What is the purpose of credits and points on the master in music deals?

• A. Credits determine ownership percentage; points determine publishing revenue.
• B. Credits aid recognition and marketing; points affect long-term earnings from the master.
• C. Credits fix royalty rates; points specify distribution order.
• D. Credits adjust recording quality; points allocate advances.

Answer: (B)

Credits on a master are mainly about who contributed and how the recording will be recognized and promoted. They help with marketing, negotiations, and industry visibility—prominent credits can boost licensing opportunities, awards consideration, and discoverability on streaming platforms.

Points represent the financial stake in the master, i.e., the share of revenue from that master as it is exploited. They determine how much money a party will earn over time from licensing, streaming, and other uses of the master, rather than ownership of the song or its publishing.

Publishing revenue and master revenue are separate, and ownership structures are a different topic. So credits serve recognition and marketing, while points affect long-term earnings from the master.