Most people hear the phrase “work for hire” and assume it simply means:

“I paid for the service, so I own everything.”

Not always - especially in the Music Industry.

Legally, work for hire has a very specific definition — and it is far more extreme than most artists realize.

What “Work for Hire” Actually Means

A true work-for-hire agreement is a copyright structure where the creator permanently gives up:

• 100% of ownership
• All royalties
• All publishing
• All master rights
• All creative control
• Often even credit

…in exchange for a one-time fee.

Under this structure, the hiring party becomes the legal author of the work — forever.

This type of arrangement is common in fields like advertising, corporate design, or commercial jingle work.

For our Marketing services this type of structure DOES apply.

But it does not reflect the collaborative, artistic nature of music.

Why Red Velvet Studios Does Not Do Work for Hire

At Red Velvet Studios, music is not a disposable product — it is a co-created artistic work with long-term value.

A song’s value can grow significantly over time, and all creative contributors deserve to share in that continued success — not just the artist. This includes the producer, co-writers, and anyone who helped create the record. Opportunities like sync placements, radio play, streaming growth, and other uses of the music generate ongoing income long after the initial release. These earnings go to the rights holders — the people who built the song with you. Because of this, we share in the long-term success of the music we help create, ensuring that everyone involved is compensated as the song continues to thrive.

When we collaborate on a record, we contribute:

• Beat production
• Arrangement
• Lyric ideas
• Melodies and hooks
• Structure and creative direction
• Vocal production
• Sound design
• Artistic guidance and mentorship
• Our time, energy, and ideas
  

These contributions are part of what makes your song your song.

They’re also part of what makes it our creation too.

Because of that, we do not sell our creative ownership outright.

We retain:

• Credit
• Publishing royalties (for songwriting contributions)
• Master royalties (for production contributions)
• A share of the intellectual property we help create
  

This is industry standard for professional producers, studios, and songwriters.

No.

The upfront fee does not buy out creative ownership. Each production agreement/contract is unique.

Your payment covers:

• Our time
• Our studio space
• Equipment usage
• Engineering
• Producing
• Our knowledge and creative ideas (IP)
• Professional mentorship and creative guidance
• The entire creative labor involved in shaping the record
  

You are paying for our work, our ideas, and our expertise — not the permanent buyout of our intellectual property.

Just like any professional producer or songwriter:

• We get credited.
• We receive royalties.
• We retain rights to the creative contributions we make.
  

Paying a professional does not erase their authorship.

When This Applies the Most

Our shared-IP model applies whenever Red Velvet Studios is contributing directly to the creation of the music.

For example, if we:

• Produce the beat
• Create arrangements
• Build chord progressions
• Write or co-write lyrics
• Create melodies, hooks, or topline
• Add harmonies
• Change the song’s musical structure
• Shape core creative ideas
  

…then we are co-writers or co-producers.

And co-writers/co-producers always receive:

• Credit
• Publishing or master royalties
• A share of the intellectual property created
  

This isn’t just a “Red Velvet rule.”

This is a global standard in professional music industry.

There are specific cases where the upfront payment is the only payment required and no royalties or credit splits apply.

This applies only to these types of services:

• Recording studio time
• Recording vocals/instruments
• Recording sessions without creative input from us
• Mixing
• Mastering
  

…then the session are treated differently than songwriting or production collaboration.

Instances when we are not giving you creative ideas or coaching/intellectual property.

In these cases, you retain 100% ownership, because we did not contribute creatively to the composition or production.

However:

If Creative Work Happens During Your Recording Session

If during your “recording-only” session we end up:

• Suggesting lyric changes
• Writing or co-writing any part of the song
• Creating melodies or hooks
• Building chords or arrangement ideas
• Producing or restructuring the track
• Adding creative elements that shape the record
  

…then this becomes songwriting or production,

and royalty splits do apply, even if the session was originally booked as “studio time.”

Creative contributions = creative rights.

That is the industry standard.

Can You Buy Out Our Royalties?

In most cases: no.

Full buyouts:

• Require additional payments
• Are almost always significantly more expensive
• Are rarely offered
• Are typically reserved for major-label commercial work, not independent artist releases
  

We do not operate as a work-for-hire factory.

We operate as creative partners.

Why This Model Benefits Everyone

Our structure ensures that:

• You get high-quality creative contributions
• We stay invested in the song’s long-term success
• Everyone involved shares in the reward
• No one’s contributions are erased
• The project remains fair, collaborative, and transparent
  

We aren’t just offering a service —

We are helping you build a record that lasts.

The Bottom Line

Paying for studio time, production, or songwriting at Red Velvet Studios does not mean:

• We give up our rights
• We waive royalty shares/publishing

Red Velvet Studios does not operate under work-for-hire agreements.

We create music through collaborative, shared-IP partnerships, where everyone who contributes creatively receives fair recognition and compensation.

This protects the music.
It protects the creators.

And it builds long-term success for everyone involved.