A record deal, also known as a recording contract, is a legal agreement between a record label and an artist (or group). There are many types of record deals which involve negotiating what the record label provides in terms of funding the artist’s recordings, marketing, distribution and concert touring in exchange for what rights the artist gives up in terms of the master recordings and royalties.
All graduates of Recording Connection Hip Hop and Electronic Music Course (Logic Pro and Ableton) are invited to apply for a record deal through our Record Label Connections with labels and distributors. WE BELIEVE THE RECORD DEAL WE OFFER IS THE MOST ARTIST-CENTRIC RECORD DEAL YOU WILL FIND. A substantial majority of our Hip Hop and Electronic Music graduates are offered a record label deal through our connections. THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS.
Video Transcription
You have found yourself here because you want a record deal. I’m an A&R and sit on The Advisory Board of a music group that has genre specific labels under its umbrella. We have been publishing music for over two decades and we are very good at what we do. I’m also a former top tier Recording Connection Mentor with an Ableton education license. As a Recording Connection graduate you will have access to the possibilities myself and my counterparts can provide. We have seen Recording Connection’s process and believe in it and have agreed to put all RC graduates at the top of our submission pile and offer those that qualify publishing with global distribution, copyrighted correctly and legally. Our distribution network is first class. We publish to all the hard-to-reach places and all the outlets you already know. We will also publish your music in a way that is tracked globally so no matter where your music ends up, you get paid and if you put yourself in the position to pursue greater opportunities not only will you be taken seriously as a legitimately published artist you will have the means
to follow through. I might also add that we have the highest royalty percentage payouts in the business. Several of my previous Recording Connection students have had music releases on various top 100 charts like Amazon and Beatport. It was my personal requirement as a mentor that each student release a record before they would receive my endorsement to graduate RC’s program. Quite a few of the artists on our various labels have had top 100s in almost every store in the world as well as sync placements on network television shows, movies and well-known commercials.
My own personal music has hit the top 100 charts on Amazon, Beatport, Google Play, iTunes, satellite radio, Juno and djshop.de. You must be published correctly to take advantage of these types of opportunities. Whatever it is you want to do, whether it be soliciting a label you admire, getting yourself on TV, film, or even just having your tracks on your favorite store, there are several key steps that you need to follow through with to be able to do this in a professional way. The fastest way to learn these steps is by releasing a record with a well-known Global distributor who will reveal to you the core fundamentals. There’s absolutely no substitute for the real thing. With a positive mindset, hard work and a bit of hustle you can accomplish anything. The record industry is replete with misconceptions bred from the industry of old–“The Gatekeepers.” We are here to tell you that a lot of those things do not apply in today’s age. We are not going to give you a signing bonus, we are not going to spend a bunch of money and time marketing your music; this is not how the music industry works anymore. The outcome of this opportunity will be in direct proportion to the effort you put in so put aside your misconceptions, get ready to work hard, get motivated and excited about what it is that you hope to accomplish in the music industry and know that it is possible and if you follow through by graduating Recording Connection’s program and create a track I’ll see you on the other side and we’ll publish some music.
More about Jeramy Roberts, A&R Representative
Drawing significant influence from the early Detroit Techno sound, Roberts has evolved his style over the years. In 2013, he achieved international recognition by selling records in 27 countries. His production work has earned him several top 100 sales spots at record stores such as Hard To Find Records in London, Satellite EDM in New York, and Amazon MP3 USA.
Jeramy Roberts is a prominent figure in the electronic music scene, known for his contributions as a producer, DJ, and mentor. He founded the Electronic Musicians Guild (E.M.G.) in early 2002, initially as an underground, members-only warehouse club in Seattle. This initiative was a response to the commercialization of rave and club venues, aiming to preserve the authentic electronic music culture.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, Roberts has held executive roles in the music industry. He served as the Executive Director of Promotions and A&R Representative at multiple independent record labels.
Roberts’ discography includes tracks like “QE3,” “In Our Time,” and “Lap Dance,” which have been featured on platforms such as Apple Music.
His work is also available on streaming services like Qobuz, where tracks like “As We Are” showcase his electronic lounge style.
In addition to his music production, Roberts has contributed to the industry as a mentor. He has shared insights on getting music out to the world, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business side of music production.
For those interested in exploring his work, a curated playlist titled “Jeramy Roberts :: Lifetime Playlist :: EMG Recordings” is available on YouTube, featuring a collection of his productions.
Overall, Jeramy Roberts’ dedication to electronic music, both as an artist and industry professional, has made a significant impact on the genre.
