Does this contract/deal look ok? *Urgent*

[Rangtangtang]

You'l need a manager to make all those phone calls. A good lawyer would help, who can get to the final details of a contract, so you don't get ripped off, and you have a say on what your product is all about.

[james0tucson]

Sean, I'd never criticize your music unless I had some vested interest in producing it. I'm sorry this thread decayed from discussion of the contract, which I don't think anyone should sign, for the record, into a value judgement of the quality or originality of your music.

That would be appropriate if you were trying to sell it to people or if you were trying to convince artists to collaborate with you, but that's not the case.

How would you like to be the guy who didn't sign the Beatles because "electric guitars are an ending fad", or not signing Madonna because "female vocalist acts are already done"?

How about every label that rejected Ani DiFranco, to the point that she had to set up her own record company in order to produce herself?

So, I'm not going to be the one who makes a value judgement just because my bias says something is unoriginal. I'm not qualified to judge dance music or whatever your genre is -- my work is mainly classical piano and flute.

[SeanyK]

Hey James, I completely agree with what you said, and your examples used are better ones than mine, That Madonna one is infamous, I bet the guy is absolutely stunned now! LOL.
There is only a couple of posts in here who arent favoured to my music, admitedly I can take criticism, and I've heard the whole 'Its nothing original, been done a million times' before, but i've also heard 'Wow, it sounds great, where can I buy it?''Are you signed? This is great stuff!' And the latter comments are the ones which really inspire to go and do more tracks.

Advice was what this thread was started for, and yourself and many others have provided some EXCELLENT views & thoughts.

[Guitarjeff]

Any contract worth signing also includes something known as an ADVANCE.

You will never see a dime if you sign this.

[james0tucson]

Advice was what this thread was started for, and yourself and many others have provided some EXCELLENT views & thoughts.

I apologize if some of my comments are a bit disingenuous; such as "bring your own money to the bargaining table"

I know that sounds like a big "duh", but you'd be surprised how well a little cash on your end of the bargain can prime the pump and demand much more favorable terms. Not just in the music business, but in any contract situation.

The hard part, you already know, is getting that cash in your hand and having it be light enough to risk by putting it on the table

[SeanyK]

Not disingenuous at all, The more I read the more I am understanding just exactly how things are supposed to work

[clueless]

Nirvana even admitted to just ripping the Pixies off!

oh, I didn't know they'd actually admitted it

I suppose they had to try something else after REM-with-distortion didn't catapult them into the stratosphere

[stash98]

from my perusings on here, a lot of guys who make music are going to rip into anything commercial or dancefloor oriented. This is pretty common on sites where there are a lot niche artists who believe what they are doing is really fresh and creative...and now and then it is..but many times it is unlistenable too.

my whole point, is that you are doing the right thing by not letting KVR critics get you down. and you are also doing the rght thing by not signing that contract.

[No name]

I've never come anywhere near such a contract, but I wonder this...If it is 50/50, and let us pretend a song of yours made somewhere around 10,000. You get 5,000 of it. Then they deduct 20% of your 5,000 for packaging. Afterwards they deduct more for studio costs, etc. I'm no lawyer (and would need one if I were to even think of going into contract) but from what I see, this deal sounds as if they want you to pay for various expenses, while they collect their share of the money only putting in some for packaging (which, if they buy at wholesale will not be so expensive). I say you find the points in this contract that bother you or parts that seem to be unfair, and negotiate. Even then, before or after you negotiate, you should hire a lawyer to look over the contract. It won't be that expensive if you just get like an hour of a lawyer's time to look it over for you, and then have him explain in detail everything in that whole contract, and what in it benefits you and what doesn't. Believe me, an hour with a lawyer isn't as bad as being binded to a contract for 10 years with a bunch of greedy assholes. I also wish to accuse no one, but I don't think it is such a great idea asking others for advice. Some people get jealous at people who get offers for contract, and they give unreasonable advice (at least it is unreasonable to everyone else). Others just have no sense at all, especially when it comes to contracts! I being a senseless one myself . Get an hour of a lawyer's time, that is what I say.