Chapter 13 – The Offer
Achoooo"Who is talking about me?" Dayo muttered as he kept his eyes on the road. He was heading to a studio—specifically, a record label he found interesting.
Upon reaching the label office, he asked the receptionist about his appointment. She froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as though trying to place him.
"You look familiar… are you JD?" she asked.
Dayo nodded, a little confused at her reaction.
"Right… you're here for an appointment, correct?"
"Yes, I have a meeting with your boss."
The receptionist checked the registry and then pointed. "You can head to the right, then the office on your left. Actually, I'll show you myself."
She led him down the hall and stopped at a door. "This is the office, Mr. Dayo."
Dayo gave a polite smile. His expression shifted in an instant, his aura becoming more focused, and he knocked before pushing the door open.
Inside, the office was neatly arranged. Behind the desk sat a woman in her early thirties, eyes fixed on her computer. Her skin was pale, her dark green eyes sharp, her hair neatly trimmed. She wore a fitted office gown that emphasized her figure.
She looked up with a professional smile. "Good morning, Mr. Dayo. I've been expecting you. Please, have a seat."
Dayo nodded and took a seat across from her. Though she was beautiful, he didn't let it show on his face—he was here for business.
"Morning, Mrs. Valary. I received your email, and here I am," he said, leaning back slightly, completely at ease.
This unsettled Valary. She had expected him to be a bit nervous. She had sent him an email saying her label was interested in him and inviting him to discuss a contract. Honestly, she hadn't expected a reply. She'd seen his performances online and knew that even if the big five labels didn't approach him, plenty of others would.
The fact that he responded made her think she'd struck gold—but now, looking at him, she wasn't sure she liked his confidence. Still, she kept her expression neutral.
"Indeed, I did," she said. "But I don't see an agent with you. Does that mean you don't have one?"
"No. I don't need one yet—we haven't discussed anything." Dayo smirked. He knew this tactic well—it was a classic industry move to act concerned, creating the illusion of goodwill to gain trust. And while she was a beautiful woman, which would have most men his age flustered, Dayo wasn't just any man. He might act flirty at times, but he was always in control. Any woman he couldn't control, he wouldn't pursue deeply.
Valary studied him for a moment, realizing he wasn't naïve. With a sigh, she said, "Before we get into business, I'm curious. With all the attention you've been getting online, I'm sure other labels have contacted you. So why come here? Not that I'm complaining—but compared to the big players, my label is a small temple."
Dayo chuckled softly, enough to make her pause at the warmth of his smile. Then he leaned forward.
"Well, first off, your reputation precedes you. I know enough to choose the label that suits me best. But before I answer your question, how about you show me what you're offering? Then I'll tell you why I'm here."
"Very well—have it your way." She pulled a document from beneath her desk and handed it to him.
Dayo took the file, deliberately brushing her hand briefly. Then, lowering his head, he began reading—and was surprised by what the document contained.
The term of this agreement shall be for a period of 3 years from the date of signing, with an option to renew for an additional 2 years.
- The Artist shall deliver a minimum of 2 album (containing at least 10 tracks) within the first 12 months of the term.
- The Label shall have the option to require the Artist to record 1 additional album.
ROYALTIES
- The Label shall pay the Artist a royalty rate of 15% of net sales for physical album sales.
- For digital sales, the royalty rate shall be 20% of net sales.
- For streaming, the royalty rate shall be 25% of net receipts.
COPYRIGHT:
- The Label shall own the copyright in and to the recordings (the "Masters").
- The Artist shall retain the copyright in and to the musical compositions (the "Compositions").
- The Label shall administer the Masters and the Artist shall administer the Compositions.
ADVANCES:
- The Label shall pay the Artist an advance of $10,000 upon signing this agreement.
- The advance shall be recouped by the Label from royalties earned by the Artist.
MARKETING AND PROMOTION:
- The Label shall provide a marketing budget of $20,000 for the Artist's first album.
- The Label shall work with the Artist to develop a marketing plan.
CREATIVE CONTROL:
- The Artist shall have creative control over the musical compositions and recordings.
- The Label shall have final approval overall marketing and promotional materials.
TERMINATION:
- Either party may terminate this agreement upon written notice if the other party breaches any provision of this agreement.
- If the Artist wishes to terminate this agreement before delivering 2 albums, the Artist shall pay penalty fee of 100,000 to the label
- If the Artist has delivered 1 album but wishes to terminate before delivering the second album, the Artist shall pay a penalty fee of 50,000 to the label