No B.S. Record Label Opportunity for Recording Connection Grads
Recording Connection graduates of other genres of music are also invited to apply, although the process is a bit more complicated. Recording Connection believes that this record deal is the best that’s out there for independent artists looking to get noticed. We especially like the way they will guide you through the process and offer suggestions and advice along the way. Please understand there is no signing bonus involved, just great support, advice and a structure that makes it easy for you to get your music out there without worrying about all the minutiae involved with distributing your music on a global scale. We also offer private mentoring sessions for those who want to gain more knowledge in how to get the maximum exposure for their music.
Want your music heard?
RECORD YOUR SONG AND SUBMIT IT TO A RECORD LABEL – COURSES
There are several types of record deals that musicians can pursue, each with its own structure, benefits, and drawbacks. Understanding these options helps artists make informed decisions when entering the music industry. Let’s look at the key types of record deals and then explore alternative ways artists can make money with their music. After you do, we’re confident that you will appreciate this offer we provide our graduates.
Record Deals Comparison Chart
1. “Our Record Label Connections”
The Recording Connection will connect you with record labels and music distributors if you are graduate in good financial standing. The vast majority of our Hip Hop or Electronic Music graduates get signed through our record label connections. Recording Connection graduates of other genres of music have also been able to secure a record deal if they are willing to deal with certain complications inherent in a music group structure. The labels provide advice, distribution on multiple channels, global distribution and some marketing and promotional support including inclusion on a compilation album by a name artist.
Pros:
• Industry resources: The Record Companies and labels have 20 or more years of personal industry connections, and the infrastructure to distribute the artist on a global scale.
• Retain control: Artists maintain ownership of their master recordings, NIL rights and artistic direction.
• Higher royalty rates: Artists keep most of the revenue since the deal is based on distribution revenues. Streaming, mechanical payouts and MP3 sales pay 70% royalty to Hip Hop artists and 75% royalties to Electronic Music and other genre artists.
-In Good Company: With separate labels for Electronic Music and Hip Hop you will be in good company and on a label that industry insiders know for expertise in their genres.
• Team Support: Labels provide personalized feedback and guidance.
Cons:
• Initial investment: Artists bear all upfront costs for recording and production.
• Limited promotional support: Marketing, PR, and branding are initially the artist’s responsibility.
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2. Traditional Record Deal
This is the most well-known type of deal with major or large independent labels. The label handles production, distribution, marketing, and promotion, but the artist typically gives up a significant percentage of revenue.
Pros:
• Massive resources: Labels have the marketing budget, industry connections, and infrastructure to promote the artist on a global scale.
• Advance payments: Artists often receive an advance, which helps them cover living expenses and recording costs before their music generates revenue.
• Team Support: Labels provide a team of professionals, including producers, A&Rs, publicists, and legal assistance.
Cons:
• Loss of creative control: Labels often have the final say on artistic direction, track selection, and image, which may conflict with the artist’s vision.
• Recoupable advances: Any money advanced to the artist must be recouped by the label before the artist earns royalties.
• Low royalty rates: The artist usually receives a small percentage of the profits (typically between 10-15%).
3. 360 Deal
A 360 deal allows the record label to take a cut from multiple revenue streams beyond just the music, such as merchandise, tours, and brand endorsements.
Pros:
• Broader support: Since the label profits from more areas of the artist’s career, they are incentivized to help with tours, merchandising, and branding.
• Financial backing: Like traditional deals, there’s upfront money to fund the artist’s career and projects.
Cons:
• Revenue sharing: Artists give away a share of their earnings from activities unrelated to music sales.
• Complex contracts: The deal might involve multiple parties and clauses, making it harder to understand and potentially exploitative for inexperienced artists.
4. Independent Record Deal
In an independent deal, artists sign with smaller, independent labels that generally offer more flexible and artist-friendly terms but less financial support than major labels.
Pros:
• Creative freedom: Artists often maintain more control over their music and image.
• Higher royalties: Indie deals typically allow artists to retain a larger share of the profits.
• Closer relationships: Indie labels tend to have fewer artists, allowing for more personalized attention and guidance.
Cons:
• Smaller budgets: Indie labels may not have the marketing and promotional budgets of major labels, which can limit exposure.
• Limited reach: Distribution networks and resources for global exposure might be smaller, affecting the artist’s ability to break through internationally.
5. Distribution Deal
A distribution deal focuses only on distributing the artist’s music to physical stores and digital platforms without other services like marketing or promotion.
Pros:
• Retain control: Artists maintain ownership of their master recordings and artistic direction.
