Performing at an Atlanta club or music venue can help grow an artist’s fan base and create new career opportunities. After the event, a venue might post photos or videos from the performance on their social media platform and use these to promote their future shows. Whether a venue may use photos or videos of a performance for promotional purposes often depends on the performance agreement, any permissions granted and the applicable law.
Your performance agreement may answer the question
Many venue agreements include fine print covering photography, video recording and promotional rights. Some contracts allow a venue to use an artist’s name, image and performance to advertise their future events. Other agreements might limit where, how or for how long the content can be used.
Reviewing these terms before signing an agreement can help artists understand which promotional rights they need to keep.
Georgia law can also protect an artist’s name and image
If a performance agreement does not clearly address promotional use, other legal protections might apply. Georgia recognizes a person’s right to control the commercial use of their name and likeness in some cases. Whether a venue’s use is permitted can depend on the specific facts, including any consent provided and how the photos and videos are used.
Review these terms before performing
Before signing a performance agreement, check if it addresses:
- Permission to photograph or record the performance
- Use of an artist’s name, image or performance in advertising
- Ownership of photos and videos created during the event
- Time limits on promotional use
- The artist’s own ability to use the recordings for personal marketing
These details can have a lasting effect on an artist’s rights long after the performance ends.
Protect your work beyond the stage
Live shows can help artists build their reputation and connect with new audiences. Taking the time to get a clear picture of the promotional rights before signing an agreement can help reduce the risk of any future disputes and protect an artist’s brand as new opportunities arise.