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For an upcoming artiste, getting that long-awaited contract can feel like the breakthrough moment. But according to Mr Drew, the excitement of seeing your name on a deal should never be strong enough to make you forget the small print.
The Ghanaian singer and dancer has issued a serious warning to young musicians chasing record deals, management contracts and other industry opportunities: get a lawyer before signing anything.
Speaking during an interview on Onua FM, Mr Drew explained that many young artistes allow excitement and desperation for a big opportunity to cloud their judgment, only to discover later that the contract they signed comes with obligations they never fully understood.
“To the upcoming artistes, as for the paperwork, just get a lawyer. If you don’t get a lawyer, you will be stressed,” he cautioned.
And before anyone starts calculating the cost of hiring a celebrity attorney, Mr Drew stressed that legal protection does not necessarily require an expensive entertainment lawyer.
“Normally, it’s not even about an expensive lawyer. Any lawyer can still go through your contract regardless of him or her being an entertainment lawyer or legal person,” he explained.
The Dw3 hitmaker believes the most important thing is having someone with legal knowledge examine the agreement and explain exactly what the artiste is accepting before the signature goes down.
“They can better still read the terms and conditions and give you a fair idea of what you’re getting yourself into and what you have to do,” he added.
That advice could save many young artistes from one of the industry’s most painful lessons: discovering the real meaning of a contract after it is already too late.
A record deal may come with money, exposure and promises of stardom, but it can also determine who controls your music, how long the agreement lasts, what percentage you receive and what obligations you carry.
For Mr Drew, therefore, there is no need to rush because somebody has finally placed a pen in your hand.
The opportunity can be exciting, but the contract is serious. Read first, sign later.
