Short answer: Zeb Chandler is an Atlanta entertainment attorney who reviews, negotiates and drafts music agreements for artists, producers, songwriters and independent labels. He's spent more than a decade on recording, management, publishing and royalty deals, and consultations are available online or in person in Atlanta.
Music agreements Zeb handles
- Recording and record label agreements, including single deals, album deals, label services and 360 deals
- Distribution agreements with distributors and label-services companies
- Producer agreements: fees, points, royalties, credits and SoundExchange letters of direction
- Split sheets and collaboration agreements for co-writers, features and co-producers
- Management agreements: commission, term, key-person and post-term (sunset) clauses
- Publishing agreements: administration, co-publishing and songwriter deals
- Sync and licensing for film, TV, games, ads and brand campaigns
- Work-for-hire and session agreements for musicians, engineers and creative teams
- Independent label setup: the entity, artist agreements and the paperwork that makes a catalog valuable
The clauses that matter most in a music deal
Every deal is different, but the same handful of terms decide whether it works for you five years from now.
| Term | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ownership of masters | Whether you own your recordings, license them for a period, or give them away for good. |
| Term and options | How many releases or years you're committed for, and who decides whether to extend. |
| Advances and recoupment | What the label pays itself back before you earn royalties, and from which income. |
| Royalty rate and splits | Your percentage, what it's calculated on, and how streaming income is shared. |
| Cross-collateralization | Whether costs on one project are taken out of income from another. |
| 360 participation | Which non-record income the label shares in: touring, merch, publishing, brand deals. |
| Creative control and approvals | Who picks singles, producers, artwork and release dates. |
| Exit and reversion | What happens if the label shelves the project, and whether rights come back to you. |
For producers and songwriters
Producers and writers usually lose money in two places: unclear splits and missing registrations. Zeb drafts split sheets and producer agreements that spell out ownership of the composition and the master, producer royalties and credits, and he helps make sure the songs are registered with a PRO, The MLC and SoundExchange so royalties actually reach you. See copyright and royalties.
For independent labels
A label is a business that owns assets. Zeb helps independent labels form the company, sign artists on fair and enforceable terms, set up distribution and keep chain-of-title clean, so the catalog holds its value if you later raise money or sell. The Artist & Label Accelerator covers all of this in 12 weeks.
How working together works
- Consultation. Bring the offer or contract, the names of everyone involved and your deadline.
- Quote. You get a clear scope and fee before any review or negotiation starts.
- Review and negotiate. Zeb explains each term in plain English, proposes changes and, if you want, negotiates directly with the label, distributor or manager.
Zeb doesn't shop music or act as a manager or agent. His job is to make sure the deal you're offered is one you understand and can live with.
Music contract questions
Do I need a music lawyer to sign a record deal?
You should have one read it first. Record deals set who owns your masters, how long you're bound, what gets recouped before you see royalties and what share of your other income the label takes. Those terms are hard to change once signed.
How much does a music lawyer cost in Atlanta?
Fees depend on the deal. Zeb quotes contract reviews and negotiations up front after a consultation, so you know the cost before work starts. Some lawyers charge a percentage of the deal; Zeb will tell you which structure he's proposing and why.
What is recoupment in a record deal?
Recoupment means the label pays itself back from your royalty share before paying you. Advances, and often recording, video and marketing costs, are recoupable. A deal can generate real revenue for years while the artist's account stays unrecouped.
What is a 360 deal?
A 360 deal gives the label a share of income beyond record sales, such as touring, merchandise, publishing, endorsements or brand deals. The share, which income streams it covers and whether it's net or gross are all negotiable.
Can you help with producer splits and split sheets?
Yes. Zeb drafts producer agreements, split sheets and collaboration agreements that set ownership of the composition and master, producer points or royalties, credit, and who registers what.
Can you get me a record deal?
No. Zeb doesn't shop music to labels. He reviews and negotiates deals once they're offered, and sets up your business and registrations so you're ready when they are.