Producer Agreement (Advance + Royalty + Publishing)

Streamline your producer agreements with this comprehensive, attorney-drafted template. Whether you're a producer getting placements or an artist hiring a producer, this template protects both parties while ensuring clarity on advances, royalty points, publishing splits, and the producer credits.

What's Included in This Producer Agreement Template

This 6-page comprehensive producer agreement covers all essential terms for professional music production deals:

Payment Structure

✓ Recoupable Advance - Upfront payment to the producer that recoups against future royalties
✓ Producer Royalty Points - Backend royalty percentage (typically 2-5% of net sales)
✓ Payment Timelines - When and how the producer gets paid
✓ Recoupment Terms - How the advance gets recouped before royalties flow

Publishing & Ownership

✓ Publishing Split - Producer's share of the song's publishing (typically 0-50%)
✓ Copyright Ownership - Who owns the master recording vs. the composition
✓ Credit Requirements - How the producer must be credited on releases
✓ SoundExchange Letter of Direction - Ensures producer gets paid their share of digital performance royalties

Rights & Responsibilities

✓ Grant of Rights - What rights the producer grants to the artist
✓ Delivery Requirements - What files the producer must deliver (stems, sessions, etc.)
✓ Sample Clearance - Who is responsible for clearing samples
✓ Production Credits - Producer tag usage and credit placement

Legal Protections

✓ Work-for-Hire Provisions - Clarity on ownership structure
✓ Warranties & Representations - Both parties guarantee they have the rights they claim
✓ Indemnification - Protection if someone makes claims against the work

BONUS: SoundExchange Letter of Direction included - This critical document ensures the producer receives their share of digital performance royalties directly from SoundExchange.

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Common Mistakes This Template Helps You Avoid

❌ No written agreement - "We had a handshake deal" doesn't hold up when money is involved

❌ Unclear publishing splits - Leads to disputes when songs get placed in TV/film or generate significant revenue

❌ Missing SoundExchange documentation - Producer never receives their share of streaming royalties

❌ No delivery timeline - Artist keeps asking for revisions months after the track is "done"

❌ Undefined sample clearance responsibility - Who pays if a sample needs to be cleared? This needs to be in writing.

❌ No recoupment terms - Artist thinks they have to pay the advance AND royalties immediately

✅ This template addresses all of these issues upfront

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this template legally binding?

Yes, when properly filled out and signed by both parties, this is a legally enforceable contract. However, templates are starting points - for high-value deals or complex situations, you should have an attorney review it.

Can I customize this template?

Absolutely. This is a Word document you can edit. You can adjust payment terms, royalty percentages, publishing splits, and other provisions to fit your specific deal.

What's the difference between this and a "beat lease"?

A beat lease is typically a non-exclusive license where the producer sells the same beat to multiple artists. This Producer Agreement is for exclusive production deals where the producer creates or provides a beat exclusively for one artist's project, usually with backend royalty points.

What if the deal involves multiple producers?

This template is designed for one producer and one artist/label. For multi-producer tracks, you'll need either:

• Multiple separate agreements (one per producer)
• A co-production agreement (different template)
• Attorney assistance to draft a multi-party agreement

How do I fill this out?

The template includes bracketed sections like [PRODUCER NAME] and [ADVANCE AMOUNT] that you replace with your specific deal terms. We recommend:

1. Read through the entire agreement first
2. Discuss key terms with the other party (advance, royalty %, publishing split)
3. Fill in all bracketed sections
4. Have both parties review before signing
5. Keep signed copies for your records

What Happens After Purchase

✅ Instant Download - Receive a Microsoft Word (.docx) file immediately after checkout
✅ Editable Template - Customize all terms to fit your specific deal
✅ SoundExchange Letter Included - Bonus document for digital performance royalty splits
✅ Lifetime Access - Download anytime from your account
✅ No Subscription - One-time $25 payment, yours forever

 

Questions or need custom help? Email adam@acfreedmanlaw.com

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*DISCLAIMER: These templates are for informational purposes only, and purchasing them doesn't make us your lawyer. It's impossible to make 1 version that fits every situation, so you should contact a lawyer to make sure it fits yours.