Info for Artists

ART FIRST MANIFESTO

Our mission: Create a disturbance

We maybe small, but we’re fiercely independent, honest and deeply committed.

We are a development label: we encourage, we plan, we promote, we release.

We’re not for every artist. We’re not a magic fix.

We are for those who want to build something real.

We believe the musician and the label are partners—equals—neither serving the other.

We are for people. We are for the planet. We believe in trust.

We will never promise anything except our truth—and we expect the same from you.

If we get it wrong, we’ll admit it. If we say we’ll do something, we’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.

If we—Irregular Patterns—and you—the artist—cannot live by the values of trust and truth, then we should not work together. Simple.

NOW FOR THE TECHNICAL STUFF

Irregular Patterns never owns or controls your copyright or publishing.

Our agreement is simply a trusted, no-strings arrangement where you grant us limited permission to use your work while you choose to collaborate with us. There are zero financial obligations either way.

You confirm that all necessary clearances and permissions for your material are in place, any legal or financial matters related to splits and earnings between band members during your time with us.

If our agreement ends, we make no claim on your copyright, royalties, or future earnings tied to your work.

We will never license, sell, or share your music or art with third parties without your explicit written permission.

Any outside inquiries we receive will be forwarded directly to you. You decide the next move, whether to continue, pause, or part ways.

If Irregular Patterns ever stops trading, all rights stay fully with you, the rightful owner.

Distribution:

The artist/band retains 100% of income (minus platform fees) generated through downloads and streaming platforms which Irregular Patterns oversees distribution of on their behalf.

Downloads:

Irregular Patterns will manage a pro label account on the Bandcamp platform and provide each artist with an individual pro-Bandcamp account linked to the label account. This will be paid for by Irregular Patterns.

Streaming:

After much reflection, we’ve decided to step back from mainstream streaming platforms. Why? Because their business model is toxic to artists and to creativity.

The second reason: when labels wedge themselves between artists and streaming platforms, they just add another layer of fees and cuts—shrinking what little money ever reaches the artist.

Physical Releases and Sales:

We will collaborate with artists to produce rare, one-off, and limited-edition physical releases—made for the true music heads, not the casual clickers. We make them, we ship them, and when the last copy’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Income splits will be agreed with each artist individually. If you’ve fully funded the creation of your product and simply want Irregular Patterns to handle distribution, we’ll only recover the costs of postage and packaging—nothing more.

If Irregular Patterns covers production costs, we’ll recoup those expenses from sales first. After that, every penny of income goes straight to the artist.

What happens to leftover stock if we part ways?

You can buy any remaining stock from us at cost (unit price + 2% + postage). You let us know within 10 working days how you want us to handle your remaining stock. If we don’t hear from you after 20 working days, we’ll decide what to do with it—and we’ll keep you in the loop.

Promotional Works:

The artist grants Irregular Patterns permission to share their content for free with journalists, bloggers, and influencers to support promotion and reviews.

We collaborate to create tailored promotional campaigns that reflect the artist’s unique style.

Campaigns may include: video production, live events, social media, playlists, fan database building, paid ads, merchandise, press releases, and more.

Creative Output:

The artist/band sets their own pace—there’s no obligation to produce albums, singles, videos, or any agreed output for promotion or distribution through Irregular Patterns.

Content:

The artist is fully responsible for creating original content. Irregular Patterns presents this content in good faith, trusting it’s free from third-party copyright claims or uncleared samples. The artist assumes full legal responsibility for their work.

If any content breaches these rules, it will be removed immediately from all Irregular Patterns channels, and this agreement will be terminated.

Quality:

We encourage artists to develop their work at their own pace until they feel it’s ready to share with Irregular Patterns. We might suggest tweaks—whether it’s mixing, mastering, artwork, or overall vibe—to help your vision shine. If something doesn’t quite fit with our approach or feels unfinished, we might hold off on presenting it. But don’t hesitate to share works-in-progress, whether just to get feedback or with a view to release.

We’re happy to discuss any feedback and hear your side. After thoughtful conversation, we’ll make a decision together. Once we’re all on the same page, the work is ready to go.

If we decide not to move forward with your project, you keep full rights and are free to explore other options.

Content Outside of this Agreement

Irregular Patterns encourages artists and bands to pursue projects beyond this agreement—whether solo or in collaboration with others. In these cases, Irregular Patterns holds no copyright, legal claim, or responsibility. Our artists are completely free to work with anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Advances:

Irregular Patterns does not provide advance payments for royalties, streaming, or downloads. Artists and bands are fully responsible for funding the creation and production of their work—this helps preserve their rights.

