An artist contract can refer to a number of different types of contracts, though most often the term artist contract refers to recording artist contracts between musicians and record labels. One type of recording artist contract is a development deal contract. These contracts are often controversial, as they allow record labels the ability to influence and control artists, while offering the artists very little in royalties or other rights. Basically, a development contract is a promise to an artist that a label will promote the profile of the artist and help to establish the artist's career. New artists often sign development deals, which exclude them from many rights that they should be afforded for their creative works. In the past, record labels have been accused of extortion by using unfair and abusive development contracts. In the 1960's, Motown records secured the publishing rights to many of their top performers using unfair artist contracts.