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Record Label Agreement

For artists and record labels partnering to record and release music together.

Drafted by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

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Feature	Custom Contract	Editable Template
Best for	Most users	Editing everything yourself
How it works	Answer guided questions	Fill highlighted fields yourself
Word and PDF	Yes	Yes
E-signature	Yes	No
Time required	About 2 to 5 minutes	Depends on your edits
Price	$50	$50

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Is this the right contract for your deal?

This contract is built for an artist signing with a label that will fund, release, and promote recordings in exchange for rights and a share of income. It fits deals where the label takes ownership of the masters, pays an advance, recoups its costs, and commits to a number of recordings, and where both sides want the royalty, ownership, and term terms in writing.

Good fit for

Artists signing with an independent or major label
Labels funding and releasing an artist's recordings
Deals with an advance the label recoups
Multi-album deals with option periods
Anyone setting master ownership and royalty terms

You may also need

Artist Management Agreement - when the artist works with a manager
Music Producer Agreement - when a producer makes the recordings
Music Distribution Agreement - to get the releases onto streaming and stores
Music Publishing Agreement - for the songwriting side of the songs
Non-Disclosure Agreement - before sharing private deal terms

What's Inside This Contract

Recording commitment

Sets the number of recordings or albums the artist must deliver.

Term and territory

States how long the deal lasts and the regions it covers.

Compensation

Covers the advance, royalty rate, and recoupment of the label's costs.

Grant of rights

Defines what rights the artist grants, including ownership of the masters.

Representations and warranties

Each side confirms it has the right to enter the deal.

Termination

Explains how and when the agreement can end.

Disputes and general provisions

Covers standard terms such as notices, how disputes are handled, and signatures.

Not sure what a section means? Every contract you create includes a built-in "Explain Sections" view with a plain-English note for each part of the document.

Before you start

It helps to have these details on hand before you create your contract:

Artist name and label name
Number of recordings or albums required
Advance amount and what it covers
Royalty rate and how it is calculated
Who owns the master recordings and for how long
What costs are recoupable before royalties are paid
Option periods and release commitments
Term, territory, and any reversion of rights

Points Worth Negotiating

Who owns the master recordings and for how long
The advance and what it must cover
The royalty rate and what it is calculated on
How many albums and option periods are required
What costs are recoupable before royalties are paid
Whether and when rights revert to the artist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a record label agreement?

It is an agreement where a label funds and releases an artist's recordings in exchange for rights and a share of income, including ownership of the masters.

Who should sign it?

The artist and the label both sign. When the artist is a group, each member usually signs to confirm the rights granted and the income splits.

What does recoupment mean?

Recoupment is the label earning back money it spent, such as advances and recording costs, out of the artist's share before the artist starts collecting royalties.

What are option periods?

Options let the label require more albums by extending the deal. Each option period adds another release the artist must deliver.

Do rights ever return to the artist?

Only if the agreement includes a reversion. Some deals return certain rights after a set time, while others do not, so check this closely.

How is this different from a distribution deal?

A label funds and releases recordings and usually owns the masters. A Music Distribution Agreement only delivers your finished recordings to services, and you keep ownership in most deals.

Should I choose the custom contract or the editable template?

Choose the custom contract to answer a few questions and have it filled in for you. Choose the editable template if you prefer a blank version with labeled fields to complete yourself.

What are common warning signs in a record label agreement?

These are common issues to watch for in any record label agreement:

Permanent master ownership with no reversion
Many option periods that lock the artist in
Broad recoupment that delays royalties
Low royalty rate with unclear deductions
No release commitment or deadline
No audit right to check accounting

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