Fees
Lesson time: (1min 16sec)
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Music Business 101 for Artists
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Understanding Legal Fees for Artists
I think another really important question is obviously fees, because a lot of people are concerned about going to see professionals and how much it's all going to cost.
Common Concerns
You hear horror stories about lawyers sending large bills to their clients when time is racked up on the clock. Suddenly, as an artist, you might be concerned about receiving a huge bill.
Transparency is Key
You need to be very direct. The lawyer and I always, when I speak to clients for the first time, will be very transparent about fees.
"I hate the idea of any clients being concerned about a large bill they'd get."
As I said, my background being an artist, I remember when we did our first deal and received our bill, thinking:
"Goodness, I could have bought a new guitar amp with that money or whatever, new equipment."
Clarity on Charges
It's important to be clear on how fees are charged and what you're going to be liable for. Good legal advice isn't going to be free, or it's certainly not going to be cheap.
Long-Term Relationships
However, lawyers will often take a view that if they see potential for a longer-term relationship, they might offer some initial advice for free or at a discounted rate.
Final Thoughts
Be clear about how that all works to avoid unexpected bills later on.
About the instructor
Imogen Heap is a Grammy-winning English singer, songwriter, producer and technologist whose influence runs through two decades of pop, electronic and film music — and through much of the technology modern artists now take for granted. Born in London in 1977 and classically trained on piano, cello and clarinet, she released her debut album 'iMegaphone' in 1998 before forming the duo Frou Frou with producer Guy Sigsworth, whose song 'Let Go' reached a global audience through the film Garden State. Her self-written, self-produced album 'Speak for Yourself' (2005) delivered 'Hide and Seek', the a cappella landmark that later powered Jason Derulo's chart-topping 'Whatcha Say' and Ariana Grande's 'Goodnight n Go', and continues to find new generations of listeners. 'Ellipse' (2009) won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical — recorded and engineered in her own home studio — and she went on to co-write and produce 'Clean' on Taylor Swift's Album of the Year-winning '1989'. She also composed the score for the stage play 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'. A relentless innovator, Heap developed the MI.MU gestural gloves — recognised with three honorary doctorates — and founded Mycelia and The Creative Passport, initiatives building a fairer data ecosystem for artists. In 2024 she returned with 'What Have You Done to Me?', created with her AI vocal alter ego Mogen, while a viral resurgence of 'Headlock' brought her music to millions of new fans. read more