A record producer contract is a legal agreement which outlines the various duties, responsibilities, and rights afforded to both producers and recording artists both during and after the recording process. A record producer contract may require the band or recording artist to make an upfront payment to the producer; this payment may be made by the artist, the record label who is distributing the artist's work, or any other third party. In addition, a record producer contract will usually specify what percentage of profits from future album sales the producer is allowed. Points are asses to the producer which dictate how much he or she may gain from album sales. Points are usually awarded based on experience and skill, with the top producers in the business earning the highest number of points for their work. Musicians looking to hire a producer should take into account what kind of producer they want for their project before signing a contract. Some producers take a more active approach in recording, while others may sit back and let the bands do most of the work themselves.