Granted, I'm not some big star and I wouldn't see any sort of royalties anyway, but I am hesitant about this. Even if I expect nothing, I'm concerned that as a member of ASCAP there's a "solidarity" issue here and this exchange for "promotion" seems sort of like betraying my responsibility now as a member of that organization. I'll post the text of this agreement below with identifying info redacted:
The following represents an agreement between the musician, artist, vocalist, musical group, record label, or agent acting on their behalf, and GENERIC INTERNET STATION.
The explicit intent of this agreement is to make valid the use of your music, song(s), lyrics, or any musical composition owned by the musician, artist, vocalist, musical group, or record label, in exchange for promotional exposure on GENERIC INTERNET STATION’s Broadcasting Servers, Website(s), and/ or other media operated by GENERIC INTERNET STATION.
I. Terms found in this agreement:
Musician, Artist, Vocalist, Musical Group, Record Label, or Agent acting on behalf of the Musician, Artist, Vocalist, Musical Group, or Record Label, shall be referred to as "you," "your," or "yours."
GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC, GENERIC INTERNET STATION.com, GENERIC INTERNET STATION.us, GENERIC INTERNET STATION.net, GENERIC INTERNET STATION.org, and/or any online radio station, webcasters (DJ Staff), music source, or website(s) affiliated with GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC. (As a group), they are referred to as "The Partners."
Any song, composition, music, Images representing the Musician, Artist, Vocalist, Musical Group or lyrics provided by you shall be referred to as the "product."
Automatic renewal date will be one (1) calendar year from the date of submission/ signature by the Musician, Artist, Vocalist, Musical Group, Record Label, or Agent acting on behalf of the Musician, Artist, Vocalist, Musical Group, or Record Label.
II. Limitations:
Your ownership of the copyright and publishing rights to any music, song, or lyrics submitted by you to the Partners is mandated by this agreement. You also agree to inform us of any changes to ownership or publishing rights. Both of these items are considered understood, and are accepted when you submit this signed agreement to GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC.
Independent Artist Program Song-for-Promotion Exchange Agreement (Page Two of Three)
Should it be discovered that ownership of the copyright and publishing rights belong to anyone other than you, the Partners will be removed from any and all liability to pay, reimburse, and exchange money or merchandise to anyone claiming legal ownership to the copyright or publishing rights of submitted product. If a challenge is made relating to ownership of the product you submit, you agree to pay any and all legal fees, court costs, and/or penalties incurred by the Partners.
III. Agreement and Conditions:
You agree to provide audio product on MP3 file format (promotional images in JPEG format) to the Partners with no expectation of any remuneration; money, trade or merchandise. The Partners agree to present and promote your product to its viewers via its associated websites, Internet radio station(s), webcasters, or music sources with which they have affiliations. Due to its associated webcasters’ right to creative control of their respective shows, The Partners do not promise any guarantee of play of your product.
The Partner’s sole responsibility is to help you promote your music, song, or lyrics via its sources, webcasters, associated Web Sites, associated online radio stations, and music programmers.
As a promotional tool, GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC will offer the sell of your music to its viewers via its online store. This is an Amazon.com Associate Program Store. In order for this to occur, you agree to initially place your product for sale on Amazon.com. Once this is completed, GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC (as a Third Party Distributor) will import your product into its Amazon Associate Program Store for sale. All payments in relation to the sale of your product are managed by Amazon.com through your individual account. As a Third Party Distributor (Amazon Associate Member), GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC will receive four (4) percent of each sale to be paid by Amazon.com.
By submitting this agreement via U.S. Postal Service, Commercial Carrier, or hand delivery, you agree that GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC and/ or the Partners WILL NOT owe you money, trade, or merchandise for any expenses incurred creating, preparing, recording, or shipping of your product. You also acknowledge that using the promotional value offered by the Partners is a fair exchange for any money you may seek from the Partners for any and all use of your product.
IV. Assignment:
The provisions of this agreement shall be binding upon you, your label, your agent, GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC or any successor or merged company or companies acting on your behalf or on behalf of the Partners. This agreement shall automatically renew annually unless either party submits in writing to the other party intent to dissolve it. Written intention to dissolve this agreement must be made at least ninety days before the automatic renewal date.
V. Enforcement:
Independent Artist Program Song-for-Promotion Exchange Agreement (Page Two of Three)
Failure on the part of GENERIC INTERNET STATION LLC to enforce any provision of this agreement shall not constitute a waiverof its rights under such provision or any other provisions of this agreement.