I know this might sound obvious, but get a lawyer.

The music business is a tangled web of laws, contracts, etc. The best way to protect yourself long term is to find someone to do it for you right the first time. Indeed, it's an investment, but a very worthwhile one -- especially if this is what you want to do for a living.

jfavela wrote: ...I am looking for contracts/agreements that will protect everybodys best interests...

jfavela wrote: The band I will be recording/producing has a few songwriters. I also want the band to record songs written by, "outside" parties.

jfavela wrote: ...If the band uses songs written by outside parties how does the royalties structure change/look? Is there, "standard" percentages for projects like these?

Good luck finding something to protect EVERYONE's best interest! Contracts are a give and take sort of thing, and everyone wants to take and no one wants to give. I'm sure you know that the best solution is to get an entertainment attorney (not just any attorney, but one that primarily deals with entertainment law), but I'm sure you lack in the funds for one. In that case, I would purchase packages of generic contract templates. They will hold up (in fact, anything you sign or even verbally agree to has the chance to hold up in court) but they may take some modifications on your part.

As for "outside" parties writing songs you perform, I am assuming you mean you want to cover a song. In that case, you need to obtain a mechanical license from the publisher or copyright administrator for the particular work which you wish to cover. The Harry Fox Agency is pretty thorough, although I have found quite a few innaccuracies (mainly because I know the bands and know their publishers). Anyway, expect to pay US $0.085 per copy. That's not a percentage, but a set rate. Your project is able to take in the rest of the money generated; you pay only US $0.085 per copy. Usually, they will want you to pay in advance by the 1000 copies (US $85.00 upfront).

Hope that helps.

Where may I find such documents?

where can I find/purchase such documents?
Joshua

Googling "Music business legal documents" brought up a whole slew of sites.

Might I recommend Donald Passman's book on music law? Look up on Amazon.com or your local library. It's THE comprehensive guide to the subject, and while a bit of a dry read, totally informative.

Hi,

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Thanks,
Jonathan