That said, we may consider investing in specific projects on a case-by-case basis, but only with a written agreement made before any costs are incurred. Any such investment will be negotiated and agreed upon between the artist/band and Irregular Patterns, forming an addendum to our shared understanding and trust.

Pay As You Earn

At Irregular Patterns, we’re committed to doing things differently—flipping the traditional label model on its head.

We’re not here to take a direct cut of your earnings. Instead, if we help boost your income, we simply ask for an annual, pay-what-you-can donation to support Irregular Patterns’ ongoing costs and work nurturing new and emerging artists. This is a partnership built on trust that benefits everyone.

Imagine you create a piece that gains real traction. First, we’ll all be celebrating your success. Next, bigger labels may come knocking, and we’ll be cheering you on as you move forward.

Your success will likely come down to three things:

Your talent.
The work Irregular Patterns does to get your music heard.
Luck.

Luck’s out of our hands, so let’s focus on the rest. If you earn performance royalties, we ask you to contribute whatever you can annually—whether that’s £1 or £1 million—to support our not-for-profit work with new artists. If you don’t earn, you don’t pay. It’s that simple.

Terminator:

ither party can end this agreement for any reason by giving 30 working days’ written notice. This notice period allows time to remove the artist’s presence from Irregular Patterns’ online platforms and physical outlets.

Think:

The effort you put in now will save you serious time and money down the line. While it’s not a must to work with Irregular Patterns, getting organised is a smart move we highly recommend.

As an artist, there are multiple ways to earn if your work reaches a paying audience. So far, we’ve focused on income from downloads and merchandise. Now, let’s dive into the tricky but crucial world of performance rights and royalties.

It might seem complicated—but it’s really just a legacy of an old system where managers, labels, and collecting societies fought over the artist’s share. Recently, those handling performance royalties have worked hard to simplify things—but it still requires your attention.

Traditionally, artists were seen as employees of record labels, making music for sale. Performing rights and royalties come into play when your music is broadcast on radio or TV, used in films, played in public venues, and more.

To make a living from your music, you need to tap into every revenue stream and stay on top of registering and maintaining your writing and performance details.

Also, make sure your releases are professionally mastered and properly encoded—with a UPC and ISRC. These codes are essential for tracking your music and ensuring you get paid for all your hard work.

International Standard Recording Code (ISRC):

The artist or band is responsible for ensuring their content has correct ISRC codes and that they’re properly registered with the relevant collecting agencies.

Some digital distributors provide ISRCs—sometimes free—and if so, Irregular Patterns will inform you. But ultimately, it’s your responsibility to make sure your content is accurately coded.

Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) are the exclusive company in charge of issuing ISRCs in UK. These can be obtained here: https://myppl.ppluk.com/s/qq There is an option to just get ISRCs without being a member of PPL.

PRS for Music Limited is a British music copyright collective, made up of two collection societies: the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and the Performing Right Society. PRS for music collect and pay out royalties to their members (who are the writers of the music) when their music is played in broadcast, performed in public, streamed, downloaded, used in films, radio or TV, etc.

We strongly recommend joining the Musicians’ Union—they offer legal advice to review contracts and provide instrument insurance, all included in the annual membership fee.

While Irregular Patterns can offer only limited guidance on these matters, we’re a passionate collective of artists dedicated to supporting our creative community and happy to share what we know. We’ll cover this in more detail when you join the label.

For now, check out these helpful resources:

Integrity

At Irregular Patterns, we fiercely defend every artist’s right to create bold, challenging work. We stand for freedom of expression—but never at the cost of spreading hate.

Hope Not Hate

Life’s purpose is to be happy, and at Irregular Patterns, we celebrate all of it—the struggles, the highs, the raw truth. We have zero tolerance for art that spreads hate or division. Our ethos is fiercely internationalist and borderless. We choose hope over hate and reject discrimination wherever it hides.

We’re committed to boldly expanding how we connect with, support, and champion artists from all walks of life. To make this real, we’ll break out of our comfort zones and relentlessly seek fresh, fearless talent.

When you join Irregular Patterns, you’re not just signing up—you’re joining a cause. Together, we’ll build something fiercely inclusive, unstoppable, and truly transformative.

If you feel uncomfortable with our commitment to https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/ please do not sign.

Values and Aspirations

We align with the aspirations and values as defined by the 17 UN Sustainability Goals. We commit to practices that protect and nurture both our physical and mental environments—aiming for minimal impact or better. We choose to work only with artists, collaborators, and companies who share our values and vision for a better world.

If you share our vision, we want to hear from you.