Music Industry Exam 2 (Ch. 8-18 Baskerville)

ACA

"American Composers Alliance" -music publisher for its members -scores and parts available through rentals, loans & sales -registering works through BMI

MAP

"Minimum Advertised Pricing" -retailers agree not to market music lower than a specified floor price --> tricky to implement -affects most large discount retailers from undercutting smaller merchants by threatening those outlets that violate MAP policies with a temporary suspension of co-op advertising

POP

"point of purchase": displays in a retail store announcing the availability of product

Comprehensive Market Research is conducted...

(or commissioned) by the labels' trade group: RIAA and IFPI

Successful booking agents serve whose interests? -record labels -artists -talent buyers -b & C only -all of the above

-Artists and talent buyers

Which of the following is NOT a typical type of music industry business research? -One-off reports meshing consumer attitude findings with product sales -Periodic surveys about sales and streaming activity by music consumers -Audio acoustic patterns in various concert halls -Custom research on topics chosen by business research buyers -Analyses of artists' social media metrics

-Audio acoustic patterns in various concert halls

independent studios

-Big step above demo studio -At least 24-track tape recorders -Digital equipment offers capacity for even more audio tracks -1 or 2 rooms that handles studio orchestra -Full MIDI -Where producers and artists usually find large-format analog tape recorders and consoles

Home/project studio

-DAWs really make this possible because they are able to allow many functions to be done on them --> Pro Tools leads -Viable and increasingly popular way to record (also cheap)

Qualities of a producer

-DEVELOPING AND CONTROLLING BUDGETS key part -must be the objective, independent voice in the studio -bridges gap between commercial viability and creative expression -keep the recording session moving forward toward the desired outcome: marketable master

Pandora AMP

-Digital radio music streamer shares its audience analytics data with artists and their managers for their own songs in a formalized initiative -data not available to public, only report each artists' own music -geographic heat map -"eliminates guesswork" for artists in connecting with their audience

Nielsen BDS

-Electronically logs music played on selected radio stations and TV channels 24 hrs a day -"listens" to broadcasts- recognizes songs and commercials via "fingerprint" from encoded audio

Overdubbing

-Identify performances that still need to be fixed or fine-tuned -add sweetener tracks -record vocals

Campaign Management

-Label assigns PRODUCT MANAGER to manage marketing campaign -Receive budget -Designate timing of campaign: how much emphasis and attention it gets -keep track of which radio/TV outlets are adding/dropping release -Collect POS reports

Marketing team includes

-Marketing execs: responsible for conception and execution of campaigns, providing sales aids, igniting fan interest online -radio promoters- gaining exposure on radio -publicists: getting stories, reviews, news releases -Advertising managers: conception, production, placement of paid ads

NextBigSound

-Mines online data regarding consumer activity and buzz for music and sales -Page visits, likes, followers help determine -helps identify strengths, weaknesses, benchmarks & areas of opportunity

Which of the following tasks would MOST LIKELY fall under the responsibilities of an artist's personal manager? -overseeing the artist's relationship with the press and public -auditing royalty payments from the artist's record label -negotiating with a music supervisor who wants to use one the artist's songs in the nest fast & furious film -responding to a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement -Finalizing the contractual details for a concert at the TD garden

-Overseeing the artist's relationship with the press and public

Advertising

-Paid for by label -Paid "cooperatively" ((co-op)) retailer is listed in the ad and pays part of the ad cost directly with cash or by meeting certain inventory ordering requirements -Trade advertising: ad in publications and website, but not aimed at consumer; aimed at industry

3 general categories consumer research in music has:

-Periodic surveys measure unit sales info delivered at set times on corporate subscription, music industry players get steady stream of data -Consumer attitude research (one-off or infrequent sometimes), mesh findings from consumer interviews with sales data -"Custom search": trade group, artist manager, label- hire research company to report on desired topic. Report not sold to others, no specific format.

