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POLICY AGREEMENT

By booking a session, signing a proposal, and/or entering Songsbury Studios’ premises, you agree to the terms set forth herein.

1. Booking, Hours, and Check-In

•     Sessions are confirmed only after Songsbury Studios accepts the booking in writing (email or text) and any required deposit is received.

•     Standard operating hours are every day, 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. After-hours sessions require prior written approval and may incur an after-hours surcharge of $30 /Hour. Working overtime is at the discretion of the Engineer.

•     Client and all guests must check in with Songsbury Studios’ staff at the scheduled start time. Early access is not guaranteed.

•     Session time begins at the booked start time, not when Client arrives. Late arrival does not extend the booked block unless Songsbury Studios, in its sole discretion, can accommodate an extension at then-current rates.

•     Load-in, setup, soundcheck, file transfer, and breakdown count as billed session time unless a separate load-in window is booked.

•     Songsbury Studios reserves the absolute right to deny entry, refuse service or decline a session at any time for any reason as the sole discretion of Management.

2. Rates, Deposit, and Payment

FOR PROJECT BOOKINGS

•     Deposit (as agreed upon in your proposal) is due at signing

•     The pay schedule in your proposal determines when subsequent payments are to be made

FOR HOURLY/DAY BOOKINGS

•     A non-refundable deposit of 50% is due at booking to reserve the date and time unless otherwise specified in writing.

•     The balance is due at the end of each session.

FOR ALL BOOKINGS

•     Accepted payment methods: Cash, E-Transfer, Debit Card, and Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover).

•     Unpaid balances more than 30 days past due accrue interest at 2% per month or the maximum allowed by law, whichever is less, plus reasonable collection costs.

•     Songsbury Studios may pause future sessions/bookings or withhold files until all outstanding balances are paid in full.

•     All deposits and subsequent payments are non-refundable.

•     Songsbury Studios owns all master recordings until outstanding balances are paid in full.

3. Cancellation, Rescheduling, and No-Shows

Notice Given

Fee / Treatment of Deposit

More than 48 hours before start

Deposit may be applied to a session rescheduled within 30 days. One complimentary reschedule per booking.

24–48 hours before start

Deposit is forfeited. Remaining prepaid time may be credited at Songsbury Studios’ discretion.

Less than 24 hours, no-show, or walk-out

100% of the booked block is due. Deposit is applied to that balance.

Illness

Deposit may be applied to a session rescheduled within 30 days. One complimentary reschedule per booking.

Studio cancellation

Full refund of amounts paid for the cancelled block, or reschedule at Client’s option. Songsbury Studios is not liable for consequential costs (travel, musicians, etc.).

Weather, band-member absence, or incomplete preparation do not excuse short-notice cancellation. Force majeure events are addressed in Section 16.

4. House Rules and Conduct

The Studio is a working production environment. Client is responsible for the conduct of every person Client brings on site.

•     Occupancy may not exceed the posted room limit or 6 persons without prior approval.

•     Guests must be approved by a staff member ahead of session(s). If guests are considered disruptive to the session, staff reserves the right to ask them to leave the premises.

•     No smoking, vaping, or open flame anywhere on the premises, including restrooms and loading areas.

•     Alcohol and illegal drugs are strictly prohibited. Intoxicated persons will be asked to leave; billed time is not refunded.

•     Food and drinks stay in designated lounge or kitchen areas. Closed water bottles are allowed in control room, live room, and isolation booth. No food or open liquids at consoles, outboard racks, or near instruments. Outside food and drink are permitted.

•     Profanity directed at staff, harassment, discrimination, or threatening behavior is grounds for immediate termination of the session without refund.

•     Minors (under 18) must be accompanied at all times by a parent or legal guardian.

•     Client may not prop exterior doors, admit unannounced guests, or give access codes or keys to third parties.

•     Parking is only allowed in designated spots. Songsbury Studios is not responsible for vehicles or contents. Do not block loading docks or fire lanes.

•     Please keep noise at a reasonable level in the kitchen and lounge areas.

5. Equipment, Rooms, and Client Gear

•     Studio equipment, instruments, microphones, headphones, stands, cabling, computers, plugins, and furniture may be used only as intended and only during the booked session.

•     Do not move, patch, re-clock, update, or reconfigure consoles, converters, computers, or installed speakers without staff present.

•     Do not handle any studio owned equipment without permission from a staff member.

