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28-400: The Disco Boys were especially commercially successful with cover versions or productions with longer quotes or samples from other songs. Their first hit was "Born to Be Alive" from the album Volume 1 , a new version of the hit by Patrick Hernandez from 1979. It was originally voiced by Roberto Blanco . Their most popular single was "For You" released in 2004, which used longer passages from

56-411: A $ 100 million deal with BMG to deliver just six albums, the largest recording deal at the time. Robbie Williams signed an £80m (US$ 125m) contract with EMI . For many other artists, though, for the millions to become tangible , hit albums meeting or exceeding their previous sales figures must follow. Recording contracts may include opt-out clauses for the label in the event an act's popularity dips or

84-437: A company that is out of business (and thus cannot sell or distribute their records), and with their existing works unavailable for sale. When one label "buys out" another (or a label is purchased by an outside party), any existing copyrights and contracts held (and masters, if owned by the label) normally go with the sale. This often benefits recording artists, but not always. Distribution deals are often renewed, but occasionally

112-428: A notice "By courtesy of (the name of the label)", and that label in question may receive a percentage of sales through publishing . Labels typically own the copyright in the records their artists make, and also the master copies of those records. An exception is when a label makes a distribution deal with an artist; in this case, the artist, their manager, or another party may own the copyright (and masters), while

140-546: A profit, and do not tend to concern themselves with a given performer's lack of business or financial savvy, as artists such as George Michael have discovered. "Walking out" on a deal is very difficult, as is attempting to strike a new deal without completing an old one. Donna Summer signed a new deal with Geffen Records in 1980, and released two albums on Geffen. She was then told by her previous label, Polygram Records , that she owed them another album, per her agreement. She recorded and delivered an album to Polygram that

168-445: A punitive measure, if an artist fails to comply with their contract, or as a strategic measure if negotiations for a new one prove difficult.) Record labels can also become bankrupt like any business, and their masters and copyrights sold or traded as part of their assets. (Occasionally these are purchased by the artists themselves.) Recording artists signed to a failed label can find themselves in limbo, unable to record for anyone but

196-405: Is a risk the label endures as it does not know how well the act's album will sell. Capitol Records suspended Linda Ronstadt 's contract in the early 1970s, as Capitol had spent more money on Ronstadt then it had yielded. She continued to tour partly to pay Capitol back for her 1960s deal, and a string of hits in the mid-1970s allowed her to finally clear the debt. Record companies expect to make

224-469: The 1960s and was interested in music. He toured dance halls and ballrooms in southern France with a number of groups over the next decade. Hernández met his music partner Hervé Tholance, an arranger, guitarist, and vocalist, during that period. The two formed a duo and achieved local success backing French musicians such as Francis Cabrel , Laurent Voulzy , and the French group Gold . In 1978, Hernandez met

252-795: The Finnish single-charts. The single "B-B-B-Baby" quotes the hit " You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet " by Bachman-Turner Overdrive from 1974. Due to the tenth anniversary of the Disco Boys, the "Discofestival" was established in 2005, which took place yearly in Kassel until 2012. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 the Disco Boys published further club hits, without using samples of other artists. "I Love You So", "What You Want", "Shadows" and other singles were published, accompanied by existing mix compilations, and reached high chart positions in Germany. Since June 23, 2010

280-518: The German charts, interrupted only because of a then existing rule excluding low-placed songs. Still, the song managed to reach a total of 93 weeks in the charts, with place 17 being the highest position. In 2010, over three years after its publication, "For You" reached Platinum in Germany. "Hey St. Peter" is a cover version of a song by Flash and the Pan from 1977. The single managed to reach position 8 of

308-504: The United Kingdom alone, spending several weeks at #1. There are plenty of examples of recording contracts available in music business guides, legal texts and also online. When recordings go out of print, this typically happens because either the label has decided that continuing to sell (or distribute) the record will not be profitable, or the licensing agreement with the artist has expired. (Labels may also stop distribution as

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336-877: The United States had caught on, and after some remixing , the record was signed to the A-Tom-Mik label and later Columbia Records . The remixed version was released on a commercial 12" single; it peaked on the US Billboard disco chart at #1 and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #16. It sold over one million copies in the US. The track reached #10 in the UK Singles Chart . By year's end, Hernandez had racked up 52 gold and platinum records from more than 50 countries. While Hernandez

364-467: The act releases non-hit albums under the deal. For instance, Mariah Carey was dropped by Virgin Records and her $ 100 million recording deal cancelled after her first album released by the label sold poorly. Record companies put forth huge sums of money to produce, release, and promote an album. Recording time, manufacturing, packaging, photos, distribution, marketing, and music videos are just some of

392-530: The album Born to Be Alive sold well and won him a Billboard Award in February 1980. As a result of this lack of subsequent success he has earned the title of " one-hit wonder ". In 1981, Hernandez released the import 12" single of "Goodbye", first released on Aariana Records and then a remixed version on the parent-label Aquarius Records (in France). It was not released in the US, although an album followed

