The Musicians’ Union (MU), Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF) have come together to draw up a guideline management contract for artists.
The example document offers artists and their managers a framework for ensuring a fair deal for musicians, in an effort to combat the 'often unfair terms found in unchecked contracts'.
It has been praised by singer songwriter Imogen Heap (pictured above), who heads up FAC. The organisation’s chief executive said: ‘How I wish I had something like this when I was starting out as an artist.
‘A really useful piece of collective work that I’m certain every artist at the start of his or her career will find invaluable.’
Horace Trubridge, incoming general secretary of the MU, added: ‘This example management agreement grew out of the MU’s Contract Advisory Service, to which MU members submit contracts for legal scrutiny.
‘Our lawyers raised concerns about the poor contract agreements widely available online to performers, managers, recording companies and others. Once both parties have signed an agreement, it’s very hard to do anything about it. By using this example management agreement, all parties can be confident that they are using a document that is up to date and fair to all concerned.’
MMF general manager Fiona McGugan said: ‘We hope that artists and managers will use this agreement to protect themselves in the early days but also to think entrepreneurially about their future partnerships as they become more attuned to the business they’re in.’
The contract is available to MMF, FAC and MU members via the organisations’ websites.
The example document offers artists and their managers a framework for ensuring a fair deal for musicians, in an effort to combat the 'often unfair terms found in unchecked contracts'.
It has been praised by singer songwriter Imogen Heap (pictured above), who heads up FAC. The organisation’s chief executive said: ‘How I wish I had something like this when I was starting out as an artist.
‘A really useful piece of collective work that I’m certain every artist at the start of his or her career will find invaluable.’
Horace Trubridge, incoming general secretary of the MU, added: ‘This example management agreement grew out of the MU’s Contract Advisory Service, to which MU members submit contracts for legal scrutiny.
‘Our lawyers raised concerns about the poor contract agreements widely available online to performers, managers, recording companies and others. Once both parties have signed an agreement, it’s very hard to do anything about it. By using this example management agreement, all parties can be confident that they are using a document that is up to date and fair to all concerned.’
MMF general manager Fiona McGugan said: ‘We hope that artists and managers will use this agreement to protect themselves in the early days but also to think entrepreneurially about their future partnerships as they become more attuned to the business they’re in.’
The contract is available to MMF, FAC and MU members via the organisations’ websites.
