This is a gmail conversation I had with a fellow music producer a while ago. This is probably the craziest and most blatant industry rip off scheme I have heard of. The names & locations have been changed to protect the innocent (also with permission of the innocent). The conversation has also been left intact for narrative impact…

xxxxx: sup, do u have a music lawyer u can recommend.
me: in NY?
xxxxx: yeah Ny or MIA
me: you have the contract already?
xxxxx: no, the label told us to get a contract drawn up and send it to them.
me: to sell a track? its an indy label?
xxxxx: track to an artist on a major label
i found that particularly weird.
me: that’s very strange
usually you would write them an invoice
which you dont need a lawyer for
then they hit you with a producer declaration
but the producer side doesn’t normally write up any contracts
especially on a major
unless they are changing the way they do things now…
xxxxx: the fact i want production credits, royalties from the ringtone,upfront money etc. dunno, really think im being played
me: it doesnt make sense…
i thought you had a manager?
xxxxx: yes but he’s just a xxxxxx xxxxx taking 20% off the top for showing his contacts beats.
being in (non North American country), its our only avenue
me: i dig that man
xxxxx: any chance u can email me a blank invoice. and does it matter whether its a mixtape or album placement
me: no, doesnt matter
if you are actually getting paid for a mixtape
sure, let me look for one
xxxxx: thanks.
should this dude really be takin 20%. upfront, before we’re paid
i doubt he’d risk his reputation for a measly 00
me: wait….
who is taking 20 up front?
xxxxx: the guy who is connecting me with artists acting as a rep/manager
me: when you say up front, you mean from your advance?
xxxxx: he’s taking 20% of the money we are supposed to get, before we get it. he wants me to pay him outta my pocket. before we see money from the label.
for his troubles.
me: WHAT!?!?!??!?!?!
GET THE #$ %@ OUT OF HERE!?!?!?!??!
how can you possibly do that?
xxxxx: yeah man, he’s doin it coz we got no avenue.
me: damn it
lol
xxxxx: we already paid him in advance for the 500 we are supposedly to recieve for 4 tracks.
me: dont pay anyone ANYTHING till you get your check
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
man
xxxxx: its too late.
me: you paid him 3 g’s up front?
xxxxx: close to.
i paid as much as we had, thing is, he knows the artists personally so it seems legit. i guess part of the grind is gettin played.
me: no
i %$ @#ing hate when people say that
this is one of the craziest rip offs I have ever hear of
EVER
heard
of
xxxxx: haha.. this bout to be an urban legend. oh well.
so the invoice protects our ass in terms of royalties, publishing and all that back end money we wish to negotiate
me: no
the invoice is the first step to get the check cut
then the label sends you a “producer declaration” which is like an initial contract, so they can cut your first half
then when the song makes the record,
you will get a producer agreement
which is the final contract finalizing everything
please please let me know how this goes
maybe this dude is legit, but its VERY possible the label will never even cut the check
and please, ask someone from DP before you do anything again
xxxx: yeah, if they dont cut the check, its like he can say, oh well, i tried.
thing is that my dude knows the artists personally, said he was going outta his way and wanted to be paid for his time, we figured, for us, any exposure is a good look
me: there are other ways to get things done…
damn
man
DP is here
so you can reach out to dudes who have some experience
you got me angry man
you cant act out of desperation
xxxx: i guess. a very valuable but expensive lesson might be learnt from this.
me: good guess lol

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