Owning Your Music: When to Hold On–and When to Sign

Here’s the truth: you spend hours, days, months crafting a track… only to give it away for life? Why?

Owning your music has never been more important. Your catalog is leverage. It’s freedom, future income, and your creative legacy. Once it’s gone, it’s almost impossible to get back.

Think Long-Term

If you’re serious about making music your career, think about future you—20 or 30 years from now. Picture yourself with a catalog that’s grown alongside you. Your life’s work, still in your control, generating income for decades.

In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easier than ever to build your own independent empire. Distribution, marketing, and direct-to-fan tools are in your hands. This level of control was unimaginable a generation ago.

The Reality of Going It Alone

Releasing independently is empowering:

• Full creative control.

• Full revenue share.

• Immediate decision-making power.

The trade-off? Noise. Millions of tracks hit platforms every week. Cutting through takes time, strategy, and money. Many artists spend as much time running their “label” as they do making music.

Why a Good Label Still Matters

The right label can change everything:

• Reach: Established fanbase and distribution.

• Resources: Marketing, press, playlisting, sync opportunities.

• Team: A community of artists that can elevate each other.

A strong label sticks to the contract—royalty statements every six months, timely payments, and transparency.

Where Deals Go Wrong

Too many artists sign without reading the fine print. No questions. No strategy.

The result? Deals that lock your music in for life, stripping away control—while culture treats music as disposable. Don’t let that happen to your art.

Here’s the good news: It’s easier than ever to understand what you’re signing. You can drop a contract into GPT or a similar AI tool and get a clear, plain-English summary in seconds. Gone are the days when your only option was paying hefty legal fees just to check you weren’t being taken advantage of.

Term Length: The Silent Killer

One word matters more than most: perpetuity. If you see it, your music is gone forever.

Fair terms vary, but here’s the baseline:

• 15 years is reasonable for a label to market and monetize your work. Some artist-friendly deals run 5–10 years.

• Reversion is key. After the term, rights revert to you—or you choose to re-sign.

The Sweet Spot: Do Both

Balance is powerful:

• Build your own imprint. Keep control and long-term revenue.

• Sign smart. Work with a label that respects your vision and treats your music like you do.

The more you own, the stronger your position when opportunity comes.

Before You Sign, Ask These 6 Questions

• Who owns the masters—and for how long?

• What’s the royalty split?

• Does the label support creative freedom?

• How often do they pay and report?

• What’s the term length—and can you re-sign?

• Does ownership revert back?

Final Word

Music doesn’t have to be disposable. Your art matters. Protect it. Build with intention. And if you do sign, make sure it’s with people who share your vision—not just your revenue.

Your music is your legacy—treat it that way.