Music Compilation Licence for a Community Project

by Arts Law Centre of Australia

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26 pages

This sample Music Compilation Agreement should be used when a compilation CD is being created as part of a community project.  It is drafted with unsigned artists in mind who do not have a publisher or recording company to negotiate on their behalf. 

This sample agreement allows the organisation compiling the CD and the Artist to both sell and make money from the Compilation CD on certain terms. 

If the musician has a music publisher or is signed to a record label you may need to contact that label or publisher to obtain the rights to reproduce the musical work, lyrics and sound recording onto a compilation CD.  In many cases labels and publishers will have their own agreements that they will give you to use.

If the organisation producing the compilation CD will also be assisting the artists produce the original recording of the music and lyrics, additional terms will need to be agreed and included. 

This sample agreement includes the most common terms, which the artist and organisation should agree on.  Think carefully about each point and add, amend or delete clauses to suit your purposes.  It is recommended that you obtain legal advice on your draft prior to sending it to the other party if possible.