Contracts Composers may sign
Key components of composer Contracts
Ensures Ownership and copyright of material by licensing the work to receive royalty payments
Fees, Payments and schedules - Should detail how much the composer will get paid per piece, when they will receive this payment and when the final score is finalized.
Licensing - details if the work will be used for Film, TV, Video games, Live concerts etc
Exclusivity - details how long the composer will be tied to whatever the contract is relevant to and when their musical works will be premiered.
Instrumentation and duration - details how long the work(s) should be and the instrumentation of the arrangements.
Key components of Recording contracts
Exclusivity - determining if the composer can record with other labels during the contract term or not
Term - How long the contract will last, with options to extend, allowing requests of more works
Ownership - Who will own the final master (Typically the label)
commitment to a schedule - ensures when and how your work(s) will be released
Creative control of artwork, marketing and production
Key components of Live performing contracts
Parties - Defines the names of all involved (I.e. Artists, promoters etc)
Performance details - exact details of venue locations, dates, load-in times, sound check times and when the performance should start and end.
Finance - details of fee's, deposits, deadlines and methods of payment
Requirements of stage design, size, lighting and sound
Cancellation clauses - details terms and fee's for either party should there be a cancellation
Hospital - details specifics regarding meals, rooms, travel and privacy
Merchandising - regards the sale of artist merchandise and commission rates
should there be a natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstances, there may be clauses to release any parties involved from obliging.
Beneficial organisations for composers
The musicians Union - This organisation is beneficial for anyone wishing to work within the music industry offering advice on Contracts, Royalties, Fees, copyright laws etc. They also offer guidance on finding work as a composer and what area may be your specialty, They also offer advice when being apart of other organisations such as PRS and MCPS. It's also beneficial to Join the Union as there is also plenty of advice when recording and performing Live with the likes of risk assessments and contract templates giving musicians a good understanding before they sign anything.
PRS - The performing Rights Society is beneficial for almost all musicians as it works as a collection agencies for royalties which then get paid out to musicians, these royalties are generated when the work is played on TV, Radio, Performed live or played in Public spaces. PRS can be especially beneficial to composers due the composers fund opportunity they have in place, funding from £8,000 - £15,000 to composers with an already strong track record, The composers fund supports up to 15 composers per year.
PPL - very similar to PRS, PPL also collects royalties and pays out to musicians when the work is played on the Radio, TV, performed live or played in Public, however PPL also supports the record Label as well as the musicians.
MCPS - This is another beneficial organisation for Composers as it collects royalties and pays out musicians when the work's are reproduced. When the music is streamed, downloaded or made into CD's and Vinyl, the party making the copy must purchase a mechanical license which MCPS collects the royalties from.
Creative Scotland - This organisation is most beneficial for Composers at the beginning of their career, this funds the artists through two sources, the government and the national lottery. There are no deadlines to apply for this funding, offering grants between £500 - £50,000
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