Music Contracts

Summary

This practice note discusses common agreements in the music industry and drafting considerations for such agreements, including music licenses (such as mechanical licenses, master use licenses, synch licenses, and public performance licenses), work-for-hire agreements, exclusive recording contracts and 360 agreements, online music distribution agreements, and live performance contracts, as well as a basic understanding of the sale of music catalogs as well as non-fungible tokens and artificial intelligence issues. This practice note also discusses relevant copyright considerations, including termination rights and laws that govern music licensing (such as the Music Modernization Act or MMA).