Today’s featured FAQ Friday Question is:
“Hi I’m an artist and I’ve been offered a production contract. I don’t have the money for a lawyer, can you tell me what the difference is between a production contract and a producers contract.”
To start production contracts, and producer’s contracts are 2 completely different things. Typically a production contract is offered by a producer to an artist because they plan to develop them. When a producer offers a production contract to an artist, that artist is then signed to that producer. The producer can then go to the label and get the artist signed through the producer.
Producers that offer production contracts will develop an artist, bring them into the studio and work them hard. Producers will co-write with them, introduce them to other artists, and produce their songs. Production contracts are primarily about development. In the past, I’d write 20-30 songs with the artist, put them with other writers, produce the tracks, and I’d do anything to come up with an amazing batch of songs.
These types of contracts are usually fulfilled over a few months. After 3-5 months you’d have a band, songs, and the artist ready to take on the world. The producer you sign under a production contract will take you to a label and use their influence and power to develop an artist and sign a record deal. The money that is signed for in production contracts is used by the producer to create the record and develop the artist.
This isn’t very common anymore but if you are being offered a production contract, the producer will get a larger chunk of the “pie” to develop an artist. In production contracts, you can’t sign the band without making a deal with the producer.
On the other hand, a producer’s contract is a lot more fair for the artist. Traditionally producer’s contracts are for label deals and royalties are split between each stakeholder. The money from merchandising, touring, and record sales are distributed between each party in a producer’s contract. From the artist’s perspective, make sure you are being taken care of and in the case of it, have a way out of the contract whether it is a producer’s contract or a production contract.
Looking at both contracts, you need to make sure that you have good people around you who are willing to put in the effort and work with you. Whatever you are signing, I recommend that you always have a lawyer look at it. Get involved and know what you are signing, ask questions, work with the people you trust, and build long-term lasting relationships. The people I work with, I have worked with for a very long time.
Watch the video below for the full answer to this question, and the answers to other great FAQ Friday questions!