• Higher percentage of profits: Artists keep most of the revenue since the deal is purely for distribution.
Cons:
• Lack of support: No marketing or promotional help, so the artist must handle this independently.
• Upfront costs: Artists may need to fund their own production and promotional campaigns.
6. Licensing Deal
In a licensing deal, the artist retains ownership of the master recordings but licenses them to a label for a specific period or territory in exchange for marketing and distribution.
Pros:
• Ownership retention: The artist still owns their music and can regain control once the contract expires.
• Territory flexibility: Artists can sign deals with different labels for various regions (e.g., one for North America, another for Europe).
Cons:
• Limited control during the contract: The label may still exert significant control over how the music is promoted.
• Temporary relationship: After the deal expires, the artist must figure out their next steps for distribution and promotion.
7. Artist Services/Distribution-Only Deal
This type of deal, often offered by platforms like AWAL or TuneCore, focuses solely on distributing the music to streaming platforms and digital stores. Artists handle everything else themselves.
Pros:
• Complete independence: Artists retain full control over creative decisions, finances, and promotion.
• Direct payment: Artists receive a higher percentage of revenue from their music without sharing it with a label.
Cons:
• No promotional support: Marketing, PR, and branding are entirely the artist’s responsibility.
• Initial investment: Artists bear all upfront costs for recording, production, and promotion.
Other Ways Musical Artists Can Make Money
Beyond record deals, artists have multiple avenues to monetize their music and brand:
1. Streaming Revenue: Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube pay artists for each stream of their music.
2. Live Performances and Touring: Concerts, tours, and live events remain one of the most lucrative ways for artists to make money.
3. Merchandising: Selling branded merchandise such as t-shirts, posters, and vinyl records can generate substantial income.
4. Sync Licensing: Artists can license their music for use in films, TV shows, commercials, and video games.
5. Crowdfunding and Fan Support: Platforms like Patreon and Bandcamp allow fans to directly support artists through donations or subscriptions.
6. Publishing and Royalties: Songwriters can earn publishing royalties every time their music is performed publicly.
7. Brand Partnerships and Endorsements: Artists can partner with brands for sponsorship deals.
8. Teaching and Workshops: Established musicians can offer lessons, masterclasses, or workshops to aspiring artists and fans.
Yes, some record labels offer new artists a signing bonus, commonly referred to as an advance. This is essentially an upfront payment given to the artist when they sign the contract with the label. The purpose of the advance is to help cover the artist’s living expenses, recording costs, and other career-related expenses while they are creating music. The Recording Connection Record Label Connections do NOT offer advances (which is why they can offer above average royalty payouts).
Key Points about Advances:
- Recoupable: Advances are not “free money.” The label expects to recoup the advance from the artist’s future earnings, typically from album sales, streaming revenue, or other forms of music-related income. Until the label has recouped the full amount of the advance, the artist won’t earn royalties.
- Size of the advance: The size of an advance can vary significantly depending on factors like the artist’s perceived potential, the label’s resources, and the scope of the deal. Established artists or those with a lot of industry buzz might receive larger advances, while newer or indie artists may receive smaller amounts.
- Risk for the artist: If an artist’s album or project doesn’t generate enough income to recoup the advance, the artist may not earn any additional royalties beyond the advance payment, but they generally don’t have to repay the advance out of pocket.
Factors That Affect the Size of the Advance:
- Artist’s Buzz: If an artist already has a following, successful singles, or has generated significant interest, they can often negotiate a larger advance.
- Label Size: Major labels tend to offer larger advances compared to independent labels.
- Type of Deal: In a 360 deal, the advance might be larger since the label takes a percentage of various income streams, including touring and merchandise.
While an advance can provide immediate financial relief, artists should be mindful of the terms and the recoupment structure, as it can impact long-term earnings.
Record labels do not typically own an artist’s name, image, or likeness, but they may control or have rights over certain aspects of an artist’s music catalog and brand representation under specific contract terms. Our Record Label Connections have no rights to, or control over, your music catalog. Let’s break down these elements:
1. Artist’s Name, Image, and Likeness
- Ownership: In most standard recording contracts, record labels do not own the artist’s name, image, or likeness. However, they may secure rights to use the artist’s image and likeness for promotional purposes related to the music they release during the term of the contract.
- Control: Labels often have significant control over how the artist is marketed and presented to the public, but this doesn’t translate to ownership. For example, the label might dictate how an artist’s branding aligns with the music, but the artist retains personal ownership of their name and likeness.
