Composer Contract Management
Navigate the business side of composing with confidence. Our tailored contract management service helps composers secure fair deals, protect their rights, and stay focused on creating exceptional music while we handle the complex negotiations and administrative work (pictured, Steve Berman).
Composed by: Contract 2
Professional contract support for film, TV & Games composers
Whether it's your first deal or your fiftieth, our project management service ensures that the business side of things doesn't get in the way of the music. We provide end-to-end business support for music composer commissions across all media formats, starting with deal negotiation and composer contract assistance. Our full service includes:
Contract Review & Negotiation:
- Fee, rights and screen credit negotiation, amongst other key points
- Professional contract review and negotiation by experienced agents
- Plain-English advice on copyright and backend income
- Contract amendments for scope of service changes or additional music as projects progress
Administrative Support:
- Optional invoicing on your behalf – we only get paid when you do
- Music registration support with collection societies
- Checking music cue sheets are correctly completed
- Regular progress updates so you're never in the dark
Production Liaison:
- Direct communication with production teams to resolve any issues during a project
- Full support for live recording sessions (optional add-on)
- Ongoing project management from deal to delivery
Our composer contract service is designed for:
- Composers working in TV, film, animation or games
- Anyone unsure about a new deal or contract terms
- Those needing help with the non-creative side – contracting, invoicing, registrations, and cue sheets
- Experienced composers wanting professional representation for complex negotiations
We protect your interests by spotting red flags, pushing for better terms, and securing fair deals. We give you confidence so you know exactly what you're signing and what terms you should push back on. Most importantly, we take hassle and admin off your plate – from negotiation to invoicing to chasing up completed cue sheets, we handle the business side of things so you can compose.
What Our Clients Say…
The Composerworks are brilliant and easy to work with, making them so highly recommended for contract negotiation
So pleased I found Steve. He and his friendly team helped me negotiate a few contracts at a busy time. They were exceptionally thorough, happy to explain specifics, and always responded promptly. Knowing the legal side was in great hands freed me up to get on with delivering music. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
"The Composerworks have been a fantastic help with contracts on a number of projects, negotiating better deals and having the difficult conversations (including nudging for my payments) with productions that meant I could get on with the composing and stick to creative conversations with the filmmakers.
Really great people to work with”
Steve has overseen a number of contracts for me, and it’s been a huge asset having someone to deal with that side of things (as well as fee and publishing negotiations). On top of that, it has freed up important time to focus on the composing!
The Composerworks have been fantastic at taking away all the admin hassle leaving me to be able to focus on just composing. This has basically removed all the stuff I never have time for:- fee negotiation, contract legal work, invoicing etc - brilliant service and great team!
We have trusted Steve and The Composerworks with our music contract negotiations for many years. They are always clear, consistent and fair and Steve's insight is priceless to us. The Composerworks' team are great and their presence always makes things simpler and less chaotic whilst we get on the more chaotic and creative side of things!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Contract Management Service?
It's a flexible, end-to-end service for film, television and games composers who bring in their own work. We help negotiate terms, handle all admin such as invoicing on your behalf and support you from deal to delivery.
Are you a law firm?
No. Although our founder Steve Berman is a lawyer, any legal advice we provide and contract-related work we undertake is provided in our capacity as a composer agency only.
Solicitors, their firms, and the work they undertake are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Only individuals authorised by a regulator - such as solicitors - may carry out certain “reserved legal activities,” as defined in the Legal Services Act 2007.
The Composerworks is not a regulated law firm and does not carry out reserved legal activities. We may arrange for a qualified solicitor to review the terms as part of our service to you. Where this applies, we will let you know in advance. Any such review is included in our fee.
Do you have Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Yes. Our professional indemnity insurance covers us for business activities relating, amongst other things, to composer contract consultancy services.
How is this different from full agency representation?
This is not a traditional agency representation model. You bring a job to us and we then focus only on the contract and surrounding support.
Is there a minimum commitment?
No, it's a flexible, one-project-at-a-time service chargeable on a per-project basis – use us only when you need us.
Can you help if I've already received a contract?
Yes. We can step in at any stage to review, negotiate, or raise red flags before you sign. But the earlier we are involved, the better the negotiating position is typically.
Do you offer publishing advice?
Yes, we provide guidance on music publishing splits, various backend royalty streams and rights' retention generally in order to get composers the fairest deal.
Will you invoice and collect payment for me?
Yes. We can invoice on your behalf and chase outstanding payments as part of our service, so you stay focused on the music.
How do I start?
Contact us with project details. We'll call you back to discuss your needs and next steps.
Composer Contract Management
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The Christie charity supports The Christie Hospital by providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS is able to fund. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to its patients and their families.
The Christie is a specialist cancer centre in Manchester that treats more than 60,000 patients a year. It is the largest provider of radiotherapy in the NHS and is home to the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK. It is a specialist surgical centre concentrating on rare cancers and complex procedures.
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