Set the rules for your band before the hard conversations happen

Bands often operate informally at the start, but tension can build once there is money coming in, recording costs to share, or disagreement about who controls songs and branding. A written agreement helps record what has actually been agreed before memories differ. It can cover issues like whether income is split equally, who owns master recordings, whether one member can book gigs on behalf of the group, and what happens if someone leaves mid-project. Those are the points that usually become difficult when nothing has been written down.

It commonly covers how performance income, streaming revenue and expenses are divided, who owns songs and recordings, how decisions are made, and whether the band name can be used by one or more members. It can also deal with rehearsal or touring costs, authority to sign deals, dispute procedures, and what happens if a member leaves, is replaced or stops performing. If your band writes collaboratively but records through one member's studio setup, for example, the agreement may need to separate songwriting ownership from recording ownership.

The drafting depends on how your band actually works. Key details include whether songs are written jointly or individually, whether the band earns money from live shows, merchandise or recordings, and whether one member manages bookings or social media. We also need to know if the group already has releases out, whether there is a producer or manager involved, and whether members contribute different amounts of time or money. Those facts can change how ownership, authority and payment clauses should be written.

Timing depends on how clearly the band has already agreed the main commercial points. If the lineup, ownership position and revenue split are settled, the process is usually more straightforward. If there are open questions around songwriting credits, recording ownership or exit payments, those points may need to be clarified before the agreement can be finalised. Once engaged, we will identify the information needed, prepare the draft, and flag any areas where the band needs to choose between different approaches before signing.

No. This service covers legal work for the Band Partnership Agreement itself and related drafting questions based on your instructions. It does not include tax advice, royalty collection administration, or ongoing representation in a live dispute between members. If the matter moves beyond documenting the arrangement and into negotiations, a member exit conflict, or related music industry agreements, that can be scoped separately. Keeping the service document-led helps make the fixed-fee and deliverables clearer from the outset.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Band Partnership Agreement service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.