JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum What royalties does an artist get???

When a new unproven artist signs a recording contract with a label,be it major or indie, what royalties can they expect to get? Is it a flat rate per unit sold or a percentage of retail price or what?Do they get this royalty from unit one or only after the cost of recording is recovered?

From what I have read Artists signed to major labels are advanced money by the Label to produce an Album and all money has to be recouped by the label before the Artist sees anything. Clint Black said that he sold some 20 million Albums and didn't see anything. The Dixie Chicks also sold some 20 million albums and also didn't see anything until they refused to record anything else until some changes were made. I have read it is about 10 to 12 percent if they receive anything but it would depend on the contract. A lot of Artists have left major labels because they have to sell a ton of albums before they see anything, if they ever do.

Thanks Ray for your reply.I have read and heard that an unproven artist will get 5% of retail but nothing at all until all recording and promotion cost is recovered out of this 5% royalty.A proven artist with a good selling record behind him may get a higher percentage but the other rules still apply.Where the artist make their money is in doing concerts.

Does anyone else have doubts that Clint Black has sold over 20 million cds?

I don't know about that.. but I have doubts that Clint Black, the Dixie Chicks, or any other major act "didn't see anything."

I'll wager they saw one right hefty advance, which is generally NON-REFUNDABLE money in their pockets.

Somebody pays me a million-dollar advance, I'm not going to gripe too much that I'm not seeing any royalties for a couple of years. Gotta sell a lot of CDs to make back that kind of money. Not to mention studio time, etc.

--- Ed



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http://www.edperrone.com/music/

The story I've heard was that Clint Black brought a million dollars to the table when he was signed.

I'll see Razzy Bailey tonight, he was on three major labels and had several number ones and a bunch of top forties. I'll ask him if he got a signing bonus or ever made any money, then I'll post his reply

Mike

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Mike Dunbar Music

What do you mean by "brought a million dollars," Mike?

I think Clint has sold over 20 million in his career. Right now he owns his own label, Equity, and makes a couple dollars a unit sold from what I heard.

The interview I saw with the Dixie's, Natalie said she had less than a million dollars in the bank after their first two albums sold over 20 million. They sued Sony and got something like a 20 million settlement and a new contract paying them one of the highest royalty rates in the business. For anyone who thinks a million bucks a piece to the artist from the sales of 20 plus million albums is just, then the labels would love you! When all was said and done Sony was said to have made over 100 million dollars on those two albums.. Lets see then, three million to the Dixie's and 97 million to Sony, yeah, that sounds fair! NOT



[This message has been edited by RickyMinor (edited 01-17-2005).]

opps

[This message has been edited by RickyMinor (edited 01-17-2005).]

The story I heard, and it could be legend, was that Clint Black and his manager came to Nashville from Texas with a million dollars to invest in his record deal.

Razzy said he didn't recall hearing of anyone in Nashville getting a bonus for their first contract. He thought maybe some artists here got a bonus to re-sign. Most likely, he thought instead of a bonus, artists would get an advance against their royalties. He told a story of when he had his first number one. The label president arranged a party in Austin. Label execs and DJ's from all over the U.S. were flown there. They had a pig roasting and liquor flowed like wine. Razzy thanked the label president for such a fine party. He told Razzy, "Don't thank me. You're paying for it."

That's why I agree with Brian. Build up an audience and service it well (check out "5,000 Fans" on the General forum, or the December newsletter.) Set a goal number of fans who regularly purchase from you and service them like a Nascar pit crew.

All the Best,
Mike

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Mike Dunbar Music



[This message has been edited by Mike Dunbar (edited 01-18-2005).]