Get the distribution deal for your release into writing

Informal arrangements can work until there is a disagreement about royalties, release timing, territories, takedowns or who controls the recordings. A written distribution agreement helps record the commercial deal in a way both sides can refer back to later. It can clarify whether the distributor has exclusive rights, what platforms or channels are covered, what reporting is expected, and when the arrangement can end. That is especially useful when a release starts generating income or when the parties have different expectations about promotion, delivery standards or catalogue control.

These agreements often cover the rights being granted, whether the arrangement is exclusive or non-exclusive, royalty or revenue split mechanics, accounting and reporting, delivery obligations, metadata or asset requirements, release approvals, territories, term length, takedown rights, and termination. They may also deal with artwork, promotional use, sublicensing, and what happens to recordings and income after the relationship ends. The exact drafting depends on whether you are an artist, label or distributor, and whether the release is going to digital platforms only or also into physical channels.

We usually need to know who owns the recordings, who is acting as distributor, whether the deal is exclusive, how revenue is meant to be split, which territories are involved, and what channels will be used. It also helps to know whether there are featured artists, producers, label arrangements or existing rights commitments that affect the release. If the distributor has obligations around reporting, marketing support or delivery standards, those points should also be captured. The more clearly the commercial arrangement is described, the more precisely the agreement can reflect it.

Sometimes a template is enough for a very simple release, but many music deals have details that generic wording does not handle well. A template may not reflect your royalty structure, your ownership position, your release timetable, or the practical way the distributor will exploit the recordings. It may also leave gaps around exclusivity, reporting, takedowns or post-termination rights. A tailored agreement is usually more useful where the release has commercial value, multiple stakeholders or a longer-term catalogue angle. If you already have a draft, it can often be adapted rather than rebuilt from scratch.

Timing depends on how settled the commercial deal is and whether there are unusual rights or revenue arrangements to work through. Once we have the relevant details, we prepare the agreement and provide it for review. If there are points that need to be refined, those can be addressed as part of finalising the document. This fixed-fee service covers the legal drafting described on the page. It does not include ongoing representation after signing, negotiations that expand beyond the agreed scope, or advice on tax treatment of royalties or revenue.

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 Music Distribution 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.