Points (Royalties)

-Points: one point= 1% (equal to perhaps 1% of retail or wholesale price of albums and singles -Could also mean a percentage of a percentage --> 1 point may equal 1% of retail of 90% of recordings sold -How many points? Clout matters. Most producers get 2-4 points. -Few superstar producers receive 5-6% on sales

Spec deal

-Producer alone pays for cost of production of master recording --> shopped to record companies -Generally occurs when a producer believes very strongly in the potential of an artist -If bite, then all the risk pays off- producer gains more because they could get a contract and larger potion of advance and sometimes a promise to produce future projects with the artist

Independent Producer

-Producer delivers artist and master. -They use their own funds and try to sell it to a label -If label wants to buy, they negotiate MPA --> recoupment of all of part of production costs and royalty that is shared between producer and artist

reporting stations

-Promoters focus most of their attention on reporting stations: the radio stations whose playlists are tracked weekly to determine airplay popularity for individual songs. -ALL reporting stations are monitored, but not all monitored stations are reporting stations (because music isn't current enough to be relevant for charts) -To gain confidence of Radio Program Directors, promoters must establish credibility. Needs research and "burn factor"

radio promotion

-Radio's importance for record sales eroding, but still single biggest catalyst. -Large record companies employ full-time staff to handle promotion in house. -Outside promoters may be used, but very very expensive can be used to negotiate recoupment out of royalties -Station formats: single based or album based

A lawyer who is said to "participate" in a deal has what role? -leads in meetings where the artist and manager are involved -litigates lawsuits in civil court -files legal papers with a government body (state or federal) -receives a percentage of the deal value as a fee -is actively engaged in creating the first draft of the contract, not simply responding to another lawyer's initial draft

-Receives a percentage of the deal value as a fee

Which of the following types of agencies would be BEST SUITED for a baby rock band from Boston booking their first tour in the PNW -boutique -regional -full-service -niche -none

-Regional

What is the best way to describe a record label's "advance" to a newly-signed recording artist? -a signing bonus to induce the artist to sign with the label instead of a competitor -the artist's first month salary, paid in advance -a contractual commitment to using the label's full resources to promote the artist -a pre-payment of artist royalties that music be recouped before the artist earns any further royalties -a loan, like a credit card or a mortgage, that the artist pays back via monthly installments

-a pre-payment of artist royalties that music be recouped before the artist earns any further royalties

Recording Academy (NARAS)

-administers GRAMMY Awards -home to Producers & Engineers wing

Imagine you are launching a new 2 day music festival in Maine, and you need to book two dozen artists. Which members of the artists' team will be your main contact? -agents -accountants -record label A&R reps -Attorneys -Managers

-agents

Which of the following may be used to calculate an artist's recording royalties? -different rates for "mid-line" or "budget" products -Base of "net: or "gross" sales -"Free goods" deduction -Different rates for foreign territories -All of the above

-all of the above

MusicWatch

-analyzes purchasing patterns, consumption of recorded music in physical and digital formats, music listening habits, demographics -researcher publishes syndicated reports, conducts custom analysis

Music research functions

-can also go into nonmarketplace areas: monitoring airplay for royalty collections, lists of music for business searches, breaking down songs to analyze audience appeal , corporate credit/investment analysis

Music industry: analytics

-collect and crunch data to solve the problem of how to entice both discovery and sales of music -measure impact from advertising -analytics can point to niches where new demand can be spurred by a combination of delivery of the right kind of music to specific kinds of fans

Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS)

-concerns itself with educational standards for training audio technicians -intern placement, business conferences, educational seminars, mentoring, networking -membership includes: postproduction recording studios, indiv. engineers and producers, production houses, schools, colleges, studio designer

Preproduction

-create concept -prepare budget, raise money -locate/sign artist -select songs -negotiate mechanical licenses (call AFM and SAG-AFTRA) -lay out song & treatment, engage arrangers -engage musical director, union contractors -book studio time -engineer, test audio, acoustics -make sure everyone signs a contract- even friends of the artist who come in to help -rehearse music

Preproduction/Demo Studio

-entry level commercial studio -specialize in rehearsal space or demo recordings -nearly all offer 4 to 8-track tap equipment -Offer hourly rates lower, so service the bulk. Cost-effective way for artist to work on material for upcoming recording -"in-house studio": private, intend to serve host company and associate. Can range in size from 8-16 track, provide in house production for demos-masters

Compared to independent record labels, in what areas do major labels have the BIGGEST business advantage? -nimble decision-making to accommodate new trends quickly -focus on a single genre -consumer brand strength and reputation -sophisticated recording technology -financial strength and distribution network

-financial strength and distribution network

Reasons recording costs exceed budget:

