# Question about rock bands and record contracts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rock-bands-and-record-contracts/575761>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 23, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rock-bands-and-record-contracts/575761 "2011-03-23T21:03:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rock-bands-and-record-contracts/575761/1 "2011-03-23T21:03:18Z")

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Hi!! I been lurking here for over ten years and this first thread  
I’ve ever started.

I was just wondering about rock bands. I was wondering  
when a record company signs a rock band who exactly signs  
the record contract? Do all the members of the band sign?  
Do just the singer sign?

I was reading an article about Guns N’ Roses and it said Axl Rose  
has been the only consistent member. Does Axl own the rights to  
the Guns N’ Roses name? Do he decide who performs in the band?

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**Author:** ![spymaniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@spymaniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spymaniac)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rock-bands-and-record-contracts/575761/2 "2011-03-23T22:05:24Z")

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I was reading the other day about the band Paramore and when 2 members quit last year it emerged the only member who was actually signed, contract-wise- to their label Atlantic was the singer…so presumably the whole band doesn’t have to be on contract with who’s releasing their stuff…I don’t really know though.