Should You Sign a 50/50 Record Deal? | Music Industry Breakdown

28/10/2025 15 min
Should You Sign a 50/50 Record Deal? | Music Industry Breakdown

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I respond to an email from an artist. He is the lead singer of a band that has been grinding it out for 17 years without a record deal until now.After nearly two decades of shows, albums, and DIY hustle, a label finally reached out with a contract… but there’s a catch. Actually, there are a few.Here’s what the label is offering:Take full ownership of their entire back catalog50/50 split on both album sales and publishingMinimal funding for marketing and publicityThe band pays for their own studio time, and the label still takes 50%“Industry protection” (No clue what that means)He is excited and ready to sign but his bass player says it’s a bad deal. So in this episode, I break down the offer, explain what each clause really means, and talk about when a record deal is worth it (and when to walk away).If you’ve ever dreamed about getting signed, this one’s a must watch before you put your name on any contract.Got a question about the music industry or a deal you want me to review?Head over to MatthewRix.com and send in your question might be featured in a future Music Business newsletter.#MusicIndustry #RecordDeal #MusicContracts #IndependentArtist #MusicBusinessTips #MattrixMinute #MatthewRix #ArtistAdvice #MusicLabel #SigningADeal #MusicIndustrySecrets #BandLife #RecordLabelScamListen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.SpotifyApple MusicAmazon MusicYouTube