Artist services

Preparing before any conversation

Most delays in independent releases come from missing information rather than creative problems. Before discussing any project with Blindbandit Records or another label, prepare the following:

• A final or near-final master, plus a note on what is unfinished.
• A list of everyone who contributed — writers, producers, performers and featured artists — with their agreed credit and share.
• Confirmation that samples, beats and artwork are cleared or owned.
• Your existing distributor, if any, and any releases already out under the same artist name.
• A realistic target date and what you want the release to achieve.

The release metadata checklist, royalty split checker and release budget calculator help you gather this. Nothing on this page creates a contract, a signing, a fee or an obligation to reply; any engagement needs a separate written agreement.

Questions to ask any label

• Who will own the master recording, and for how long?
• What exactly will the label do, and by when?
• How are revenues calculated and reported, and how often?
• How can the agreement end, and what happens to the music then?

Get answers in writing, and take time to understand any agreement before signing. Where possible, ask a qualified adviser to review it.