When we speak about session musicians and non-featured artists, we're referring to In the context of music, a creator playing a musical work live or on a sound recording. who play an instrument, sing, or contribute a In the context of music, when a musical work is played live or on a sound recording. to a Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law. in other ways. Session musicians and non-featured artists are typically hired to perform on a sound recording.
See our Artist page to explore more about those roles.
Session musicians and non-featured performers are usually hired by the Sometimes called a studio producer or record producer, a person who typically helps a recording artist record a musical work. They are usually responsible for the entire recording process., the A company that invests in, manufactures, distributes, promotes, and monetizes sound recordings on behalf of the artist., if there is one, or sometimes the In the context of music, a solo performer or group of performers who perform a musical work live or recorded. or the recording studio to perform on one or more sound recordings.
What rights does a session musician have?
The controls creators or rights holders have over what they have created or produced and over their identity and image. can differ based on the agreement they have with the Under copyright law, the person or company responsible for the creation of the sound recording. as well as the country the recording takes place in and applicable law. They may also vary based on Organizations that work politically and legally to promote their members' interests and support sustainability and growth within the music industry. agreements with record labels that set the terms of session fees and potential Money paid for the right to use a musical work, performance, or sound recording, typically, but not always, in the form of recurring payments..
Session musicians and non-featured artists are usually paid a A pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee. to contribute to a performance on a sound recording. This is known as a An arrangement that automatically grants ownership of musical works, performances, or sound recordings made under an employment contract to the employer rather than the creator. agreement, and further information can be found on the Work for Hire page. Under some agreements, session musicians and non-featured artists may also receive a share of the The moral and economic rights performers have over their performances. in the sound recording.
If you are a session musician unsure about your entitlement to rights or royalties in your country, ask your local An organization that acts collectively on behalf of the rights holders it represents and collects and pays remuneration to rights holders..
Session musicians can sometimes contribute to a An original musical composition with or without lyrics. or sound recording in other ways. For example, suppose you are a hired musician who creates and performs an original bass line. In that case, you might also be recognized as A person who makes an original contribution to the creation of a musical composition or lyrics. and therefore also have an ownership share, or Also sometimes referred to as shares, the portion of ownership a rights holder has or the portion of income they are entitled to., of the musical work and Money paid for the right to use a musical work, performance, or sound recording, typically, but not always, in the form of recurring payments.. This is always subject to negotiation between you and the other songwriters.
See our Recording Splits page to explore more about ownership and royalty shares.
Image Credit: Martin Dam Kristensen