-group is poorly prepared: uses studio for rehearsal of even composition -performers can't read music, can't come up with right style -producer can't decide what is needed -engineer can't come up with right sound -participants not qualified for the job

Audio Engineering Society (AES)

-hold annual conventions that feature seminars, technical paper presentations, workshops, new technologies -has a committee dealing with educational aspects of recording technology and career opportunities in audio

Demographics

-important yardstick for analyzing the marketplace of consumers based on characteristics -2014 ages 18-50 :over indexed), older underperformed -With demographics: marketers glean insights into slices of music buyers to target them efficiently--> MAJOR mind shift from industry mass-market approach

Types of Distributors: One-stops

-in 1940s, offer a full music product line to jukebox operators and small retailers that could not get attention of big labels -handle merchandise delivery, set-up of store promotions -Typically sold product in low volume at high unit prices --> since declined

Which of the following is the most important advantage of using a preproduction/demo studio? -it is more private, so label executives are less likely to intrude with unwanted visits -it has older equipment that is usually more familiar to artists and producers, unlike state-of-the-art hardware with steep learning curves -it offers artists the opportunity to work all night in the studio -it offers lower rates than full service commercial studios -there are no staff engineers or producers so artists get to engineer and produce the recording sessions independently

-it offers lower rates than full service commercial studios

Research: The charts

-lists of most popular music typically associated with trade publications -Billboard publishes most widely quoted charts -Nearly every category of music has its own chart- sometimes more than one

Mastering & Delivery

-locate mastering studio -obtain clearances for graphic artist, photographer -turn over mechanical licenses to record company -Obtain and Deliver w-4 and I-9 forms, ID, union contracts -Deliver lyric sheets -Identify samples/interpolations and hire sample clearinghouse -deliver info on samples/interpolations to company -confirm bills have been paid -deliver final master

Nielsen Music

-measures what consumers are listening to by stations, format (genre), market or even song -collects consumer data through music sales, airplay, streaming... another division collects on mobile devices: ringtones/ringbacks

Publicity

-most handle this in house -small label might rely on outside firm or independent publicist -PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN: attempts to create buzz that convinces outlets to publish content on a record release. Could begin with an interview -"Satellite Tour": artist interviews with many outlets back to back while at the studio

Of the following, which would not be an effective component of a digital marketing plan? -email lists assembled by the label and/or artist -hashtag conversations -strategically-placed ads on retailer and third-party websites -artist-owned social media accounts -none of the above-all can be effective

-none of the above-all can be effective

Music Business Association (NARM)

-nonprofit trade association that represents commerce of recorded music in all channels -Serves as an exchange for business information for its members, mounts marketing initiatives to interest consumers -organizes industry events

Music Xray

-online music discovery community that includes fans and industry professionals -Feedback by comparing songs

Which of the following stages of record production involves adding music or sounds to a previously recorded audio track? -budgeting and planning -basics and tracking -overdubbing -mixing -mastering and delivery to label

-overdubbing

Concert promoters

-pay acts, market shows, sell tickets

Mixing/Final Prep

-prepare final mixdown on 2 track stereo or multichannel format -sequence album tracks -pull out possible singles and edit for length -make copies as needed -if songs are composed during recording, settle on composer credits at end of session -prepare union contracts for instrumentalists and vocalists

Producer-artist relationship

-producer and artist must choose EACHOTHER -preliminary meeting very important -take on many roles

Independent producer under label contract

-producer works as independent contractor -Label may assign a budget, "deliver" artist, expect completion of master -Producer will receive portion of recording advance and artist royalty

Basics and tracking

-record the basic/backing tracks for each song -maintain a tracking sheet, detailing what is laid down on each tracks -execute punch-ins as needed to fix/alter basic tracks

"Producer as label employee"

-recording company hires producer as a full-time employee -Weekly salary, perhaps royalty override -Head of A&R assigns producer to projects, producer could possibly have very little say

Tip Sheets

-regular commentaries of interest to programmers from independent analysts about trends and specific songs -Used to be highly influential, but music research data has since improved

Producer/label entrepreneur

-releasing stuff on their own labels

Research in music during the analog era

-researchers could at best collect small amounts of data from a small base of activity that would hopefully represent the entire marketplace

Creative Control

-right to make artistic judgements -also known as artistic control; the creative direction, choice of producer and material, final judgment as to whether or not an artistic work or performance meets acceptable commercial or aesthetic standards; in record contracts this extends to artwork, advertising, etc.

