Summer Walker Is a Star. But She Signed a ‘Brutal’ Record Deal to Get There

Rolling Stone obtained the R&B singer’s contract with label/management firm LVRN. Multiple managers and lawyers say they would not have agreed to the company’s terms

rollingstone.com/music/music-features/summer-walker-lvrn-contract-1252253

Music industry screws another artist with bogus contract, more at 11

Artists and athletes are the only workers in todays times who truly earn their millions, and they deserve their moneys worth

F*** the industry

idk if you’re being sarcastic or not but that’s definitely not the case lol. f*** the industry tho

"The draft outline of Walker’s deal with LVRN and Interscope stipulated that she would have received just $110,000 as an advance. The proposed royalty rate for her debut and its follow-up was 16% — meaning she would take home just 16 cents out of every dollar she generates once she has recouped her advance.

Managers say these numbers are low by contemporary standards. They drop lower (starting at 15%) in the deal Walker ultimately signed, in which she also gave up her masters. (One progressive music company, Indify, does not even allow acts to sign royalty deals or give up ownership of their masters on their platform, believing that both practices are unfair to artists.)"

jfc

One draft document obtained by Rolling Stone would demand that Walker give up a chunk of all her non-musical earnings, even in areas like acting. The recording deal she ultimately signed with LVRN offered the singer a low advance payment and a low royalty rate by current standards.

The draft outline of Walker’s deal with LVRN and Interscope stipulated that she would have received just $110,000 as an advance. The proposed royalty rate for her debut and its follow-up was 16% — meaning she would take home just 16 cents out of every dollar she generates once she has recouped her advance.

Managers say these numbers are low by contemporary standards. They drop lower (starting at 15%) in the deal Walker ultimately signed, in which she also gave up her masters.

oh buddy

the longer this article goes the worse it gets omg

damn this s*** is lethal

so lvrn is f***ing her over ?

Sorry but ur an adult read the damn contract

isnt LVRN the plant label/the label that moves weird as f*** why did she sign there

Doesn’t Justice run this company oof

Like damn pay a f***in lawyer to read that s***. If they wont let you think it over or read it through you leave

some lawyers are lowkey working in the label's favour so its not as easy as finding a lawyer

JBP ain’t covering this like they did Meg’s contract

lmao every label contract for an undiscovered artist is terrible. you'd be surprised at what your favorite artists signed when they were desperate for an opportunity. like Meek just tweeted out that he makes $0 off of music.. Most female artists are in the 360 too, because they get lots of opportunities for things like modeling, acting, perfume deals. its a dog eat dog industry. you have to sign that horrible deal and just hope your success can last a couple years and you're able re-up under better terms or go independent.

End all record labels.

how many starving artists can realistically afford a lawyer to negotiate their Interscope deal?

Damn this is sad to hear. She makes great music and isn’t even being properly compensated for it

yeah I felt like he was one of the few good people in the music world. I guess nobody is above putting on a friendly face for the public though.

16% royalties and no masters??

Shouldn’t have signed it she prolly saw that advance and just signed.

That’s still life changing money, but not much in grand scheme of music

Imagine not hiring a lawyer to read your contracts. This should be illegal tho.

this is sad