Before You Sign Anything
One last word of advice: Before you sign any contract, get to know something about the people you're doing business with. Find out what the contract says, and what it means. A little detective work might save you a lot of money and years of misery, not to mention the anguish of watching your songs die on the vine.
Checking ReferencesMost reputable companies will be happy to tell you about what they've accomplished and whom they do business with. Follow up on these references and see if they pan out. If someone tells you he or she wrote or published a big hit, find out the title and artist, go to a record store, and see if it's true. Call the local Better Business Bureau and see if any complaints have been filed against the company and/or if they are considered in good standing.
Always take some time to think things over before signing a contract; you can't change your mind once you sign. Take it home. Have your lawyer look it over, along with any staff writers you know. If anyone ever pressures you to sign on the spot, something is probably wrong and you should consider walking out.
If you're living in a music hub, it's usually pretty easy to ask around and find out what kind of person you're dealing with. Talk to some other publishers and see what they have to say. Track down writers who've dealt with the company and find out if they were happy with the way things turned out. The music communities in most hub cities are fairly tight-knit. If a publisher has a reputation, good or bad, chances are that you know somebody who can attest to it. Do Web searches on the names of the publisher, employees, and the company.
Finding an Entertainment AttorneyYou can find entertainment attorneys in most music hubs. Look in the Yellow Pages. Ask friends in the music business for a recommendation. Finding an attorney who lives in the hub where you do business is a good idea; he or she will be likely to know the people you do business with and maybe even make some connections for you.
