Product Description

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #248136 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 306 pages

Customer Reviews

A classic!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I bought the book I could not put it down I read it from top to bottom non-stop. This book is an easy read and very applicable. I highly recommend this book to gain greater insights in the Music business or any business. It was a great buy along with a couple of manuals purchased from Musicbrains.net entitled the Indie label Kit on Amazon, Music business 101, future of music and Guide to releasing an independent record by Tim Sweeney.

excelent
The music industry world ins an alien environment for most of the emerging artists and many need guidance to avoid scams and legal glitches, this book can be a good guide in defeating those lawyers that try to fool you into a deal. Despite the depth and professionalism , the book it isn't the best out there,” Music Business & Entertainment Law Contracts for Indie Recording Artist, Labels, Songwriters, Composers, Producers, Managers and All Others in the Record Industry. Binder / CD-ROM set (PC & Mac)" by Ty Cohen is far better when dealing with all the aspects and it includes viewpoints from different men in the industry, and also includes clear and easy to understand examples

Real World Advice from a Real Guy - Highly Recommended
Not only is this book (and it's prequel, "Confessions of a Record Producer") the real deal, so is the man who wrote it. I was so impressed by his first book that I contacted him as a consultant on a producer/artist agreement I was negotiating (I am a producer). My goal was to come up with something that was actually fair to both parties and Moses got us to that point quickly. His suggestions were works of innovation that surprised and satisfied everyone.

I also attended his 2-day seminar which dissects recording contracts. Here he dispelled the many misconceptions I had about record companies and their contracts AND he helped me to understand what is really being said in these contracts (and it's scary!).

He is not a lawyer, but one of the most insightful men I've met. Lawyers pay HIM for his advice. He REALLY understands contracts and explain things in a manner no one else seems to be able to do - it must be a sixth sense.. Highly recommended reading. Both his books should be permanent reference books for anyone in the music business. Besides, they're fun reads, unlike most other "how-to" music-biz books.