Free Sample Artist Management Contract Templates

To help you grow your business, we've created a pretty simple yet reliable artist management contract template in Word and PDF versions so you can use it over and over.

What's in this model?

• Work's extent

• Indemnity

• Payment terms

What is an artist management contract?

Artist management contracts are used by an artist manager, or other authorized representative, who intends to manage or assist an artist's career.

The manager supports the promotion of the artist's work, while the manager is committed to helping the artist obtain all promotion opportunities. The artist management contract may include confidentiality clauses that allow respect for ethics and the protection of the artist's reputation.

The artist management contract is a contract between an artist and his manager. The manager supports the promotion of the artist's work, while the manager is committed to helping the artist obtain all promotion opportunities. The artist management contract may include confidentiality clauses that allow respect for ethics and the protection of the artist's reputation.

What is artist management?

Artist management is a job that requires a lot of skills. The manager must be able to manage all facets of his client's career, including financial, relational and artistic aspects. The manager must be a good communicator in order to have good communication with the group, the industry and the media. He must also ensure that the band prepares for each tour, show or meeting and should exercise great patience throughout his client's career. The manager must also be a leader who can motivate his clients and help them achieve their artistic goals.

What are the types of artist management contracts?

The type depends on the manager since managers have different management methods. Just be sure to include the basic clauses in the document you create. The two main types of talent management contract templates are

1. In the short term: this type of artist or musical director contract is also known as a "trial period".

It is easy to create and should contain the following information:

• Commission and reimbursement of the manager's expenses

• Contract length

• Details of a breach of contract

• Date and signature

• You can also add division of labor information. After the contract expires, you can either let it go or extend it by granting a long-term contract.

2. In the long term: when the artist and manager have made the decision to work together for the long term, it's time to create a more comprehensive management contract template. This type of contract has two main sections which are the contract and the schedule. 

For this type of contract, include the following elements :

• Artist: This can be a company, an individual or a partnership. You can also use stage names with the artist's real name and address. If there is more than one person, list all artists' names and addresses.

• Manager: This can be a company, an individual or a partnership.

• Territory: If the manager and artist are not working globally, you need to clarify the names of the other managers and their roles. In terms of commission, the senior manager would typically take half of what other country managers earn.

• Duration: This can range from 6 months to 7 years. As this is a long-term contract, it is advisable to opt for a duration of 12 months and more. The manager and the artist need to have a conversation about the length of their contract.

• Commission rate: The standard commission rate is 15% to 20%, but both parties can always negotiate this rate depending on the time and effort invested by the manager, and whether the manager works exclusively with the artist.

• Commission Term: After the term expires, the manager may continue to receive commissions for all achievements throughout the term. This is also known as the “sunset clause”.

• Division of Labor: This is where you list all the responsibilities of the manager and the artist.

• Artist Bank Account Information: This part allows either party to charge interest in case either party owes the other money beyond the term.

• Breach of contract: this is where you indicate the consequences of terminating the contract before the end of the term. 

What does an artist manager do?

Talent managers have a more varied role. Generally, they help shape and develop the careers of their clients. They provide services, such as managing the day-to-day business and financial activities of their clients; help with marketing; refer artists to agents, entrepreneurs and publicists; and support for talent development.

Important Terms

What should a subcontract contain?

As an artist, you will need to research these key points to include in your contract or agreement before signing it. It happens as follows:

• Duration: It is common for a management relationship to last between 3 and 4 years. You won't see anything shorter than that, but you can see longer. The reason is this: the management company will want to have the artist for as long as possible, because they have to brand and develop that artist, which takes time, and because the music may not start selling right away. the first or second year.

Sometimes there may be an option on the front or back end to extend the duration if the manager hits certain thresholds for the artist. For example, an initial term of 4 years with an option for an additional 2 years, exercisable if the manager secures the artist a major recording contract worth at least $50 and the artist generates gross receipts of at least $000 in the first 400 years term.

If the artist wishes to “test” the manager, it is common to have a short initial term, for example 1 year, with an option of 3 to 4 years based on certain thresholds.

Pay close attention to both the initial term and the option term(s), you can be tied to this manager/company for a very, very long time.

• Gross vs net receipts: gross receipts generally refer to all revenue earned by or credited to the artist through any entertainment-related activity – movies, films, television, songs, shows, appearances, and even advertisements. "Net Revenue" refers to the "profits" made by the Artist, essentially "Gross Revenue" minus applicable expenses. Understand what is included in each category and how they differ specifically.

These terms should be defined in a well-drafted agreement. A manager is going to want his commission based on “gross revenue” (because he wants his percentage to come from a bigger pie). The artist will want the manager's commission to be based on net receipts. Who gets what is largely a matter of bargaining power; and, since it is difficult to negotiate for a manager's commission to be based on net receipts, it is more common to negotiate what is specifically included in gross receipts.

• Committee: managers will be looking for a commission of between 15% and 20% over the tenure. Again, a lot of it depends on bargaining power. As a performer, if you can argue that you have heavy expenses or are already paying a booking agent and/or former manager, try reducing that percentage to 15%.

• Twilight clause: what is the sunset clause?

A sunset clause states that there is a limited amount of time after a contract end date, where the manager can receive a commission. A sunset clause gives the manager the right to collect a commission on any other contracts they have obtained for the artist during the initial term of the contract.

A sunset period can last about five years in general, and the commission decreases from year to year. The first year of a sunset clause may give 10% commission, the second year gives 5%, and so on until the manager is no longer entitled to payments.

As an artist, be very, very careful with the sunset clause because there are many deals where a sunset clause applies “forever” at a 5% commission. Eternity is long. You should be able to narrow that down to a certain number of years after the end of the term. 

• Managers might not get you paid work: a well-drafted agreement will define the scope of the manager's responsibilities. It will probably say something like “The Manager shall advise and counsel the Artist on all matters relating to entertainment activities, including but not limited to phonograph recordings, songwriting and writing. musical edition, personal appearances…”.

But, there will also be another clause which explains that the manager is not an employment agent (or even a licensed artist manager), and that this manager has no obligation to guarantee employment or engagements. for the artist. The contract will also include language such that the artist is responsible for paying any commissions to booking agents or other agencies. 

The point here is to be explicit in defining the manager's role, including the specific activities they are responsible for and those they are not responsible for.

Another thing to take into account: when the management deal is drafted by a lawyer or an experienced management company, the devil is in the details of the contract. It will never be in your favor before the negotiation.

You don't want to be legally and financially tied to a person or company that doesn't do anything for you, or worse, takes your career in the wrong direction.

What is the average commission for talent management? What percentage does an artist manager get?

Managers' commissions generally vary depending on the industry as well as the status of the artist and the reputation and experience of the manager. They generally vary between 10 and 20%.

Management contracts should clearly state when and how commissions are payable.

The commission entitlement should end either:

• The end of the contract

• At the end of an extinction period

How long is a normal artist manager contract?

The duration of the contract is important because the artist is locked up for this period, unless there is a reason for termination. It depends on how long the artist wants to be tied to the manager. Management agreements generally have a duration of between one and five years. The agreement may also provide for automatic renewals or extensions of the initial term.