•     Do not install software, sample libraries, or user accounts on studio computers. USB drives must be scanned or used only as directed by the engineer.

•     Client-owned instruments, equipment, and personal belongings are brought onto the premises at Client’s sole risk. Songsbury Studios is not liable for lost or stolen items and does not insure Client property.

•     Report any malfunction immediately. Continued use after a known fault may be treated as misuse.

•     Client shall not photograph, film, or livestream equipment serial numbers, room plots, recall settings, or other Clients’ sessions.

Damage, loss, or theft of Songsbury Studios’ property caused by Client or Client’s guests — including spills, dropped mics, smoke contamination, and missing accessories — will be billed at repair or replacement cost plus a 10% administration fee. Songsbury Studios may charge a card on file or invoice Client.

6. Personnel

A studio engineer or assistant will be present at all times.

Client-provided engineers may operate Songsbury Studios systems only after orientation and only if Songsbury Studios has approved them in advance.

Hiring Songsbury Studios staff for outside work is a separate agreement and is not covered here.

7. Recording Content and Prohibited Use

Client represents that Client has all rights needed to record the performances, compositions, samples, and speech captured during the session, and that the session will not be used to produce content that is unlawful, that infringes third-party rights, or that Songsbury Studios could reasonably refuse to host (including but not limited to hate content, inciting violence, and any explicit sexual content). Songsbury Studios may stop a session that violates this section. Client indemnifies Songsbury Studios for any and all claims arising from Client’s content.

8. Intellectual Property

Performances and compositions. As between Songsbury Studios and Client, Client owns the copyright in original musical works and sound recordings created by Client during the session, subject to payment in full and to any separate producer, engineer, or featured-artist agreements Client has signed.

Studio materials. Songsbury Studios retains all rights in its trademarks, room designs, templates, recall files, internally developed signal chains, and any session files. Use of Songsbury Studios’s name, logo, or room photos in credits or promotion is permitted in a factual credit line (“Recorded at Songsbury Studios”) unless Songsbury Studios objects in writing.

Work-for-hire / staff contributions. Unless a separate writer or producer split sheet is signed, engineering services are services only and do not transfer a copyright interest to Songsbury Studios staff. If a staff member makes a copyrightable contribution Client wishes to use, the parties will document ownership and compensation separately before release.

Credits. Client agrees to credit the facility as “Songsbury Studios” and the engineer as listed on the session report, on commercially released recordings, where customary and space permits.

9. Likeness, Photography, and Promotion

No unreleased music or audio stems may be shared by either party without mutual written consent.

Client may photograph or film Client’s own session for personal or promotional use, provided no other client, confidential setup, or copyrighted room plot is captured, and provided filming does not interfere with the work. Songsbury Studios may request that cameras be turned off during sensitive setup.

Songsbury Studios may photograph or record non-confidential room activity and public-facing sessions for its portfolio, social media, and marketing, and may use Client’s artist name and approved likeness, unless Client opts out in writing before the session. Songsbury Studios will not release unreleased audio without Client’s consent.

The Client agrees to tag the Songsbury Studios’ official account (@songsburystudiosofficial) in all public posts featuring the studio space.

By entering the premises, all persons (including but not limited to Clients and Guests) waive all personal and proprietary rights relating to any Media (photography and video) captured during their visit, including but not limited to:

•     Right of Publicity & Privacy: The right to inspect, approve, or restrict the use of any photos or video footage in which they appear.

•     Copyright & Ownership: Any claim to copyright or ownership of the raw or edited Media captured by Songsbury Studios, authorized partners, and Client.

•     Financial Compensation: The right to any royalties, residuals, licensing fees, or financial compensation arising from the commercial or promotional distribution of the Media.

 

Songsbury Studios retains the irrevocable, royalty-free, and worldwide right to utilize the captured Media across any platform or format, including:

•     Marketing and promotional materials (broader studio promotion).

•     Social media channels, studio websites, and digital portfolios.

•     Behind-the-scenes content, documentaries, and live-stream broadcasts.

•     Commercial distributions, external broadcasts, and internal training.

 

Client Intellectual Property Protection (Exceptions)

Songsbury Studios strictly separates promotional crowd filming from client intellectual property.

•     Proprietary Session Material: Songsbury Studios engineers and staff will NOT record or distribute a client’s unreleased musical tracks, proprietary stems, performances, or creative works for studio promotional use without a separate, explicit written permission from the Client.

