Brian Curtin, composer and MLR member, came by the other day to have lunch and we were discussing the music library business (what else!). We were discussing the fact that many of the recent music libraries that have sprung up are a one person operation or is dependent on one person to drive the company. So the question becomes what happens to the music if that person leaves the company, dies (God forbid), disappears, or just flakes? My thought was that back in the day I had a few contracts that had a “key man” clause. It basically states that if a particular person leaves the company, for whatever reason, the contract is null and void.
Anyone have such a clause in a contract? Curious.
Were part of some Record contacts if you were being chased by a couple of labels back in the day, never seen one in publishing, let alone library music. Even then, your masters would remain, you would just be released to pursue a new deal.