Which of the following is NOT typically a responsibility of a record label's marketing department? -advertising -radio promotion -digital marketing -publicity -royalties

-royalties

Types of Distributors: Majors

-serve as umbrella organizations for a large number of labels , collectively accounting for the lion's share of records sold in the US -Offer merchandise through distribution orgs -Major Dist. branch offices have 2 divisions. 1) regional promotion 2) distribution and sales

Types of Distributors: Independents

-small but significant share of business is in the hands of independent distributors who provide services for hundreds of independent labels -usually provide promotional services

label-owned studios

-still exist in LA, Nashville, NYC, Miami -Many operate as commercial recording studios -facilities and equipment generally equal or superior to those found in major independent studios

Nielsen SoundScan

-tabulates unit sales of recorded music in number of countries -In US, soundscan sales trackers are linked to download platforms and barcodes from brick-and-mortar retail outlets representing more than 90% of the nation's record sales\ -project unit sales estimates for full marketplace -

Mediabase

-unit of IHeartMedia -Besides logging airplay: originates charts ranking music popularity and provides subscribers with analytic tools -provides monitoring: promotions, contests, morning show components -operates consumer music-testing website: ratethemusic

Which of the following is a result of "cross-collateralization" in a recording contract -the label participates in the artist's revenue streams other than recordings: acting services, endorsements, merchandising, personal appearances, sponsorships, touring, etc. -the label negotiates mechanical licenses on the artist's songwriting copyrights that are favorable to the label -the recording artist agrees to provide exclusive services to the record label -unrecouped recording expenses are recouped from other revenue sources -some royalties are paid from the first sales without regard to recoupment

-unrecouped recording expenses are recouped from other revenue sources

Research in music during the digital era

-vast amounts of consumer activity tracked- research more completely represents the music consuming population -set up big consumer samples -List of research vendors: BigChampagne, comScore, Edison research, Echo Nest, Gracenote, Forrester Research, NBS, Shazam...

The record industry has sold recorded music to consumers in several different media formats. Of the following, which was NOT a successful consumer format? -cassettes -digital audio tape -wax cylinders -long-playing vinyl records -compact discs

-wax cylinders

Chart transformation as a response to turns in the marketplace:

-when pay per download, Itunes and napster helped revive the single -BILLBOARD hot digital songs chart: monitor sales of downloads -2012 BB added online streaming play services (spotify, rhapsody) to brodcast radio data to calculate the flagship Hot 100 -2014 BB added streaming (1,500 streams= 1 album transaction) and 12 track purchases= album

Dashboards

-where collected data and analysis are crammed onto single screen displays -execs can scan when formulating plans and allocating money and personnel -

Demo

1) Demonstration recording 2) Demography, demographic group

Track

1) One recorded portion of combined tracks, as in "24-track" recording; the sound on one track, as in the "the bass track" 2) A single selection on an album

Mixer

1) Recording technician who operates a console, often referred to as an engineer 2) Electronic equipment that enables the mixing of sounds

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

1) Technology that allows a composition to be transcribed into musical notation by playing it on the keyboard. MIDI notation prepared for one instrument can be used to reproduce similar performances with other MIDI instruments 2) Standard for exchanging musical information for musical devices, including instruments

Master Delivery Requirements

1. Master tape mixed down to 2-channel stereo or multichannel sound. Preferred delivery requirement includes "flattened" Broadcast wave files and backups. Pull out single, polish 2. Deliver letters of consent 3. Producer deliver letters of consent from photographers and graphic artists 4. Producer furnish all evidence: copyrights clear, mechanical licenses 5. Lyric sheets submitted 6. Technical credits 7. Sign off statement 8. Producer collect W-4, I-9s, union contracts... *** Better to deliver master in person, not mailed. If accepted, producer is paid other half of production fee or advance on royalties

5 stages of record production

1. Preproduction (Budgeting and planning) 2. In the studio: (Basics and Tracking) 3. In the studio: (Overdubbing) 4. In the studio: (Mixing and Final Prep) 5. Postproduction: (Mastering and Delivery to Label)

Custom dictates that the split percentage is:

85% to 15%, 85% going to talent

Master Purchase Agreement (MPA)

A contract used by a recording company to obtain exclusive rights in a master recording that has been produced by another person, such as an independent producer

All in deal

A royalty deal where the cost of paying the producer's royalty is deducted from the artist's royalty

ORG: Functions as talent scouts, usually on behalf of record labels

A&R

ORG: Members include instrumentalists, arrangers, copyists and other professional roles

AFM

ORG: Members include singers and dancers in opera

AGMA

A magician who performs at a major theme park is likely a member of which union?

