An exclusive songwriter agreement is an agreement between a writer and their publisher that states the terms of the work arrangement. The contract typically includes information on how much money will be allocated to the song, when payments are due, what happens if one party breaches the contract. It also covers ownership rights for pieces created under this contract.
Exclusive songwriter agreements are essential because they allow publishers to control who can use or perform a particular song in exchange for providing financial support to writers with no other means of generating income from their work.
Below is a list of common sections included in Exclusive Songwriter Agreements. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.
THIS EXCLUSIVE SONGWRITER AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 15 th day of June, 2012 by and between Astika Music Entertainment, Inc., whose address is 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 409, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (“Publisher”), and EuGene Gant whose address is 1181 71 st Street, Miami Beach, Florida 33141 (“Writer”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties do hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment . Publisher hereby employs Writer to render his services as a songwriter and composer and otherwise as may be hereinafter set forth. Writer hereby accepts such employment and agrees to render such services exclusively for Publisher during the term hereof, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2. Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence upon the date hereof and shall continue until June 15, 2014.
3. Grant of Rights . Writer hereby irrevocably and absolutely assigns, transfers, sets over, and grants to Publisher, its successors, and assigns each and every and all rights and interests of every kind, nature and description in and to the results and proceeds of Writer’s services hereunder on or after the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to the titles, words, and music of any and all original arrangements of musical compositions in the public domain in any and all licenses relating thereto, together with all worldwide copyrights and renewals and extensions thereof, which musical works have been written, composed, created, or conceived, in whole or in part, by Writer alone or in collaboration with another or others, and which are now owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Writer, alone or with others, or as the employer or transferee, directly or indirectly, of the writers or composition, and all worldwide copyrights and renewals and extensions thereof, all of which Writer does hereby represent are and shall at all times be Publisher’s sole and exclusive property as the owner thereof free from any adverse claims or rights therein by any other person, firm or corporation. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a list of musical compositions written and made a part of this Agreement, which are subject to the grant of rights hereunder to Publisher.
Writer acknowledges that, included within the rights and interests hereinabove referred to, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, is Writer’s irrevocable grant to Publisher, its successors, licensees, sublicensees and assigns, of the sole and exclusive right, license, privilege, and authority throughout the entire world with respect to the said original musical compositions and original arrangements of compositions under the public domain, whether now in existence or hereafter created during the term hereof as follows:
(a) To perform said musical compositions publicly, whether for profit or otherwise, by means of public or private performance, radio broadcasting, television, or any and all means, whether now known or which may hereafter come into existence;
(b) To substitute a new title or titles for said compositions or any of them and to make any arrangement, adaptation, translation, dramatization or transportation of said compositions or any of them, in whole or part, and in connection with any other literary, musical or dramatic material, and to add new lyrics to the music of any said compositions or new music to the lyrics of any of said compositions, all as Publisher may deem expedient or desirable; provided, however, anything to the contrary not withstanding, nothing contained herein shall be construed to allow Publisher to make any changes in Writer's recorded performances. In the event Publisher is directly involved in the printing of sheet music containing Writer’s musical compositions Publisher agrees to make all reasonable effort to produce a reproduction of Writer’s original recording of such composition as accurately as possible;
(c) To secure copyright registration and protection of said compositions in Publisher’s name or otherwise as Publisher may desire at Publisher’s own cost and expense and at Publisher’s election, including any and all renewals and extensions of copyrights, and to have and hold said copyrights, renewals, extensions and all rights of whatsoever nature thereunder existing, for and during the full term of all said copyrights and all renewals and extensions thereof;
(d) To make or cause to be made, and to license others to make, master records, transcriptions, sound tracks, pressings, and any other mechanical, electrical or other productions of said compositions, in whole or part, in such form or manner and as frequently as Publisher’s sole and uncontrolled discretion shall determine, including the right to synchronize the same with sound motion pictures, and the right to manufacture, advertise, license or sell such reproductions for any and all purposes, including, without limitation, private performances and public performances, radio broadcasts, television, sound motion pictures, wired radio or cable television, phonograph records and any and all other means or devices whether now known or which may hereafter come into existence;
(e) To print, publish and sell, and to license others to print, publish and sell, sheet music, orchestrations, arrangements and other editions of the said compositions in all forms, including, without limitation, the inclusion of any or all of said compositions in song folios, song books, mixed or lyric magazines with or without music; and
(f) Any and all other rights of every and any nature now or hereafter existing under any by virtue of any common law rights and copyrights and renewals and extensions thereof in any and all such compositions. Writer grants Publisher, without any compensation other than specified herein, the perpetual right to use and publish and to permit others to use and publish Writer's name (including any professional name heretofore or hereafter adopted by Writer), Writer’s photograph or any other likeness, which shall be approved by Writer’s logos and trademarks whether now in existence or created during the term hereof and biographical material concerning Writer, and the titles of any and all of the compositions hereunder, in connection with the printing, sale, advertising, performance, distribution and other exploitation of the compositions hereunder, and for any other purpose related to the music business of Publisher, its affiliated and related companies, or the refrain therefrom. This right shall be exclusive during the term hereof and nonexclusive thereafter. Writer grants Publisher the right to refer to Writer as Publisher’s “Exclusive Songwriter and Composer” or any other similar appropriate appellation, during the term hereof.
4. Warranties, Representations, Covenants and Agreements . Writer hereby warrants, represents, covenants and agrees as follows: Writer had the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to grant to and vest in Publisher all the rights herein set forth, free and clear of any and all claims, rights and obligations whatsoever; all of the compositions and all other results and proceeds of the services of the Writer hereunder, including all the titles, lyrics and music of the musical compositions, and each and every part therefor, delivered and to be delivered by Writer hereunder are and shall be new and original and capable of copyright protections throughout the entire world; no musical composition hereunder nor any part thereof shall be an imitation or copy of, or shall infringe upon any other material of, shall violate or infringe upon any common law or statutory rights of any part including without limitation, contractual rights and copyrights and rights of privacy, and Writer has not sold, assigned, leased, licensed or in any way disposed of or encumbered any composition or rights herein granted to Publisher, nor shall Writer sell, assign, lease, license or in any other way dispose of or encumber any of the compositions or said rights.
5. Power of Attorney . Writer does hereby irrevocably constitute, authorize, empower and appoint Publisher, or any of its officers, Writer’s true and lawful attorney (with full power of substitution and delegation), in Writer’s name, and in Writer’s place and stead, or in Publisher’s name, and to take and do such action, and to make, sign, execute, acknowledge and deliver all instruments or document, which Publisher, or its successors, assigns and licenses, all of the rights or interests granted by Writer hereunder, including, without limitation, such documents as Publisher may deem desirable or necessary to secure to Publisher, or its successors, assigns and licensees, the worldwide copyrights for all compositions hereunder for the entire term of copyright and for any and all renewals and extensions.