We are the music makers https://wearethemusicmakers.co/latest Music tech and AI in music: the news that matters, what we think about it, and a directory of the tools. en-us Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:30:00 GMT https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/music-lawyer-when-you-need-one Do you need a music lawyer? When to hire one, what it costs and how to keep the bill small https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/music-lawyer-when-you-need-one Most independent artists do not need a lawyer for every release, but a few moments justify one every time: signing anything with a term of years, assigning copyright, and disputes you might take to court. This guide covers those triggers, the main ways lawyers charge, the rules that limit how they can charge in the US and India, and how to prepare so you pay for judgement rather than reading time. Laws and rules checked on 25 Oct 2026. Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:30:00 GMT We are the music makers artist-rightsrecord-dealscopyrightworkflows https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/record-deal-red-flags Record and distribution deal red flags: term, recoupment and AI training clauses to read before you sign https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/record-deal-red-flags Three parts of a contract decide most of what an artist gives away: how long it lasts, how the money flows back to the label, and what the other side may do with your recordings and voice in an AI model. Here is what to look for in each, the laws that already limit some of them, and the questions to ask before you sign, as we read the sources on 24 Oct 2026. Sat, 24 Oct 2026 03:30:00 GMT We are the music makers record-dealsartist-rightscopyrightai-musicdistribution https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/360-deals-vs-distribution-vs-label-services 360 deals vs distribution vs label services: which deal takes what https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/360-deals-vs-distribution-vs-label-services A distributor licenses your music for a fee and takes nothing else. A label-services company licenses your masters for a few years and keeps a larger cut. A traditional label usually owns the masters and pays you a royalty, and a 360 deal adds a share of touring, merch and other income on top. Here is what each one takes, in one table, and when each makes sense for an independent artist. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers industryrecord-dealsartist-rightsroyalties https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/recoupment-explained-why-a-hit-can-leave-you-unrecouped Recoupment explained: why an artist with a hit can still be "in debt" to the label https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/09/recoupment-explained-why-a-hit-can-leave-you-unrecouped A record advance is paid back out of your royalty share, not your bank account, so at a 20% royalty a $50,000 advance needs about $250,000 of revenue before you see another cent. Here is the arithmetic, what cross-collateralization and recoupable costs do to it, and what to negotiate before you sign. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers industryroyaltiesrecord-dealsartist-rights https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/03/timbaland-tata-taktumi-pacific-music-group-hybrid-ai-artist Timbaland's TaTa Taktumi gets a label deal, but the human behind the "hybrid AI artist" is still unnamed https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/03/timbaland-tata-taktumi-pacific-music-group-hybrid-ai-artist Ne-Yo's Pacific Music Group is now the global label and Asia manager for TaTa Taktumi, the AI act from Timbaland's Stage Zero, which has been recast as a "hybrid artist" with a private performer of Filipino heritage behind it. Nobody has said who gets paid, who is credited, or what that performer owns. Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:30:00 GMT We are the music makers aitimbalandvirtual-artistsartist-rightsrecord-deals