Music Industry Red Flags to Run From: Avoid Scams!

It seems obvious, but sometimes we all need a reminder that if someone says they know exactly what to do with your music and guarantees success, it’s a huge red flag! Of course, when you are just starting and don’t have much experience, it may seem logical. However, when someone greets you with a guarantee or some kind of «perfect strategy,» it’s a sure sign of a scam.

Nobody knows your music better than you. At the same time, you need to seek quality feedback and use your discernment. There’s no guarantee in the music industry, or, to be frank, in any industry. It’s a delicate balance to navigate, but extremely helpful to have in mind from the beginning. So, to keep you equipped, let's debunk the most common music industry red flags to run from.

Here are the top 8 ways to identify a questionable offer

1. You’re being rushed. If someone is pushing you to decide as soon as possible and use any excuse to speed up the deal, they might disappear as quickly. The only exception is an urgent project received from a trustworthy partner.

2. It sounds too good to be true. When you get a sense that the offer is unrealistically good, check it multiple times and compare it to similar ones, research the company and people involved, and get feedback from a professional or a friend in the industry.

3. They’re not answering your questions clearly or at all. This is an important one that is often overlooked. If all they want is to get your stems and don’t even answer what your role is in the project or what they have in mind about this track going forward, it’s a bad sign. If all you get is some kind of abstract answer, your questions get brushed off or even completely ignored - don’t waste your time!

4. There is no paperwork. Similar to the previous point. When you do music professionally, it’s important to have all the documents around your collabs and deals. If there are no proper documents, there should be no deal! When it comes to collaborations, do the papers before you start; a true pro creator will be happy to negotiate and sign them. In my early days, I’ve had a few instances when I was left unpaid, or a collaborator just vanished when the song was done. Another way to prevent this is to keep all your communications and transactions only through collaboration platforms like SoundBetter or BeatStars.

5. Hard to prove a track record. If it’s hard to check the history of a company or a person you have received an offer from, there is a reason for it. Legit people and companies in the music industry are public, and their background is possible to clarify. If the info presented on their website and socials is hard to back up with actual evidence or through other people you know in the industry, it might be better to pass on the deal.

6. We want A LOT of your music! From time to time, I’ve encountered publishers that sent me a contract right away after hearing just one of my tracks and followed it up with something like: «We want a lot of your music! Give us at least 100 tracks so we can land some great placements for them». At first glance, it seemed fine, but not until I took the time to think about it. First, it's not a made-up number, and it's unrealistic to ask for this amount of music. Second, both publishers were legit, but it turned out that they had a particularly low placement (actual use of music in projects) rate. When you get asked for a noticeable amount of music, look up the contract terms and the info about the publisher. There’s no need to give up many of your tracks if they're just gonna lie there without any usage. It’s okay to create a full-length album for a publisher and see how it goes before making something else, but it might be unreasonable to give a hundred tracks to a company with an unsustainable placement history.

7. Congratulations! You’ve been invited to a paid audition! Beware of audition invitations that require you to pay to participate. This practice is still widely spread, yet true auditions are completely free. Remember that.

8. The contract implies the ownership of your complete catalog. There have been a few times when the contract would give control of my entire catalog to one specific company. As a creator of many different types of music, this approach just doesn’t work for me. However, this particular aspect could go unnoticed unless I carefully read all of the terms. If you, similar to me, already have your music spread across different publishers, this would lead to a legal disaster and kill your career. If you signed this kind of deal at the very start, you might end up in an unfulfilling situation that is also tricky to get out of. Always read what you sign and consult with a professional if any of the terms are hard to understand. Unless you decide to go exclusive with a particular label or publisher from the beginning, the only owner of your complete catalog should be YOU - the creator.

Being mindful about your collabs and deals will get you further than any other skill. Keeping your focus sharp and avoiding questionable situations will save you time and money and lead to a more calm yet prosperous career. Of course, there’s always a possibility of something going south or not working out without it being a scam. But if you are prepared, your chances of success are much greater.

Be well, stay tuned!