You can write, record and release good music at 14, 15 or 16. What you usually can't do alone is sign things. Accounts, agreements and payouts normally need an adult, and the rules about this depend on the country. If you're under 18, or you're a parent of a young artist, this is how it works in practice.
None of this is legal advice. Laws about minors, contracts and money differ from country to country, so use this as a checklist of what to ask, not as a final answer.
Why a parent or guardian usually has to sign
In most countries a person under 18 can't make a fully binding contract on their own. The exact age of majority varies, and in some places a minor's contract is valid until the minor cancels it, which makes companies cautious about signing with one. Online services such as distributors and streaming platforms handle this by asking for a legal-age account holder or a parent's consent.
So expect the adult to be involved from the beginning: opening the account, accepting terms and conditions, and confirming that the rights to the music are in order. Read the age requirements in the terms of any service you use before you start, because they differ and you shouldn't try to get around them.
Whose name goes on the account and payouts
The simplest setup is for the parent or guardian to open the account in their own name, with the young artist's stage name as the artist profile. The adult then accepts the terms, chooses the plan if one is needed, and receives the payouts to their own bank account or payment details.
Some points to settle at home:
- Who pays and who gets paid. Decide in advance how the money will be used. A conversation now avoids a fight later.
- Taxes. Income paid to an adult may count as the adult's income. Ask an accountant how it works in your country.
- Records. Keep a note of what was spent and what was earned. It helps the young artist understand the business.
- What happens at 18. Ask the distributor whether the account can be transferred to the artist's own name, and don't assume it can.
The artist profile name doesn't need to be the real name. A stage name keeps the young person's real name out of public catalogues.
Contracts to read carefully
Offers from labels, managers and publishers can arrive quickly once a song takes off. A contract for a minor needs more care, not less. In some countries a contract with a minor needs approval from a court or another authority, and one that isn't approved may not hold up.
Before anyone signs:
- Ask for the full text and read it with the parent, in the language you understand best.
- Pay attention to how long it lasts and whether it continues after the artist turns 18.
- Check which rights are given away: recordings, songs, name, image, future work.
- Look for payments you must make, such as "advance recoupment" or fees to the company.
- Ask a lawyer who works with music contracts, not a relative who is "good with documents".
If someone pressures you to sign this week, that is a reason to slow down.
Rights, collaborators and credits
Young artists often work with older producers, friends or relatives. Put the agreement in writing, even if it is simple: who wrote what, who owns which part of the song and the recording, and what each person gets. Collaborators who are also under 18 need their own parent or guardian to agree.
You must own, or have permission to use, every sound and image in the release: beats, samples, vocals, photos and artwork. A beat downloaded from the internet isn't automatically free to use. Credit everyone properly in the artist details and credits when you add the release.
Staying safe
A public music career puts a young person in front of strangers. A few habits matter more than any marketing tip:
- Use a stage name and keep the home address, school and daily routine out of photos and captions.
- Switch location tagging off, and avoid posting where you are right now.
- Let a parent have access to the accounts, and agree what to do with abusive comments and messages.
- Be careful with anyone who asks for money to "promote" or "sign" you, or who wants to meet in private.
- Think about lyrics and the explicit tag, because a song stays online for a long time.
School, sleep and friends still come first. A release can wait a month. Your safety and your rights can't be undone as easily.