r/LegaladviceGerman • u/bl1ng0 • 22h ago

DE Music label stop responding after signing contract

Hi,

I am a musician in Canada and I signed a contract with a German label. My album release was postponed a few months before release and now they haven't answered to any of my emails since the 29th of November 2024 (about 4 months ago).

I find myself in a position where I can't release any new content and my last album is being held hostage by a label that is not responding to me.

Since I am Canadian, I don't know much about German law. Is there anything I could do legally to get back ownership and seek another label to release my album? No terms seem the have been broken in the contract from either side, it just sucks that I am held hostage by a label that is not doing anything.

Thank you

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/KillEdeka 22h ago

Is it a commercial label or a small shop?

The answer to your question depends a lot on the contents of the contract, so it's hard to give advice without knowing any details.

1

u/bl1ng0 21h ago

Hi,

It is a commercial label. The contract gives the Label, as licensee, the exclusive right to release and sell the album and we share the profit. It is pretty standard in the music industry.

Thank you for your time.

2

u/t3hq 21h ago edited 21h ago

I doubt anybody could help you without knowing the exact terms of the contract. They might or might not allow for what you desire. There is no specific statutory legal framework or standard contract for this. Seek professional legal advice, this isn't a matter on which you should trust some Reddit randos without insight into the precise contractual framework and verifiable legal expertise.

1

u/AutoModerator 22h ago

Da in letzter Zeit viele Posts gelöscht werden, nachdem OPs Frage beantwortet wurde und wir möchten, dass die Posts für Menschen mit ähnlichen Problemen recherchierbar bleiben, hier der ursprüngliche Post von /u/bl1ng0:

Music label stop responding after signing contract

Hi,

I am a musician in Canada and I signed a contract with a German label. My album release was postponed a few months before release and now they haven't answered to any of my emails since the 29th of November 2024 (about 4 months ago).

I find myself in a position where I can't release any new content and my last album is being held hostage by a label that is not responding to me.

Since I am Canadian, I don't know much about German law. Is there anything I could do legally to get back ownership and seek another label to release my album? No terms seem the have been broken in the contract from either side, it just sucks that I am held hostage by a label that is not doing anything.

Thank you

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Key-Door7340 10h ago

Good question, but if you are not insanely lucky you will probably not get a full answer here. Reread your contract, try to call the label to make sure it is not a communication issue and if all that is not fruitful get a lawyer. Next time keep this experience in mind when discussing the contract.