(Ask)Musicman Artist Agreement

[ba2m]

Just curious,

What do musicman artists get in their contract period with ernie ball ? I mean.. beside they can get a guitar with their preference for free.. and they can have their signature on the headstock of the best guitar brand in the earth.

do they get .. kind of.. sallary? or do they get comission when a guitar is sold..
and also how many years are usually the contract time period with every artist..

and what happen if the contract ends and they move to other company to make a new signature guitar? can they bring their previous ernie ball signature model and put the other company's name on the headstock?

last question : do they have no right to do anything with the headstock design on their signature guitar?well, musicman headstock is the best headstock in the world , but i am just curious, since other big guitar company let their artist do variation on their signature guitar , such as make it reversed, etc.

well i am very sorry if it's not polite/good to ask this.. i am just curious.. i will delete my question if this is not a proper thing to ask, since in our eastern culture (asia) it is really not polite to ask about the content of someone else's contract.

thanks..

 

[Larry]

I've wondered this as well but always felt that it was none of my business...

 

[poj]

BP said there's no contract, just hand shake.

 

[ba2m]

BP said there's no contract, just hand shake.

thanks for the info.. i didn't know that ..

is there a time period for that "informal work relation" ?

 

[ba2m]

I've wondered this as well but always felt that it was none of my business...

That is true Larry, i also feel the same now .. i just throw my curiosity, that's why if i found that people think it's really not a proper thing to ask, and this question may caused a bad thing in the future, i will delete this question

Btw, thanks for your opinion Larry

 

[fbecir]

I think Big Poppa handles endorsement quite differently as the other guys in the business. With Steve Morse, it was just a hand shake. The relationship exists now for more than 20 years ...
Most of the other brands use the artist just as a marketing tool. You can see some guitarists who will advertise a brand, one year later another one and so on ... Well, Music Man does not play this game and they can be proud of that.

 

[poj]

thanks for the info.. i didn't know that ..

is there a time period for that "informal work relation" ?

I think it's as long as both side are happy.

 

[emkey]

Most of the other brands use the artist just as a marketing tool. You can see some guitarists who will advertise a brand, one year later another one and so on ... Well, Music Man does not play this game and they can be proud of that.

yeah, that's also because there are no better guitars in the market. EBMM is always a far distance ahead! Plus, in my opinion, other brands need loads of attention by endorsing many famous artists. EBMM has a lot of attention without it - just check out this forum. There are a lot of great people around who are not an official EBMM artists. We just love Ernie Ball and we share our opinions around. Oh, and handshake is enough when both sides are serious and honest in intentions!

I'd be very happy to become an EBMM artist one day, that's one of my dream Anyway I'd like to have an opportunity to handshake with BP one day and all from EBMM for their master work!

 

[koogie2k]

BP has said several times it was a hand shake. EBMM does everything they can to get the artist their tools to their liking.

As for anything else...really, none of my business.

I don't think they can change the headstock...it is perfect the way it is...but, that is me. Not one artist has a different headstock, so, they are the guitar Gods and must like the design and it's functionality.

I don't think they can just take the whole design with them. Look at EVH...not the whole design...but an "almost" copy.

Either way...the signature guitars are the best signature guitars out there especially for the price point. I have seen other siggy's going for way more money and it is to capilize on the artist's siggy on the headstock. But, you will not get the "artists" same specs most of the time. Some other companies do...some don't. EBMM always!

 

[roburado]

do they get .. kind of.. sallary? or do they get comission when a guitar is sold

EBMM artists are not paid by EBMM.

 

[Smellybum]

Pretty cool, shows what a solid guy poppa is, You can't buy a car these days without getting into a contract, here's a guy making instruments with no ties like that.

Number 94 in 10000001 reasons why you should only play EBMM.

 

[Dead-Eye]

yeah, that's also because there are no better guitars in the market. EBMM is always a far distance ahead! Plus, in my opinion, other brands need loads of attention by endorsing many famous artists. EBMM has a lot of attention without it - just check out this forum.

I disagree. EBMM guitars are not particularly well known, compared to the likes of Fender and Gibson. Although you could always argue that everyone who should know about them does - and the wait times on new EBMMs speak for themselves

 

[Colin]

I know that brown M & M's must included in the business agreements they all have...

 

[fogman]

I know that brown M & M's must included in the business agreements they all have...

I thought is was the green ones!
Oh well!

 

[candid_x]

I disagree. EBMM guitars are not particularly well known, compared to the likes of Fender and Gibson. Although you could always argue that everyone who should know about them does - and the wait times on new EBMMs speak for themselves

I'm always amazed how little attention is given to MM on TGP (just as an example), and when I do say something about them, it feels like I belong to some secret guitar cult. Even G&L gets considerable ink there, and of course the masses are all about Fender and/or Gibson. I honestly don't get it .

 

[emkey]

I disagree. EBMM guitars are not particularly well known, compared to the likes of Fender and Gibson.

Yes, you are right! In general Ernie gets very little attention, but just look at it from this side: EBMM is professional brand who produces professional instruments. What's more important is the fact that you won't find a trace of bad quality in EB products...so EBMM is rather a choice of people who know exactly what they want.

Anyway I agree with you

 

[banjoplayer]

This is an exciting theme. I love to hear stories about endorsement deals.
Big Poppa tells some here: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/22115-endorsements.html

 

[ba2m]

thanks for all the post guys...

what a great thing has happened not only with the guitar they have made, but also with their relationship with all the artist.. (and there are soooo many ernie ball string artist, i even cannot remember one by one) .. those kind of trust is rarely found in most work relationship nowadays, amazing..

what a great thing to know all of this, thanks!!

-Abraham-

 

[hottoddy]

How do the clinics work? Seems like those are kinda like mini-advertising tours, and that some sort of compensation would be involved other than the gear.

I saw Steve Morse in the mid 80s at Hanich Music (now defunct) in Covina, CA. It was an Ernie Ball string event, because I remember admission was string covers. We also got some "Steve Morse" picks and couldn't be happier. I was around 16 and got to sit about 10 feet away. So may people showed up, they had to turn on a CCTV system for the overflow.

 

[Big Poppa]

I was there wow nick hanich a blast from the past.....

its all handshakes....think about it....If someone doesnt want to play our guitars, am I going to take the to court?

Signature artists get a nominal royalty.