Contractual clauses: the workings of the music industry as seen through the eyes of young talent

"MUSIC INDUSTRY" SERIES (4/8). Legal pitfalls, hidden clauses and the power of the majors: behind the glitter of music contracts, young artists face a legal labyrinth. We decipher a crucial issue for their creative future.

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In the music industry, signing a contract with a record company remains a mythical milestone, often perceived as the consecration of a career in the making. But behind all the promises of success and tantalizing prospects lies a complex reality: contractual clauses. These burdensome, ill-controlled commitments still exist, even if they are less common," explains Claire Prugnier, a music law attorney. Some artists prefer this model for the security it provides. It frames the sums due according to the principle of appropriate and proportional remuneration - enshrined in the ordinance of May 12, 2021 - and the setting of a minimum remuneration in the case of streaming exploitation since the so-called "GRM" agreement of May 12, 2022. "Not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur".