An artist’s guide to record releases, part 2

Releasing your record is one of the most important events for an artist’s career. Having an effective release requires advance planning and getting your ducks in a row. ARI presents the essential guide to planning your release. Austin music attorney Chris Castle discusses the “Record Release Checklist”.

Artwork

When possible, artwork should be created as a work made for hire for the artist.

 □          Photographs:  Photographer’s release or license

 □          Illustrations:  Illustrator’s release or license

 □          Graphic Designer:  Work for hire employment agreement with graphic
            designer

 □          When possible artwork should be owned or licensed to permit
            exploitation of at least the album cover artwork or equivalent in the
            artist’s tour merchandising, websites, social media or song books.

 Credits

 □          Sound Recording: List all credits for featured artists, musicians, vocalists,
            producers, engineers, mixers, mastering engineers, guest artists
(with courtesy credits for guest artists).  Thank you recognition.

 □          Songs:  Songwriters and corresponding publishers/administrators
            and PROs

 □          Artwork:  Credits for photographer, illustrator, designer

 □          Legal Lines:

             ℗:  Sound recording copyright owner (Should match
            SoundExchange SRCO registration)

             ©:  Song copyright owners

             ℗&©:  Sound recording and artwork copyright owner

             Form: ℗&© [YEAR] [SOUND RECORDING COPYRIGHT OWNER]

             Name and address of distributor: check state laws on sale of goods or
            requirements for certificate of origin in international good (e.g., under
            international free trade agreements)

             Form:  Manufactured and Distributed by [DISTRIBUTOR], [ADDRESS]