Record Contract -- sever before term is served?

[za105]

I'm an independent artist preparing to contact some A&R representatives for a record deal I hope to land. It will be a few more months before I actually make the reach, as right now I'm still working on completing my demo and researching the music industry.

My question is regarding music law, and is thus: If I sign a contract with a long term (e.g. six years or six albums; forgive me if I'm using incorrect vocabulary), can I get out of it before "serving" it completely? Say I become a success and spend two or three years in the biz, then want out, or at least want a year or two's break. Am I a slave to the contract? How much control do I have over my situation?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[BelizeBreeze]

U.s. Law Only!

 

[za105]

Well then, could you direct me to the correct forum?

Matt

 

[woodsr]

Well, that's going to depend on the contract. If you sign a music contract, make sure that you have a lawyer look over it and answer any questions you have. Those contracts can vary too much for a lawyer to be able to blindly answer it without reading one that's available.

 

[za105]

Indeed, I would without a doubt hire an experienced lawyer to review any contracts presented to me. Still, for a typical contract, would it be possible to sever it, even if it were to mean paying a fine, and is this at all commonplace? And why not? What consequences would one encounter if one were to outright cancel their contract? Certainly not prison time?

Also, for future reference when I am seeking a lawyer, are there any suggestions for this process, and approximately how much might I expect to spend on a good one?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[shortbus]

When you complete your "research", you will have found that an actual label deal is the longest of long shots for an indie artist. Focus your energies on your demo, not on negotiating a non-existent contract.