SEQ CHAPTER 1
Navigating Negotiations
By Jarrett Maier
Have you ever had that feeling in your
gut that something isn’t right? That gnawing
doubt that prevents you from making a rational decision. Many times the right choice is
glaringly obvious, yet you still struggle with
it. How do you make that decision?
We artists tend to take ourselves, and our decisions, way too seriously. All messed up with
emotional attachment and creative certainty
,we tilt at the wind mills of society and culture. My personal wind mill is the language of
CONTRACTS. Who speaks like this, let alone
writes like this? Lawyers, that’s who.
So let’s talk about why we need lawyers to
tell us what the meaning of is, IS, and how
they are our best hope in helping to make
good choices while navigating our musical
careers. Whether it is a performance agreement, a management contract, licensing deal
or a recording contract there is legal terminology the everyday person does not grasp.
Not only that, reading lines like “ exclusive
right to produce, sell, exhibit, perform, use
and otherwise exploit the master recording of the song “, freaks us the hell out!
Almost all of the situations that an artist can
find themselves in ,that will eventually lead
to some type of legal agreement, start off as
an exciting opportunity. Usually the networking connections we have made are friendly
relationships that open doors to these offers.
Someone asks to use our music in a movie or
television show. Promoters or management
approach us with compliments and praise.
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Many times these people that we are
interacting with are also creative types. The
emotion and creative energy we put into our
craft makes us vulnerable to these situations.
Will the opportunity just disappear? Maybe, but then it wasn’t
a good offer to begin with.
Now the talks have been had. You are excited, th e people proposing the project are
excited. Let’s make this happen, it will be
fabulous! Oh, one more thing, we are going
to send you an agreement to sign. No big
deal, we just want to make sure you won’t
sue our buts off. Wait...WHAT?!? ....ok, that
seems reasonable. Then you read the actual
agreement.playing for free in order to get
their foot in the door.
The wording appears a little one sided,
and it should. Because the ones making the
offer hired a lawyer to do one thing, protect
THEIR interests. First drafts are always tilted in the favor of the drafting lawyers client.
On The Up
When we hear a band that has automatic, arena ready, quality music and
presence...you will find them HERE!
R&B infused rock from the streets of New York
City brings a sizzling new sound to the Neue Regel
Radio airwaves, courtesy of the Wild Planes.
So you read it and read it some more. The
more you read it, the less comfortable you
become. Here is where the emotion and
friendly talks you had earlier get all scrambled up. If you question the contract will it
sour the deal? Will these people who say
they love your music be insulted. You’re
nobody really, how dare you pass this up?
Will the opportunity just disappear? Maybe,
but then it wasn’t a good offer to begin with.
This is where hiring your own legal
representative can be helpful. A good
lawyer will add language to protect you and
your music. At the least they will review the
contract and explain what it means in real
terms. All of a sudden you will start feeling
better about signing.
Two issues usually still remain. The chance
of the deal falling apart is still a concern
and now you have a legal fee. No matter
how large or small that fee may be,contract
review can cost any where from $200 to
$1,000, you have still spent money you may
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There are many times when
we inform our readers of
bands they need to pay
attention to. There is no
plausible reason why within
the next year this band
cannot be international
stars. The songs are as fun
and infectious as their
personalities. We present to
you, from the great state of
New York, Wild Planes.
So these guys approach the Neue
Regel Radio broadcast tent at Jersey
Shore Festival early Saturday morning,
while I applauded their professionalism in getting their real early when their
show wasn’t until 7:30pm. What happened over the next 90min was the most
fun I have ever had doing and interview
with a band. They were approachable,
funny and down to earth which made
them endearing to the crowd around the
tent. For the first time in the history of Neue
Regel Radio, we played a track from an artist without even listening to it. I had no idea
of what kind of style they were, but just their
personalities and candor made me trust that
everything was going to be okay. Their latest
single “Never too young to die” leaped from
the ipod through the speakers and into my
dancing shoes. It had all the classic RNB and
Rock influences wrapped up in stylistic hooks
and melodies that appeal from mom to millennial. The smooth vocal work of Kris Carmello
takes a page from the Bruno Mars and Adam
Levine school of Rnb, and a few of the and
the classic 70’s Rnb icons, but makes it
all his own. Sean Mac’s catchy rif’s are
where alot of Wild Planes flavor come
from. Of course, having strong RnB style
wedged within rock songs are all about
the backbone and Andre and Jimmy shine
with their own brand of white soul. This is
more evident when I got back to the studio
and downloaded a could previous tracks
“Easy” and “Lonley”. “Easy” starts
off with a great riff from Sean into a Pop
Paramore-esq shuffle style beat. Enter Kris’ fun, melodic sensibilities and
you have an instant Wild Planes classic.
Neue Regel Radio is first and foremost a
rock and roll station. For a band like Wild
Planes to punch a hole right into the main
rotation is a tribute to their ability as great
songwriters. If there was any drawback to
Wild Planes is that we want more music. If
the first 3 tracks on Neue Rgel Radio are
any sign of things to come, you can bet you
will see these guys on a national level in no
time. There is nothing to not like about this
band and why they will be a rotation band
for quite some time.
Wild Planes Facebook
Wild Planes Twitter
Wild Planes Website
Pictured above left and above;
Wild Planes are:
Kris Carmello - Vocals/Guitar
Andre Jevnik - Drums/Vocals
Jimmy “Ray” Hoag - Bass/Vocals
Sean Mac - Lead Guitar/vocals
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