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Session Musician Agreement

Hire a musician for a recording session. Define the contribution, schedule, fee, and credit without transferring songwriting rights.

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Is this the right contract for a recording session?

Use this agreement to hire a musician for a defined recording contribution. It sets the services, project, schedule, location, fee, optional credit, recording rights, and any identified collectively bargained terms. It is not a songwriting transfer.

Good fit for

  • Producers hiring a musician to perform on a recording
  • Session musicians documenting a paid contribution
  • Parties stating credit and applicable union terms

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What's Inside This Contract

Recording Services

Section 1 defines the performance, recording, schedule, delivery, and optional credit.

Compensation and Cancellation

Section 2 states the session fee, approved expenses, cancellation, and no royalty promise.

Recording Rights

Section 3 covers the recorded contribution and expressly excludes songwriting, publishing, and unrelated works.

Required Rights and Union Terms

Section 3 also addresses supplied material, applicable collective bargaining terms, and any identified additional union or reuse terms.

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:

  • Recording and project title
  • The instrument or recording services and number of tracks
  • Session dates, location, and pickup expectations
  • Session fee and payment deadline
  • Optional credit and any applicable union terms

Points Worth Negotiating

  • Exact contribution, tracks, pickups, and session schedule
  • Fee, payment deadline, and cancellation expectations
  • Whether credit will be given and how it will appear
  • Any separate songwriting or royalty arrangement and applicable union terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this agreement transfer songwriting rights?
No. Section 3 excludes songwriting and publishing interests. A separate written split or rights agreement is needed for any songwriting contribution.
Does the musician automatically receive royalties?
No. Section 2 says no royalty or participation is promised. Any royalty arrangement must be separately agreed in writing, subject to non-waivable rights and applicable collective bargaining obligations.
What if union terms apply?
Section 3 says applicable collective bargaining terms and non-waivable statutory rights prevail. Identify any additional union or reuse terms in the agreement.
What are common warning signs in a session musician agreement?

These are common issues to watch for in any session musician agreement:

  • Service scope or pickup obligations are open-ended
  • Songwriting shares are assumed from performance alone
  • Credit is expected but undocumented
  • Applicable collective bargaining terms are ignored

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