Controlled Composition
A song written or co-written by the artist under contract with a record label, which reduces royalty payments the label must pay out.
Definition
A controlled composition is a song written or co-written by a recording artist who is signed to a label. Most recording contracts include controlled composition clauses that limit the mechanical royalty rate the label will pay for these songs—often 75% of the statutory rate with caps on total mechanicals per album.
These clauses reduce label costs when artists write their own material, but they can significantly impact songwriter income for self-writing artists.
Why It Matters
Controlled composition clauses can dramatically reduce songwriter royalties for artists who write their own songs. Understanding these provisions is essential for artist-songwriters evaluating deals.
Strong negotiators may limit or eliminate controlled composition reductions.
Examples in Practice
A controlled composition clause capping mechanical royalties at 10 songs at 75% rate, even if an album has 15 tracks.
An artist-songwriter losing thousands per album due to controlled composition rate reductions.
A successful artist renegotiating to eliminate controlled composition limits in a new contract.