420-487: The areas where the label must spend money on an act it has signed. The label usually absorbs these expenses, but in some artists' contracts, some of this money may be due back to the label, unless otherwise worded. Advances (upfront money that is paid directly to a recording artist) are normally always owed back to the label. Once (and if) the advance has been paid back from record sales, the artist then begins to see royalty payments for additional sales. Advancing an act money

448-566: The artists and bands Rosenstolz , Ich + Ich , MIA. and Roger Sanchez among others. Their cover of " If I Can't Have You " by the Bee Gees was approved by the Gibb brothers themselves. Each year the duo publishes a self-titled mix-compilation with the best tracks from their DJ-sets. This was first published in 2001 as a double album. Since 2012 it consists of three mixes on three CDs. The popular series reached high chart positions and especially

476-412: The decision to remain with the label that made her famous, or sign a deal with a company that was willing to pay her what she felt she was worth, she ultimately signed with RCA. The $ 20 million deal was the biggest recording contract at the time. Ross had signed with RCA for North America only. She signed a separate longterm contract with Capitol/EMI for international territories. That contractual amount

504-472: The first two issues are still being traded for high prices on eBay . For each new volume the Disco Boys produce at least one single. Patrick Hernandez Patrick Pierre Hernandez (born 6 April 1949) is a French singer who had a worldwide hit with " Born to Be Alive " in 1979. Born to a Spanish father and an Italian mother in Le Blanc-Mesnil , Seine-Saint-Denis , Hernandez grew up in

532-528: The label released, and it became a hit. Summer then went back to recording for Geffen Records for her next project . The Mamas & the Papas were forced into a reunion, years after their 1968 breakup, by the letter of their Dunhill Records contract, which required one more album to be completed – which became 1971's People Like Us . Record companies will generally increase royalty rates or give artistic freedom to get acts to re-sign contracts with them once

560-437: The original deal has been fulfilled. Established acts may otherwise go where they see better opportunity. During 1980, Diana Ross released her album diana , which fulfilled her contract with Motown Records . The album spawned two US top ten hits (the #1 hit " Upside Down " and the #5 " I'm Coming Out ") as well as a UK top ten hit (" My Old Piano ", peaking at #5), and sold 10 million copies worldwide. Ross, however, felt she

588-840: The producer Jean Vanloo with disco music at its peak, and signed a recording contract . Hernandez went to Waterloo , Belgium to work on songs. After working for about a year, the songs were released on the Aariana sub-label Aquarius Records (in France) in November 1978. The first single that was released was the disco song " Born to Be Alive ". Its success was immediate, and in January 1979, Hernandez received his first gold record from Italy . The song spread throughout Europe, where it hit #1 in France in April and remained there until July. By then,

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616-569: The record is licensed exclusively to the label for a set period of time. Promotion is a key factor in the success of a record, and is largely the label's responsibility, as is proper distribution of records. While initial recording deals usually yield a smaller percentage of royalties to the artists, subsequent (or re-negotiated) deals can result in much greater profit, or profit potential. A few acts, such as Madonna , Michael Jackson , R.E.M. , U2 , and Janet Jackson , among others, have signed multimillion-dollar deals. Whitney Houston signed

644-513: The single "Love Tonight" is available. It is delivered in a package of remixes of the song, by Jay Frog , SONO and the Tune Brothers for example. Their most successful single since "For You" was published in 2012: "Around The World" , originally by ATC and containing vocal elements from the original song, due to permission by its creator Alex Christensen . The Disco Boys have also been renowned as re-mixers and have worked with songs by

672-489: The single's release, but found no market in the US. Recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal ) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording act (artist or group), where the act makes an audio recording (or series of recordings) for the label to sell and promote. Artists under contract are normally only allowed to record for that label exclusively; guest appearances on other artists' records will carry

700-463: The song of the same name by Manfred Mann's Earth Band and was in turn based on the song by Bruce Springsteen . It was co-produced by Syke'N'Sugarstarr. In the seasons of 2008/09 and 2009/10 it was used by the German soccer club Borussia Dortmund as an entrance song. "For You" first reached the charts in 2005 and was re-published two years later. From 2007 to 2010 the single was repeatedly placed in

728-420: Was never fairly compensated by Motown for her work with The Supremes or her solo releases. When RCA Records offered Ross $ 20 million to sign with them, she gave Motown the chance to match the deal, or at least offer something almost comparable. Motown, believing Ross's solo career was too up-and-down, and not seeing any reason to now compensate her for her earlier Supremes work, offered $ 3 million. Split with

756-477: Was never officially released. However, it is believed to be as much as $ 20 more million and she has remained currently signed with them for over 30 years and has produced many more successful recordings internationally including her multi-platinum 1991 release, The Force Behind the Power and an even greater success with a greatest hits compilation, One Woman: The Ultimate Collection that sold over 1.5 million in

784-550: Was touring the United States, he was accompanied by Vanloo and his friend Jean-Claude Pellerin. Vanloo and Pellerin held auditions in New York that spring for dancers to accompany Hernández on his worldwide tour. The chosen dancers included a young Madonna , whom he dated briefly. Hernandez's follow-ups to "Born to Be Alive" did not fare as well in the US. "Disco Queen" backed with "Show Me the Way You Kiss" sold poorly, but

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