Record label finder's fees?

A writer who doesn't accept money? You may lose your steamroom priveleges.
I have no idea what the finder's fee would be, too many variables, no?
But really, as a music writer, you're paid for yr expertise in muzik, so why not as a bounty hunter?

unethical? is ANYTHING unethical in the music biz these days? (see that post about NME's points on the Vines album)

whether you will actually see any money for it or not is totally debatable. unless you have anything in writing from management or label, i'd think doubtful.

You'd have to sink pretty low to be unethical in the music biz.

I'd say fight for it, whatever it is, and take the band out drinking. Or if its more money then sanity requires, split it with the band. That way everyone is unethical together.

I dunno about "unethical," but it'd be kinda sleazy if that fee came out of their advance pool or something.

I had been wondering about just that, hstencil. I dunno. I seriously doubt this will happen, but it's looking like a virtual certainty that one of the bands is going to sign a huge deal with a major. The way it worked: I see and love BAND A, who are friends of friends. I tell my friend, who runs a good-sized, fairly popular indie label, to sign BAND A. He sees them and loves them. BAND A does a handshake deal after some tug-of-war. Then, through some deft manuevering, BAND A is introduced to MAJOR LABEL HEAD by my friend, and he is smitten. Other major labels catch wind of this and then start bidding on BAND A. BAND A likes the prestige of the first major label, and leans towards them. If this were to happen then I'm not sure of the protocol: Maybe my friend gets the finders fee and then it would be up to him to give me $$$? I have no idea.

The other case is much more straightforward and will not amount to anything (nor would I want it to), but it's just the major-label involvement that intrigues and puzzles me.

Maybe your label friend would get it, but I wouldn't expect him necessarily to give it to you (unless he's an all right guy).

However, if he (and you) know that it would be considered a recoupable expense that they would have to repay as part of their advance, the ethical thing to do would be for both of you to refuse it (because you'd be taking money from your friends in the band for helping them out, not really from the label).

Complicated, just like Avril doesn't want you to be. You should write to Randy Cohen (aka The Ethicist) maybe?

He's a very alright guy. I'll just find out when this is all over, I guess. I completely agree about the recoupables. I definitely would not take cash in that case. Absolutely not. (not that any will ever be offered, but still)

handshake deal... uuuhhhh... dodgy territory. if your friend has nothing in writing, HE may not even have anything. depends on honesty/integrity of the band, and when majors go sniffing around, that tends to evaporate fairly quickly. whether *you* get any money or not depends on your friend, really... and if you are good enough friends that he wants to keep the link and possible hookupage with future bands you might discover going... did that make gramatical sense?

Yeah, handshake deals dodgy to say the least. Anyway, there's no way he will get screwed in this for a variety of reasons... And yes and yes to your last question, Kate.

(I kinda feel silly for asking about this now as this is all so hypothetical... I am just completely clueless as to how (if?) these things ever work (happen?))

there's a term for this. it's called "debating monopoly money" and everyone does it, the moment that there is even any question of major label cash or publishing or the like... and often, even before.

my advice is to keep the relationship with the band and their management as sweet as possible. band will be grateful to have sympathetic quarters in the music press. hell... we gave the first person that ever reviewed us in the music press a job! (and she's been regreting it ever since, i bet!)