Music Glossary: business

Upfront payment against future royalties. Recoupable per contract terms; no additional royalties are paid until recoupment is met. more

Books live shows and tours, negotiates guarantees and terms with promoters/venues. Bleeds you dry but a neccessary evil! more

Crafting a consistent identity (sound, image, tone, visuals) that communicates who you are to your target audience. more

Oversees career strategy, team, and business affairs; coordinates releases, deals, and timelines. Bleeds you dry but a neccessary evil! more

Handles business strategy, deals, and coordination; usually earns 15–20 % of gross revenue. more

Income paid after recoupment or post-use, e.g., performance royalties or sync back-end. more

Legally binding agreement covering rights, term, territory, deliverables, advances, and recoupment. Always seek qualified legal advice. more

Raising funds from fans for albums or tours via platforms like Kickstarter or Patreon in exchange for rewards. more

A direct channel to fans that outlives platforms; use sign-ups, newsletters, and giveaways responsibly under GDPR. more

Physical goods (shirts, vinyl, posters) sold to fans at shows and online. more

Live deal where artist pay is a share of door receipts (tickets sold at the venue). more

Submitting tracks to editorial or independent playlists with strong metadata, art, and description. more

Encouraging fans to pre-add upcoming releases on streaming services to boost first-day algorithms. more

A digital portfolio including bio, photos, music links, and contact info for promoters, labels, and media. more

Payment to rights-holders for uses of a work/recording. Includes mechanical, performance, streaming, sync, and neighbour/neighboring rights. more

Professional player hired to support a lead artist on stage or in studio. more

Scheduling regular, authentic posts to maintain engagement; combine promotional and behind-the-scenes content. more

Monitoring data from Spotify for Artists, YouTube Studio, etc., to refine marketing, setlists, and release timing. more

Granting music use in film, TV, games, or ads for a fee and credit; often via libraries or direct pitch to supervisors. more

Forecasting travel, accommodation, crew, and contingency costs; tracking per-show profit and break-even points. more