Contracts & Ownership: Why Artists Lose Control Without Realizing It

Contracts & Ownership: Why Artists Lose Control Without Realizing It

Ownership determines long-term wealth. Most artists focus on exposure. Smart artists focus on ownership. Artists like Russ built wealth through ownership.

What Ownership Means

Ownership gives you control over:

  • Your masters 
  • Your royalties
  • Your licensing

Without ownership, others profit from your work.

Solutions

1. Understand every contract

Never sign without reading and understanding.

2. Retain master ownership whenever possible

Masters generate long-term income.

3. Build leverage before signing

Leverage creates better deals.

Takeaways

Ownership creates independence. Exposure without ownership creates dependence.

Back to blog