When an In the context of music, a solo performer or group of performers who perform a musical work live or recorded. signs with a A company that invests in, manufactures, distributes, promotes, and monetizes sound recordings on behalf of the artist., they enter into a contract, which could be based on different types of A common term used in the music industry to describe an agreement or contract between a creator and a record label or publishing company. that they and the record label may negotiate. The deals could be a Typically, a long-term arrangement with a record label that can come with an advance to cover costs for recording, touring, etc, in return for an ownership share and an agreed royalty split., a A type of music release, usually of one song. deal, or specifically a An agreement where a record label agrees to distribute the sound recordings of a self-releasing artist or an independent record label for a percentage split of the distribution or streaming royalties.. Every deal is different; some come with financial support from the record label in the form of an A payment made to creators before the musical work or sound recording is monetized.. The costs of some services the record label provides might also be Able to be recouped, for example, money given to a creator can be paid back.. But most deals will include some aspect of distribution.
We’ve got a breakdown of different types of label deals in our Record Labels topic.
Record Label Distribution
Record labels will provide a range of support to distribute Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law.. These can include:
Manufacturing – Record labels either have their own manufacturing facilities to create physical products like CDs, cassette tapes, and vinyl records, or they work with third-party manufacturers.
Physical distribution - Record labels either have their own infrastructure to deliver physical products into stores around the world, or they use distribution companies to handle those logistics.
Digital distribution - Record labels generally have direct access to Services that provide video or music content over the internet for people to watch or listen to immediately. like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon and will upload their Refers to a creator who has a record label or music publisher contract. artists’ sound recordings onto these platforms, quickly making them available in any market the service operates in.
Image credit: Martin Fabricius Rasmussen