The Hybrid Mix
Complimentary Mixing & Portfolio Use Agreement
This Complimentary Mixing & Portfolio Use Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between
Steve Mecca / The Hybrid Mix (“Engineer”) and
(“Artist”)
regarding the musical recording currently titled
(“Project”).
Effective Date:
1. The Arrangement
Engineer agrees to provide professional mixing services for the Project at no monetary charge as part of a promotional or introductory offer.
Artist understands that the complimentary nature of the service does not mean the Project will receive reduced treatment. Engineer agrees to approach the Project professionally, use reasonable care and skill, and make a good-faith effort to deliver the strongest mix possible based on the materials supplied by Artist.
No particular commercial, artistic, streaming, chart, licensing, or other outcome is guaranteed.
2. What the Artist Provides
Artist agrees to provide reasonably organized audio files, stems, reference mixes, production notes, and other information necessary to complete the mix.
Artist represents that they own or otherwise have permission to use all materials supplied for the Project, including recordings, performances, compositions, beats, samples, and other copyrighted material.
If other performers, producers, songwriters, labels, publishers, or rights holders have an interest in the Project, Artist represents that they have sufficient authority to enter into this Agreement and grant the permissions described below.
3. Ownership
Artist retains all ownership they otherwise hold in the underlying song, composition, lyrics, performances, master recording, and finished recording.
This Agreement does not give Engineer any songwriting, publishing, master ownership, royalty participation, or other ownership interest in the Project unless the parties separately agree to that in writing.
Engineer retains ownership of Engineer’s pre-existing techniques, workflows, templates, processes, educational methods, and other intellectual property used in performing the services.
4. Portfolio and Promotional License
In consideration for the complimentary services, Artist grants Engineer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use reasonable excerpts from the Project and the mixing process for:
- Engineer’s professional portfolio;
- The Hybrid Mix website;
- social media;
- advertisements and promotional materials;
- demonstrations of mixing techniques;
- before-and-after comparisons;
- case studies;
- educational content;
- behind-the-scenes content; and
- promotion of Engineer’s services.
This may include reasonable excerpts of the original material, work-in-progress versions, stems, isolated elements, and the finished mix where necessary to demonstrate the work performed.
This permission does not authorize Engineer to commercially distribute the complete song as a standalone musical release, upload the complete recording to streaming platforms as Engineer’s release, license the complete recording to third parties, or otherwise represent the Project as Engineer’s own music.
The portfolio and promotional license survives Artist’s decision not to commercially release the Project.
5. No Obligation to Release
Artist is under no obligation to commercially release, distribute, publish, or otherwise exploit the finished mix.
Artist retains complete control over whether the Project becomes an official public release.
If Artist decides not to release the Project, Engineer may still use reasonable excerpts and documentation of the mixing process for the portfolio, promotional, and educational purposes described in this Agreement.
Engineer will not represent such use as an official Artist release.
6. Documentation of the Process
Artist gives Engineer permission to document the creation and mixing process.
Documentation may include:
- screen recordings of mixing sessions;
- photographs or video of Engineer working;
- excerpts of audio being discussed or processed;
- before-and-after examples;
- explanations of production or mixing decisions;
- text or screenshots relating to the Project;
- remote meeting or consultation footage; and
- portions of conversations between Artist and Engineer concerning the Project.
Artist also grants Engineer permission to use Artist’s professional name, approved artist name, voice, likeness, and statements appearing in such documentation for the portfolio, promotional, and educational purposes described above.
Engineer will not knowingly publish private personal information, confidential business information, passwords, financial information, private contact information, or unrelated private conversations.
Artist may clearly identify a particular discussion as off the record before or during that conversation, and Engineer will not knowingly publish that portion.
7. Unreleased Material
Artist understands that participation in this complimentary offer includes the possibility that portions of unreleased music may appear publicly as part of Engineer’s process documentation.
Engineer will use reasonable judgment regarding the amount of unreleased music shown and will generally use excerpts rather than publishing complete unreleased songs.
If Artist has a specific release date, label embargo, licensing restriction, or other legitimate confidentiality requirement, Artist must notify Engineer in writing before work begins so the parties can agree on appropriate timing.
8. Revisions and Creative Decisions
Engineer and Artist will collaborate in good faith regarding reasonable revisions.
Unless otherwise agreed, the complimentary offer includes two reasonable rounds of mix revisions following delivery of the initial mix.
A revision means adjustments to the existing mix. Significant production changes, new recordings, replacement performances, extensive editing, arrangement reconstruction, or other work outside the original mixing scope may require a separate agreement.
Artist has final creative approval over any version commercially released under Artist’s name.
9. Delivery and Project Files
Engineer will make reasonable efforts to deliver the Project within the timeframe discussed by the parties.
Because this is a complimentary promotional project, deadlines are estimates unless a specific deadline is agreed to in writing.
Engineer will deliver the agreed final mix files.
Session files, proprietary templates, plugin settings, processing chains, internal routing, and other working files are not automatically included unless specifically agreed.
10. AI and Modern Production Tools
Engineer may use professional software, restoration technology, machine-learning tools, AI-assisted tools, and other modern production technologies where Engineer believes they improve efficiency or quality.
Engineer remains responsible for the creative and technical decisions made during the mixing process.
Engineer will not knowingly authorize the Project to be used to train a public generative-AI model without Artist’s separate permission.
11. Credits
Where credits are provided for the Project, Artist agrees to make reasonable efforts to credit:
Mixed by Steve Mecca / The Hybrid Mix
A missed or omitted credit will not constitute copyright infringement or transfer ownership of the Project.
12. Artist Participation Is Voluntary
Artist acknowledges that this complimentary arrangement is optional and that the promotional permissions granted under this Agreement are part of the consideration exchanged for receiving the mixing services without charge.
Artist is free to decline this arrangement and instead inquire about standard paid services without the promotional requirements contained here.
13. No Endorsement Requirement
Engineer may accurately identify Artist as a client or participant in the Project.
Artist is not required to provide a testimonial, positive review, endorsement, social media post, or recommendation.
Engineer will not fabricate or materially alter an Artist statement to imply an endorsement Artist did not make.
14. Limitation of Liability
Each party remains responsible for materials and rights under their control.
Artist is responsible for obtaining permissions relating to music, samples, performances, beats, compositions, and recordings supplied by Artist.
Engineer will not be responsible for claims arising from materials Artist supplied without necessary authorization.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party will be liable to the other for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from this complimentary Project.
15. Termination
Either party may end the mixing relationship before completion by notifying the other party.
Termination does not require Artist to release the Project.
For documentation or promotional material already created as part of the complimentary arrangement, the permissions granted under Sections 4–7 remain effective after termination, subject to the limitations stated in this Agreement.
Engineer will make reasonable efforts to address a legitimate privacy, safety, legal, label, or licensing concern raised by Artist regarding a specific promotional post.
16. Entire Agreement
This Agreement represents the complete understanding between Artist and Engineer concerning the complimentary mixing arrangement.
Changes must be agreed to in writing by both parties.
If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Electronic signatures and electronically accepted copies of this Agreement will be treated as originals.
The Hybrid Mix
Steve Mecca / The Hybrid Mix
Countersigned on receipt of a completed submission.
