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From time to time, the subject of work-for-hire agreements and master rights comes up on the forum. Many of us often mention how important these are-- if you use a demo service or other performers for your recordings, you must have agreements in place for film/TV use.I'm in the process of negotiating with a library and... they will not include my tracks in the library unless I provide copies of my work-for-hire agreements. Fortunately, I do have them all and this is not a problem for me. I thought I'd mention this in case this helps anyone. These things really do matter. And even if the library didn't ask for them, without them I'd be 100% exposed should any claims ever arise. Library contracts always have a clause you sign that says you own all the rights and are legally responsible if otherwise. Casey

Hi Casey, quick question, where did you get those contracts? I would like to see/read them over. Have you ever had someone balk at signing them? BB

Casey, Great post. I could not agree with you more. A few years ago my old keyboard player signed a song to a music library which got his song on a commercial for a local cable network. The library asked him if everything was cleared and he signed a contract basically saying everything with Kosher.Not Quite!The song used a small vocal phrase from a female singer he was producing and he never got a "work for hire" agreement signed by her. The commercial played locally for about a month, and the girl was super upset when she heard it and threaten to sue my friend. It all got settled out of court but it was a lesson he will never forget. Today if he can't get an artists to sign a "work for hire" agreement for a song with potential for film or tv, he won't send it out to anyone.