working outside the usual music industry norms | | | | music law really adds major value. Remember, |
| and completing the whole process on their own in | | | | ignorance is not bliss, as some people would have |
| the absence of any commercial record contract | | | | you believe. |
| agreement. After all, such contractual agreements | | | | So, in legal matters, where one music contract |
| are commonplace in many other industries. If | | | | clause inaccuracy due to lack of adequate |
| collaborating musicians start making any serious | | | | knowledge of the law could put you on the wrong |
| money, and don't have a music contract between | | | | side of it, you might want to try another |
| them, it does not take a rocket scientist to see | | | | strategy. A middle ground strategy now available, |
| that power struggles and arguments over who | | | | which still has a DIY kind of ethic and is |
| wrote the songs, who paid for the recordings or | | | | significantly cheaper than paying for a music |
| recording equipment etc might ensue when the | | | | attorney, is to purchase music contract templates |
| profits are divided up. | | | | and forms off the Internet. Strange but true, you |
| This might destroy an otherwise very good | | | | can buy a whole range of contracts to cover |
| friendship and possibly a profitable musical | | | | every music contract category or event you |
| collaboration altogether, not to mention broken | | | | might face in your artistic dealings. |
| bones and smashed guitar amps. If you think the | | | | So you can do it yourself in the sense that you |
| idea of musicians working in this collaborative | | | | can edit the music contracts to your own |
| fashion is a fantasy, then you only have to scan | | | | situation. This is not uncommon with |
| the band pages of myspace, facebook or artists | | | | landlord-tenant contracts, within the bounds of |
| twitter comments to see that it is a growing | | | | state or statutory property law of course. You |
| phenomenon. "So that's that sorted then, show | | | | need to ensure that the music contract templates |
| me how to write the contract." | | | | and forms you buy are up to date with current |
| Hold on, before you start getting all excited about | | | | laws, work on the computer platform of your |
| becoming the music industries very own Judge | | | | choice and arguably most importantly of all are |
| Judy, consider first the potential downside to this | | | | standardised for the music industry. So all that is |
| ever-popular DIY approach to your music career. | | | | left to do is enter your information in the spaces |
| Music contracts in general are thought out very | | | | left in the contract and sign the dotted line. So, |
| carefully and thus are very comprehensive. There | | | | the DIY music contract final frontier has in part |
| is a lot of unusual terminology that few of us | | | | been reached with the help of the star ship |
| encounter in our every day lives. Moreover, there | | | | Internet. Lets hope the independent artists musical |
| are a multitude of different types of music | | | | revolution continues. As always, if you are in any |
| contracts to become familiar with, manager | | | | doubt seek professional advice before you ever |
| contracts, royalty contracts, artist contracts, | | | | sign a music contract. |