How to Handle Band Breakups

How to Handle Band BreakupsHow to Handle Band BreakupsBand breakups are kind of like divorces. Sometimes theyre amicable, but often theyre not. Like divorces, sometimes there are assets to be divided and making the wrong calls here can have long-lasting implications. Despite some short-term hard feelings, it is possible to manage a break up while protecting your rights and keeping your sanity intact. If you have a combo contract, it should have provisions that dictate how to deal with things like unused recordings, songwriting credits and more, so all you have to do is abide by it. But for those who dont have a contract specifying how things are to be handled, here are some tips. Make a List of the Issues How long your band welches together and how much work youve done will dictate how messy the break up might be.Some issues will be more contentious than others, and youll have a much easier time working through all of them if you clearly identify them and treat each one as a sepa rate subject whenever possible. Each bands situation will vary, but here are a few common concerns that arise. Songwriting Credits This one is really important if your group is earning royalties or if anyone in the group hopes to use some of the groups songs in future projects. In reality, this conversation is one of all bands should be having well before a break-up enters the equation. You might be surprised how differently you all view your own contributions and hammering these things out when things are tense is tough. If you have made agreements in the past when it comes to songwriting credits, stick to them. You might be angry now, but if you have agreed to share all the credit for the music equally in the past - even if only one of you actually did the work - take some deep breaths and honor the agreement. If you all share ownership of the songs, you should discuss what that means. Will you all have free reign to cover the songs in future projects? What happens if one of y ou joins a new band and suddenly has a hit on your hands with a song that was co-written with this band youre leaving now? In that case, the people who share songwriting credits are due to a royalty. It will get more complex if it becomes an issue sometime down the line and hasnt been addressed. Unreleased Recordings If you have unreleased recordings sitting around, what are you going to do with them? When youve invested a lot of money in recording, then obviously the idea of trying to recoup that money by selling the music is appealing. If you have signed a contract with a label that obligates you to deliver an album, then youre going to have to deliver the album or buy yourself out of the contract. How much that costs depend on how much the label has invested in your band and what they think they could have made from selling your record. If youre dealing with a small indie, you might be able to come to some sort of agreement.If youre dealing with a larger label that has lawyer s involved, then youll need to get a lawyer as well. If you dont have a deal, things are easier. If youre still friends and can work together to try and sell the record, great. Just make sure you discuss things like how youll divide the work, the expenses, and the profits. If you cant work together, then you might have to chalk it up to experience. If some members of the group have invested more financially into the project than others, the fair thing to do is try to reimburse them somehow. Dividing Co-Owned Property Many times, groups dont just invest in recording together, but they also sink their cash into gear for the group. If you chipped in for a drum kit, but you dont play the drums, dont fight for it. The drummer can pony up the cash to pay everyone back their share, or you can all sell the kit and split the cash. Group Finances In bands, you often find that some members are in a position to contribute financially more than others. Obviously, this is less of a probl em when things are going well, but can be a huge problem when things break down. Unless you have some agreement that states otherwise if youre the one who has been shelling out the cash, you cant make anyone pay you back. Of course, everyone should try to make this kind of stuff fair, but it doesnt always happen. Leftover Stock If youself-released your record, what happens to your stock when the group is no more? This one really depends on how acrimonious the split is. If you can maintain a professional relationship, then it is in everyones interest to continue to try and sell the stock. If you do so, then make sure you all are on the saatkorn page as to how it will work like who will shoulder the responsibility and how income and expenses will be handled. If you just cant do it, then the stock is a wash. Note the important thing here You all have to agree what will happen. You cant decide unilaterally to sell the stock over the objections of everyone else. Band Breakups More Issues and Karma Boosters The above list of issues is in no way exhaustive. Your specific circumstances will dictate the issues you have to handle. If you handle everything methodically and with a level head, and if you remember that you all used to be friends if the split is getting nasty, then you should be able to address everything you need to and keep your sanity at the same time. In the absence of a band contract, it all comes down to treating each other with respect, which is not always easy. Everyone has seen band breakups get really mean. But even though you might not have many legal obligations, sticking to these few rules are good karma. The music industry is surprisingly small. If you treat people badeanstaltly, word will get out, and youll pay for it someday. Save yourself the trouble and consider these band break-up niceties What happens in the band stays in the band. Dont go blabbing everyones secrets around town. Your bandmates likely have a few things on you that you dont want everyone to know, right? Exercise some discretion.Similarly, dont bad mouth people. Its bad form. Theres usually enough blame to go around, and it doesnt really fool anyone.If you owe people money, try to pay them back. At least acknowledge the debt and do your best to make it right.If some of you plan to continue to play together, dont use this bond to bully other band members when youre trying to come to an agreement on how to work out issues in the break-up. Dont withhold recordings, gear, money or anything else just because the balance of power happens to be in your favor for the moment. Get some perspective. As intense as these situations can be, if you take a step back, youll see that the future of civilization is not hinging on your actions. It will help you keep a level head. The Band Break-Up Bottom Line Band breakups can be incredibly stressful, but you can mitigate that by taking the right approach. Its a learning experience, and when things calm down, y oull realize youve come away with some good lessons that you can apply to your music career in the future.