Opinion ID: 1427054
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Recording Contract

Text: Phillips entered into the recording contract with BBE in September 2002 under the terms of which he agreed to provide his services as a recording artist and producer to create musical compositions, and BBE agreed to pay the costs of production and to pay royalties to Phillips, including a $90,000 advance payable in two installments. The contract required Phillips to produce no less than ten (10) newly recorded and previously unreleased tracks . . . of no less than sixty (60) minutes and defined these tracks as the master recordings. The minimum number of tracks was not paired with a maximum anywhere in the contract, but the master recordings were later defined as the album, which was provisionally entitled Soul Survivor 2. BBE acquired the right to exploit all products of Phillips' services under the contract and the entire copyright in the master recordings. The final paragraph of the recording contract contains a choice of law and forum clause that reads: [t]he validity[,] construction[,] and effect of this agreement and any or all modifications hereof shall be governed by English Law and any legal proceedings that may arise out of it are to be brought in England. Phillips also signed a letter agreement, which is attached to the recording contract, authorizing Soul Brother Records, Inc. to offer Phillips' services under the contract and stating that the letter agreement shall be subject to the same laws and exclusive jurisdiction as the above agreement. Phillips received $55,000 from BBE in a first installment of his advance on royalties. Pursuant to the contract, the balance of the advance was payable upon delivery to BBE of the last of the master recordings.