My friend and colleague Tony Berman is at it again, preparing a useful and comprehensive blog post about the growing phenomenon of so-called 360 deals, where record companies participate not only in revenues from an Artist’s record sales, but also from merchandise, touring, ticketing, online presence, marketing, sponsorships, endorsements, and the like. Essentially, any money the artist earns is shared with the label..
Check it out the first installment of his multi-part article at Multimedia Entertainment Law Online News.
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- Music Basics for Film and Video productions.
- Copyright Authorship – a primer
- Why Poor Man's Copyright and Creative Commons didn't work out for Quote Unquote Records




I understand that there are so-called 360 deals, where record companies participate not only in revenues from an Artist’s record sales, but also from merchandise, touring, ticketing, online presence, marketing, sponsorships, endorsements, and the like. Essentially, any money the artist earns is shared with the label..
But in regards to a 360 deal presented by an unknown production company with no real experience or resume to warrant asking for 50% of an artist income that comes from each type of non-record income – Especially when the artist is already an established dancer, and actor & a minor less than 12 years of age?
Keep in mind this production company won’t negotiate, even with an attorney on the percentages of acting. They said they have lots of connections and production deals before them and feel they should get the 50%, because they are bringing the acting connection to the table.
I don’t want to lock my child into something that could potentially hurt him later, or perhaps is not legal.
Can a production company legally ask for 50% in a 360 deal regarding acting, when agents and managers don’t even get 50% of an actors pay?
What is the most a label or production company can ask for in a 360 deal or any contract?
Thanks for allowing me to ask this question.
You’re right to be cautious about this kind of thing.
There’s nothing illegal about the label asking for 50%. You don’t have to agree…
You’ve got the ultimate power in the negotiations… the power to say “No” to a deal that doesn’t make sense.
A company that won’t negotiate is one I’d stay far away from. If they’re tough now… wait till your child is ‘under contract’. Wow.