•     Security Monitoring: CCTV security footage is maintained strictly for safety and liability insurance purposes and is exempt from public marketing use.

10. Files, Backups, and Delivery

•     Songsbury Studios will make commercially reasonable efforts to back up the active session during the booked block. Songsbury Studios does not guarantee against drive failure, corruption, or operator error.

•     Working files are retained on Songsbury Studios systems for 30 days after the last session on the project, then may be deleted without further notice. Long-term physical archive storage is available for $250.00 and cloud archive storage is available for $250.00 per project for the life of Songsbury Studios and/or the life of the cloud storage company. Songsbury Studios is not liable for any loss, theft, or damages of any form of archival storage.

•     Delivery formats and delivery method (local drive, cloud link, or internet transfer) will be as agreed at the session. Cloud links expire on the date stated in the delivery note unless cloud archive storage is purchased. If purchased, links never expire.

•     Songsbury Studios may withhold delivery of mixes, stems, printed tracks, or session files until all invoices for that project are paid in full.

•     Client is solely responsible for maintaining Client copies of all delivered assets. Re-pull or reconstruction after the retention period is billed as a new session plus media costs, if files still exist.

11. Confidentiality

Songsbury Studios will not disclose unreleased recordings, lyrics, guest lists, or session conversation to third parties except to staff and contractors who need the information to perform services, as required by law, or with Client’s consent. Client will not disclose other clients’ presence, unreleased work overheard on the premises, access codes, or Songsbury Studios’ security practices without written consent.

12. Assumption of Risk, Liability, and Indemnity

Recording studios contain high sound-pressure levels, cables, elevated platforms, electrical equipment, and heavy instruments. Client and guests enter at their own risk and should use hearing protection as appropriate.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SONGSBURY STUDIOS AND ITS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, AND CONTRACTORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, LOST STUDIO TIME BEYOND A REFUND OR REBOOK OF THE AFFECTED BLOCK, OR COST OF COVER. SONGSBURY STUDIO’S TOTAL LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS CLIENT ACTUALLY PAID TO SONGSBURY STUDIOS FOR THE SESSION GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Client shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Songsbury Studios and its owners, employees, and contractors from claims, damages, losses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of (a) Client’s or guests’ acts or omissions on the premises; (b) Client content, samples, or clearances; (c) injury or property damage caused by Client gear; or (d) Client’s breach of this Agreement, except to the extent caused by Songsbury Studios’ gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Songsbury Studios recommends Client carry musical-equipment and general-liability insurance. Proof of insurance may be required for lockouts, large guest lists, or video productions.

13. Termination

Songsbury Studios may suspend or end a session immediately if Client or a guest violates house rules, fails to pay, endangers persons or equipment, or if continued occupancy would violate law or building rules. Fees for time already booked remain due. Either party may end future unbooked sessions by written notice. Sections 5 (damage), 7–12, 14, and 15 survive termination.

14. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including utility failure, fire, flood, severe weather, epidemic, labor dispute, government order, or building emergency. If a force majeure event lasts more than 72 hours of a booked block, Songsbury Studios will reschedule the unused portion or refund prepaid unused time, at Client’s option. Musician fees, travel, and third-party costs remain Client’s responsibility.

15. General Terms

Entire agreement. This Agreement, the booking confirmation, the proposal, and any rate sheet or lockout rider attached hereto are the entire agreement and supersede prior discussions about studio use. Project-by-project producer or split-sheet agreements are separate.

Amendments. Changes must be in writing (including email) and accepted by Songsbury Studios. Songsbury Studios may update general house policies prospectively by posting or sending a revised version; the version signed or accepted for a given booking/proposal controls that booking/proposal.

Assignment. Client may not assign any booking without Songsbury Studios’ consent. Songsbury Studios may assign any contracts, proposals, and/or agreements to a successor operator of the facility.

Severability and waiver. If a provision is unenforceable, the remainder stays in effect. Failure to enforce a term is not a waiver.

Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario located in the City of Toronto for any dispute arising out of this Agreement, except that Songsbury Studios may pursue unpaid invoices in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Notices. Notices may be sent to the email addresses used for booking and are effective when sent, if no bounce is received.

Independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between Songsbury Studios and Client.

Authority. The person signing for Client represents that they have authority to bind Client and all session participants Client brings on site.