Starting a record label without the right legal foundation is how you lose artists, lose masters, and lose money. The Indie Record Label Starter Kit gives you every core agreement a new independent label needs — drafted to industry standard so you can sign talent, license masters, and build a real catalog from day one. Assembled by entertainment attorney Adam C. Freedman (Law Office of Adam C. Freedman, PLLC), this bundle is specifically designed for indie founders who are serious about building a label the right way — not just uploading tracks and calling it a label. What's Included Artist Recording Agreement Exclusive Recording Commitment — artist delivers masters exclusively to your label for the contract period Option Periods — structured album cycles with label options to extend the relationship Advance & Recoupment — advance structure with clear recoupment mechanics tied to royalty earnings Royalty Rates — defined royalty percentages for streaming, downloads, physical, and synchronization Delivery Requirements — minimum recording obligations and album delivery specifications Ownership of Masters — label retains ownership of all recordings delivered during the term Producer Agreement Template Producer Royalties — defined backend percentage for each record produced Advance Structure — upfront payment recoupable from producer royalties Publishing Rights — producer's share of the composition copyright (if applicable) Credit Requirements — production credit in all liner notes and digital metadata Featured Artist Agreement Master License — license to use the featured artist's performance on your release Royalty or Flat Fee Structure — options for backend participation or one-time payment Credit and Approval Rights — how the featured artist is credited and whether they have approval over the final record Non-Disclosure Agreement Protects Unreleased Music — prevents early access recipients (managers, promoters, press) from sharing unreleased material Business Terms Confidentiality — keeps deal terms, advance figures, and royalty structures private Mutual or One-Way Options — configurable for artist NDA, vendor NDA, or investor conversations Common Mistakes This Kit Helps You Avoid ❌ No written agreement with your signed artists — verbal label deals are unenforceable; without paper, artists can walk and keep their masters ❌ Unclear ownership of masters — if your recording agreement doesn't explicitly assign master ownership to the label, courts may side with the artist ❌ No recoupment language for producer advances — paying producers without a written agreement means no mechanism to recoup from royalties ❌ Sharing unreleased music with no NDA — leaks before release can kill momentum and are nearly impossible to remedy after the fact ❌ Missing option period structure — without defined options, you have no mechanism to retain a breaking artist beyond their first album ✅ This kit addresses every one of these gaps with attorney-drafted, industry-standard agreements. Who This Is For New indie label founders — who are signing their first artists and need professional paper immediately Artist-run labels — who are signing collaborators to their imprint and need clear ownership structures Music managers — who are launching a label arm for their management roster Production companies — who are releasing music through a label structure and need the corresponding legal infrastructure Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to register my label as an LLC before using these agreements?You don't need an LLC to use these templates, but it's strongly recommended before you sign artists or execute significant deals. Your label entity — whatever its structure — should be the contracting party. Consult a business attorney or CPA about the right entity type for your situation. Are these agreements suitable for major label-style deals?These are indie-market agreements. They are professional, industry-standard documents — but major label deals involve significantly more complex structures (360 deals, controlled composition clauses, etc.) that are beyond the scope of this kit. Do I need both a producer agreement AND a featured artist agreement for every release?Only if both a producer and a featured artist are involved. For a solo artist release with a hired producer, you need the recording agreement and the producer agreement. If there's also a featured performer, add the featured artist agreement. What format are the files?All templates are delivered as Microsoft Word (.docx) files, editable immediately in Word, Google Docs, or Pages. What Happens After Purchase ✅ Instant Download — all templates delivered immediately via email and your order confirmation✅ Editable .docx Format — customize every clause for your label's specific deal terms✅ No Subscription Required — one-time purchase, use the templates as many times as you need Need help tailoring these for your first artist signing? Book a 30-Minute Strategy Call with Adam to walk through the agreements before you execute. *DISCLAIMER: These templates are provided for informational and general business purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances differ. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation before entering into any legally binding agreement.
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