Sign a contract after the album is released???

[josebaudrand]

Hi
I finished an album for a library
And the said me that they sign the contracts AFTER the album is released…cause they had bad experiences signing the before the release cause sometimes titles where wrong
So they had to make them again

Sound very weird to me
Cause I have never sign a contract after the release
Actually they are taking more risk than me
Cause if anything bad happens and I dont sign the contract
They would be selling unauthorize material!

Anybody with a good or bad experience with this kind of policy?
Thanks

[Art Munson]

bump

[josebaudrand]

Hi art
Ehat do you mean by saying
Bump?

Best

[Art Munson]

What do you mean by saying
Bump?

Pushes topic to the top. Better chance of response.

[woodsdenis]

Its digital release, not a physical one I assume. The question is how long after delivery are they going to release it ?

[josebaudrand]

Thanks woodsdenis
I have all ready gave them the master tracks
And they say me that just few days after the release they send the contract

They have al ready send me a draft of the contract that says that also phisical copies could be released
I told them about some changes of the draft that i would need (the price of the upfront fee)

But thats is all the information i have

Looks wierd to sign a contract a few days after the release
The contracts are made to be aware and safe of future issues
….

Art, i dont know how to push the topic to the top!

[woodsdenis]

I would have thought it is more normal to have contracts signed before release, but if its only a few days difference IDK. I am not a lawyer, however if MichaelL wants to comment on this one.

[josebaudrand]

Yes, for sure the common way is to sign before the release!
For 10 years…i had make it this way and never had a problem

You sign
They pay
They release

[MichaelL]

Normally, you would not begin work in the absence of a contract.

Have you already been paid?

At the moment, you are worrying about something that may, or may not, be a problem.

[Jose Baudrand]

Thanks Michael

I start working with out signing anything…
Just emails where the agreement was writed..

I finished the work
I send the master tracks
And I havnt being paid yet
(Not cause they are late, just cause I finished yesterday)

So, I think if the policy of the company
Is to sign the contract after release the album (cause they say that manu times the titles of the tracks or albums are wrong…)
I should be paid before the release

And in that case, there would be not a huge problem for me to do it that way

What do you think about offering that?

Sign the contract after the release BUT be paid before the release…

Thanks Michael!

[MichaelL]

You should have been paid on delivery of the music or on final approval of the music.

The concern that I have is that without a contract there’s still an opportunity for them to reject your tracks (rather than ask for modifications) and to not pay you, to drag out paying you because you’ve already delivered, or to somehow change the terms in the final agreement.

I have signed contracts after delivery when the titles were finalized, BUT I was paid in advance. Under that circumstance, I was under obligation to deliver. Here, it’s reversed. You’ve delivered and the library should be under obligation to pay you. Without a contract, however, it’s just a matter of trust.

If they’ve been around a long time and have a solid reputation this could just be an idiosyncrasy in their procedure.

Good luck.

[josebaudrand]

Thanks Michael

They have just told me that they are gonna pay me in 10 days
They have respond me every email and they are in this web page
I trust in them

I guess they do some things under their own policys

Thanks for everything
I will inform in this post how is the end of the story

Best

[Gael MacGregor]

Jose, I suggest that in the future:

1. Get a signed deal memo that spells out the bare bones of what you will provide, how much you will be paid, and timetables.

2. Make sure the contract spells put your payment schedule; my suggestion is 50% upon signing the contract (which should be done before one note of music is composed, and 50% upon delivery. If writing a work-for-hire film score it is usually 50% up front, 25% upon delivery of tracks, and 25% upon delivery of all info necessary for the music supervisor to complete the cue sheets.

3. DO NOT DELIVER the music without finalized, signed, fully executed contracts AND final monies in hand.

I’ve been doing this too long to proceed with anything without written contract and down payment in hand.

All the best,
Gael

[Gael MacGregor]

Sorry for the squirrely autocorrects. I couldn’t get back into the post to edit them. ?

[Art Munson]

Fixed it for you Gael. Editing is good for 60 minutes but you have to be logged in.

Thanks for responding!

[Author]

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