Key Contractual Clauses:
- Image/Likeness Rights: Record deals might grant the label the right to use the artist’s name and likeness in marketing, promotional materials, album artwork, and merchandise, but this is usually limited to the duration of the contract or for specific purposes related to the music being released under the deal.
- Endorsements: In 360 deals, a label may also take a percentage of revenue from endorsements or merchandising deals involving the artist’s image, but they do not own the artist’s likeness.
2. Music Catalog (Master Recordings)
- Ownership: This is where record labels can own a significant part of the artist’s work, particularly the master recordings. When an artist signs a traditional record deal, the label often takes ownership of the master recordings, meaning the original recordings of the songs. This means that the label controls how the music is distributed, licensed, and monetized, and the artist may not have the final say on where or how the music is used. Our Record Label Connection takes no ownership of your master recordings. They remain your property.
- Master Rights: If the label owns the masters, they earn most of the revenue from album sales, streaming, and licensing. The artist is paid royalties, but the majority of profits go to the label.
- Ownership Duration: The length of time the label owns the masters can vary. Some contracts give the label permanent ownership of the master recordings, while others might include a reversion clause, where ownership returns to the artist after a certain number of years.
- Artist Buyback: Artists can negotiate to buy back the rights to their music after a certain time period or under specific conditions. However, this often requires significant financial resources and may be difficult to secure for emerging artists.
3. Merchandising and Branding in 360 Deals
- In 360 deals, labels take a cut from an artist’s entire career, including tours, merchandise, branding, and sponsorships. While they may not own the artist’s name, image, or likeness, they will likely have a say in how the artist’s brand is managed and marketed to maximize revenue. Our Record Label Connection only shares in revenue from the distribution of your music. The artist retains all rights to concert tour revenues, sponsorships and merchandise.
- Control over Branding: The label might control the distribution of merchandise or licensing of the artist’s image for certain projects. In some cases, they may even run merchandising operations, like selling t-shirts, posters, or other branded materials, taking a portion of the profits.
Pros and Cons of Label Ownership of Masters and Rights
Pros:
- Promotion and Distribution: Labels have the resources and infrastructure to widely distribute music, potentially generating more income for both the label and the artist.
- Financial Backing: In exchange for some ownership, the label may provide large advances and cover production, marketing, and tour costs.
Cons:
- Lack of Control: Artists often lose control over how their music is used, and they might not be able to release music independently during the contract term.
- Limited Royalties: When a label owns the master recordings, the artist receives only a percentage of the revenue (royalties), while the label takes the majority. With our Record Label Connection, the artist receives the majority of royalties.
- Long-Term Revenue Loss: Even after the contract ends, the label may still own the master recordings, meaning the artist misses out on a significant portion of long-term revenue from streaming, licensing, and other sources. With our Record Label Connection, the artist retains all rights and ownership of the master recordings.
Recent Trends: Ownership Pushback
In recent years, artists have pushed back against this traditional structure. Artists like Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Chance the Rapper have spoken publicly about the importance of owning their masters and having more control over their careers. Independent artists, in particular, are seeking deals that allow them to retain ownership of their music, even if they partner with labels for distribution or promotion.
In summary, while record labels do not own an artist’s name, image, or likeness, they often control the use of these elements for promotional and branding purposes. The primary area where labels may own significant assets is in the music catalog, specifically the master recordings. Understanding these nuances is crucial for artists when negotiating contracts and making career decisions.
The Importance of Global Distribution
We tend to think in terms of where we live and often assume that success depends on our native market. In truth, music is global in reach and the marketplace outside of the United States is substantial, especially when it comes to hip hop and electronic music. This is why we made sure our Record Label Connection is as well versed in the markets outside the United States as they are here at home.
The Fine Print (Legal Disclaimers)
- All music, lyrics and vocals must be 100% original—no covers or samples, etc.
- Songs need to be mixed and mastered.
- The Record Companies and Recording Connection are separate entities.
- Recording Connection provides this service to its graduates (in good standing: i.e. no truancies or financial arears) free of charge and receives no compensation from the Record Companies and Labels.
- Recording Connection is providing the introduction to the Record Labels and has no financial stake nor official affiliation with the Record Label Connections we introduce our graduates to.
- While the Recording Connection believes the Record Companies’ Record Label Deal are a great opportunity for its graduates, it takes no responsibility for the outcome.
- The Recording Connection recommends that in the event the Record Labels offer our graduate a deal that they consult with their own attorney before signing any contract.
- The Recording Connection encourages you to do your due diligence and research, but understand you will be entering into a legal contract with the Record Companies for which you are entirely responsible.