It is my experience that most musicians think they want a record deal, but know nothing about these ominous 80 –100 page, single-spaced recording contracts. Recording contracts are legally binding agreements between individuals who make up a band and a corporation.

In previous columns, I have given a lot of information about how the music business works, and what an independent artist or band must do to establish their careers. Record labels are attracted to acts that have built a strong following and have proved to the industry that they are a solid investment. When a record label signs an act to a recording contract, they expect to make a substantial return on the financial investment they have made in that act.