Woody Guthrie’s Contract with RCA

In April 1940, RCA Victor Record Company contracted Woody Guthrie torecord an album containing his Dust Bowl Ballads. This was Woody Guthrie’s first”commercial” recording.  Under the “Artists Letter Agreement,” Woody Guthrie promised to producea record with at least 12 “Dust Bowl Songs of [his] own composition andarrangement.” [Page 1 of the contractPage 2 of the contract]. In return, RCAgave Woody Guthrie 5% of the retail list price in royalties and a meager $25advance against those royalties.

[Meredith R. Miller]