AGVA

ORG: Members include singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, and other performers at casinos, circuses, resorts, and theme parks

AGVA

The union informally known by "equity" represents which kind of worker?

Actors in live theater

Studio Operation

An entire business on its own- recording studios employ: entrepreneurs, technicians, engineers, designers, acousticians, managers and musicians.

In addition to the personal manager, who should approve the selection of a business manager, accountant or auditor?

Artist

Handles all legal matters for an artist, both litigious and transactional

Attorney

Which of the following is typically not an artist manager's responsibility?

Book concert dates

Manages financial aspects of an artist's career: auditing, accounting, payroll, tax reporting, etc.

Business manager

Talent agents or booking agents typically engage musical artists for what kind of work? -recording contracts -press interviews -concert or club dates -songwriting services -merchandising

Concert/club dates

DAW

Digital Audio Workstation

EQ

Equalization or tone control to shape frequency response in some desired way

ORG: Members include stage actors, dancers, singers, and stage managers for plays and musicals

Equity

T/F: A major label acquiring a master recording from an independent producer does not have to pay musicians (retroactively or otherwise) the relevant AFM and SAG-AFTRA scale and contingent scale payments

FALSE

T/F: It is rare for major labels to buy independent labels because their scrappy, iconoclastic organizations are a bad fit with a major

FALSE

T/F: It is virtually impossible for a label to make a profit for itself on a recording that does not recoup the advances made to the artist

FALSE

T/F: Lawyers are ethically required to charge artist clients ONLY an hourly fee or a flat-fee retainer

FALSE

T/F: Most albums recoup the expenses advanced to artists

FALSE

T/F: Most recordings at major labels turn a profit

FALSE

T/F: Music business research provides insight into where marketing spending would be wasted but tells us little about where to focus marketing resources

FALSE

T/F: Radio promotions is no longer a major component of marketing plans for new releases in any music genres

FALSE

T/F: SAG-AFTRA'S membership includes all unionized instrumentalists in the US and Canada

FALSE

T/F: Songwriters and composers, whether or not they are performers, are REQUIRED to be members of AFM to have their works performed in a venue that uses union musicians

FALSE

T/F: early career artists usually pay personal managers lower percentage representation fees because they simply cannot afford to pay the percentages charged superstars

FALSE

T/F: talent agents typically work on behalf of an artist's record label

FALSE

T/F: to save time and legal fees for beginning artists, most experts advise having one experienced attorney represent both parties in a negotiation

FALSE

ORG: Members include stagehands and technical staff for stage and screen productions

IATSE

ORG: International trade organization that represents the interests of record labels worldwide

IFPI

Session Musicians

Instrumentalist employed in recording studios and usually paid union scale.

POS: Prepares the final recording for mass production and distribution

Mastering engineer

What is a record producer's greatest challenge?

Matching artist to repertoire- seeking a union of the performer and the material

POS: Pieces together all recorded tracks to create an impactful sound for the song/album

Mixer

ORG: Among other responsibilities, organizes the Grammy Awards

NARAS

POS: advises artists on their career goals and long-term objectives, also micromanages details of an artist's career

Personal manager

Who is the "key man" in a personal management contract?

Personal manager

"scaling the house"

Pricing tickets differently based on location of seat and/or time of purchase

POS: overall responsible for keeping the session moving toward a final master recording

Producer

Timbre

Quality, tone color distinguishing one voice or musical instrument from another

ORG: Serves as the central trade group and lobbying organization for the U.S. Record industry

RIAA

POS: Assists all technical aspects of the recording process during the session

Recording engineer

Close-mike

Recording with a microphone close to the sound source

POS: Handles all logistical details of an artist's touring

Road manager

ORG: Members include vocalists, disc jockeys, screen actors, other broadcast professionals:

SAG-AFTRA

POS: An instrumentalist paid union scale to perform on a recording session; not a usual member of the artist's band

Session musician

Which job on a network TV show is least likely to be subject to AFM jurisdiction?

