Deals & Your Rights
Music Deal Types
The spectrum of music deals, from distribution and label to 360 and publishing (co-pub vs admin), differs mainly in who owns your rights and how big a cut they take.
Where this sits
Music Deal Types
- Distribution
- Broadcast
- Publishing
- Performance
Music deals sit on a spectrum of how much you give up. Distribution gets your music to stores for a fee or small cut while you keep your masters. A label deal funds you with an advance but usually owns your recordings and takes the largest share. A 360 deal extends the label's cut to touring and merch too.
Good to know
Music Deal Types: common questions
- What's the difference between a distribution deal and a label deal?
- Distribution delivers your music and you keep your masters and rights; a traditional label typically funds you with an advance but owns your recordings and takes a much larger share.
- What is a 360 deal?
- A deal where the label takes a percentage not just of recordings but of your other income too (touring, merch, sponsorships), in exchange for broader investment.