Mechanical & Performance

Exclusive Songwriter Agreement (ESWA)

Full staff-writer publishing contract where the publisher acquires 100% of the Publisher's Share in exchange for a weekly/monthly salary draw against future royalties and minimum song delivery requirements.

An Exclusive Songwriter Agreement (ESWA) makes a songwriter a full-time staff writer for a publishing house.

Key Terms & Legal Architecture: 1. Salary Draw: Writer receives a regular salary (advance) to live on while writing songs. 2. 100% Publisher Share Transfer: Publisher acquires 100% of the Publisher's Share of all compositions created during the term. 3. Minimum Delivery Commitment (MDC): Writer must deliver a set number of 100% commercial songs per year (e.g. 10 to 12 songs).

Legal Citations & Known Aliases

exclusive songwriter contractESWA dealstaff writer dealexclusive publishing dealESWAMDC

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