Singer

Which of the following services tracks music sales? -The Echo Nest -SoundScan -Broadcast Data Systems -Pollstar -None of the above

SoundScan

POS: maintains all equipment in the recording studio

Studio technician

T/F: A "sunset clause" in an artist management contract provides a roadmap for an orderly decrease of the financial obligations between the artist and manager

TRUE

T/F: Artists typically try to exclude "pass-through" revenue from the commission base of their manager

TRUE

T/F: Despite their fame and clout in negotiations, most big stars remain subject to the rues set forth in collective bargaining agreements negotiated by a union if they are members of that union

TRUE

T/F: It is common for an album to be made at more than one recording studio

TRUE

T/F: Like most large business entities, major labels are conservative and are slow to catch up with shifts in tastes in the consumer marketplace

TRUE

T/F: Nearly every category of music has its own popularity chart

TRUE

T/F: One of the most important skillsets for new recording studio engineers and technicians is interpersonal and communication skills

TRUE

T/F: Record label contracts often include option-provisions that obligate an artist to deliver more follow-up recordings at the label's request, as opposed to obligating the label to release a specific number of recordings beyond the first one

TRUE

T/F: The major record labels account for as much as 70% of the global record industry

TRUE

T/F: an artist generally appoints a manager as his or her EXCLUSIVE personal manager, while a manager's services to the artist are NONEXCLUSIVE

TRUE

T/F: an artist may work with several different agencies (i.e., on a nonexclusive basis) responsible for different territories or sectors of the entertainment industries

TRUE

T/F: an important task of music business research is to compile demographic information: consumer data by age, geographic location, gender, income status, and ethnicity

TRUE

T/F: most music business attorneys spend the majority of their time with "transactional" work as opposed to litigation

TRUE

Books artists for employment opportunities (several different types of performances/appearances)

Talent agent

POS: Oversees booking artists on behalf of a venue

Talent buyer

Master tape

The final recording of a radio commercial, with all the music, sound, and vocals mixed, from which dubs (duplicates) are recorded and sent to radio stations for broadcast.

The Concept (Marketing)

Those invited to help formulate the hook and the resulting marketing plan might include: artist's manager, producer of the album, head of marketing at record label, art director, heads of promotion and publicity and A&R rep

Why has the music industry largely moved to a global release day strategy, instead of releasing a new record at different times in different countries?

To thwart piracy by making legitimate recordings available at the same time

SWOT analysis

a planning tool used to analyze an organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Overdubbing

adding music or sounds to a previously recorded tape

Interpolations

an abrupt change of musical elements; unrelated material inserted between two logically succeeding functions; portions of a melody from a previously recorded song, but rerecording it instead of sampling it

Punch-ins

augment taping or filming with insertion of new or additional material

capacity of venue x price value of ticket =

gross potential

Who uses consumer research in the music industry?

labels, music wholesalers, distributors, performing artists, personal managers booking agents, retail stores, new media commerce outfits, concert promotes, concert venue operators, investment community

"Pull-through"

marketing expression: advertising or promotion that induces consumers to buy

"Push-through"

marketing expression: advertising or promotion that induces retailers or distributors to order merchandise to put on sale

60% house

meaning 40% of tickets won't sell. DOn't use SRO, use the model to predict sellout

gross potential - value of tickets =

net potential

Recording funds are often:

overspent -labels assign a budget monitor -"stop-loss" order: right to halt recording process if project is moving toward budget-overrun

four-walling

promoter takes all the ticket sales money and assumes full financial risk if ticket sales are insufficient to cover some of the operating costs that would otherwise be absorbed by the venue

Split point

promoters want to negotiate this: number based on ticket sales and at which point the act and the promoter divide the balance

New Music USA

provides composers and performers with assistance on funding, study opportunities and performance

Payola

the practice of bribing someone to use their influence or position to promote a particular product or interest -Online not covered by federal regs. banning payola, so promoters can pay them -Using 3rd party independent promoter doesn't always protect a label from liability

Mastering

the process by which an album tracks are equalized and balanced in relation to each other, then transferred to a master storage device (DAT, DA, etc.) to be used as a duplicating master for the purpose of manufacturing recordings or preparing for nonphysical distribution

"paper the house"

to give away free tickets to a performance in order to fill the house