Producer and Artist Agreement
(Deal Memo) (Master Recording)

Summary

This template is a deal memo between a producer and an artist that sets forth the basic terms of engagement of the producer, including the number of tracks, start date, royalties and fees, and the producer's credit. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and alternate and optional clauses. The deal memo sets forth in a "shorthand" fashion the most basic terms agreed upon between the artist and producer. The deal memo form is often used if there is insufficient time prior to the commencement of the producer's services to prepare a more detailed and comprehensive long-form or short-form agreement. The deal memo is usually superseded by the long-form or, less frequently, short-form agreement, especially if the artist is signed to a major record label where the practice of using comprehensive forms is considered customary. Occasionally, however, representatives of producers and artists, both attorneys and managers, will rely upon the deal memo as the only operative document between the parties. This practice happens most often if the artist does not record for a major record company or where funds are very limited and insufficient to pay attorneys for their services. This template is intended as a general drafting aid and will require modification according to the circumstances of the parties. For general information on music contracts, see Music Contracts. For an agreement between a producer and an artist, see Producer and Artist Agreement (Master Recordings). For an agreement between a producer and a record company, see Producer and Record Company Agreement. For a general discussion of producing agreements, see Entertainment Industry Contracts P 165.01. For a summary of the most common types of licenses for the use of music, see Music Licensing Chart