Record Deal or Distribution?

A 50% fee for Hallwood on synch income is very high it should be 25% which is pretty standard. You could up it to 30% for anything they procure (i.e. projects they actively pitch your song to), but 50% is egregious. Hallwood is mainly a writer/producer manager, not sure I'd trust them as an actual label. 

 The warner deal isn't terrible but the thing with all the majors is you get fucked on foreign income. 

 WEA intl (the foreign distributor/affiliate for all warner labels) keeps 60% of streaming income before sending it to the US. In that case you're really getting 50% US and 20% (40% X 50%) foreign. 

Depending on where your record is getting streamed this may not matter but it's still a shitty split. 

 So unless you can get them to verify that gross receipts includes their foreign affiliate's gross, at-source monies, you're better off with a distro deal where the income splits is the same US vs ROW. Have you tried reaching out to a proper distro like Orchard, ADA or Ingrooves?

Both deals are trash.

Why? Because you're still going to be losing money.

You need to ask yourself what your reason is for wanting to even have any kind of label representation.

If you've done your own distribution (sounds like you have, through whatever flavor digital aggregation service), then you don't need distribution from someone else.

This also applies to the money you make off streams and the song being used by others in their content. You don't own the means of distribution because that's the platforms' job (tiktok/YouTube/etc.). You don't need to split that income with someone else if they aren't bringing something to the table that really matters, ie they already have established music placement managers with whom they work.

Labels and distributors are supposed to bring connections to the table. If they have lots of those, the idea is they get you fasttracked into placement. Placement managers take the songs that are submitted to them and consider them for usage in TV/film/etc. Labels and distributors push you to the top of their heap of submissions because they have forged relationships with those managers, who trust the label to give them good material that's popular and fitting for their needs.

Thing is, if your music isn't a fit for the managers, you're not gonna get anything out of this, but you could lock your music up in licensing for the future and lose out on bigger placement opportunities down the way.

If you're already standing to make good money without chasing these placement managers, you don't need someone else doing that for you unless they can prove to you that they are going to know exactly who can use that song right now.

Biggest reason to sign with someone is simply that the everyday Joe doesn't get to talk to placement managers. Labels and distributors do, but that's just because that's all they focus on.

Get a real lawyer that focuses on business. You don't need someone who works on acting. Doesn't apply.

Don't get pressured. Pressure is just a way to get you to sign something more quickly.

Negotiate, because everyone is negotiatiable.

When in doubt, keep all your material in your camp and never sign anything away to someone else. $15k is nothing if your song ends up being used in a campaign that has a massive budget.

How exactly have they been pressuring you and how long between first contact and the pressure? Time is of the essence with a viral track for sure, but how they approach that can also tell you a lot about their character.

Also need more details. The $15k advance is for what? The next song only or a full record? Any details on how that $10k marketing will be spent? Is it recoupable?

Any specifics on the distro marketing deal?

From other artists perspective on signing to major labels, they all complain most about who holds the master rights.

that means you can also distribute masters to other labels if you have 100% control, but if they take control of them, they own everything you produce.

negotiate to have 100% Masters

Calculate how much streams it would cost to recoup their advances based on their %. If it went viral on your own you are probably better off keeping it all yourself. Now just do content arpund it yourself to keep the momentum going. How you made it, story behind the song, general talk of yourself who you are, what this song is, etc (if you have the next release ready to go, it would be a good time to capitalize on that)

Do you have a manager? Attorney?

But if your going viral why do want company involvement? If it streaming well,go to ditto and sign up for Beatport. Create a link on your main stream, people can actually buy your tracks.

It's of course the greatest compliment in the world for them to see and notice you and like you, that's a big win! Congrats! But you want to hold out for "the one", you know? Don't just dish out for the first peeps that want you!

Remember that they want you to sign because they want YOUR talent to bring THEM money. Too many people look at a record deal like the ultimate goal of music. But it just means everyone wants a piece of your pie. Keep that pie to yourself! Wait til you're too big to manage yourself and then shop the best deal. I wouldn't be too hasty about signing after one viral song.

They shouldn't be pressuring you on anything.

You should be talking to a MUSIC lawyer not one in acting.

Both deals are trash for a viral track w/ the first one being least trash. However, nobody will know without looking at the full contract.

Contact Adam Freedman Law

Take a distribution deal. Instead of naming a time frame do a deal for an amount of songs. We are doing this and its great. 80/20 split is standard so that shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure where the money is being spent. Take a look at the marketing budget proposal.

Your song is trash. Take the $15K (if it’s real) and RUN!!!! You ain’t getting a better deal because you’re not a real artist.

Answer 1. Don’t no need for a label. 2. Of they are pressuring you, see answer 1. 3. What are you getting for giving up rights? See answer 1.

You need to hire a Top Music Attorney

First of all, congrats on going viral! I understand the sense of pressure you feel to seize the moment and lock in a contract, but just be careful. And friend, get yourself a music lawyer before you sign anything! I would say the record deal sounds better overall with the advance — leasing the masters for 5 years and doing a 50/50 split on synch and licensing seems pretty standard to me. Nothing crazy there, but the devil is in the details. Are there any other catches to these contracts? Do you need to release other singles or albums? Is it a multi-song or multi-LP deal?

A $15k advance with the number of streams you have on Spotify with this song right now is SUPER solid. I’d say that’s a fairly generous offer. I think it’s CRITICAL to have a music lawyer look this over for you. Do you have anyone?