reason i ask is, i want to put out a DVD this year, a spin-off from these Pictures film nights i run, to mark the one year anniversary of the night. it'll contain all the best stuff from the preceeding year. i figured the best business model to run on for this kind of thing would be that of a small record label or zine distro, selling through the night, internet, and then maybe independent video shops and the likes of rough trade and so on.

i think on the production side, i work for a TV company, so i'm covered (by making a small contribution for supplies etc. costs) for all the production, dvd printing and duplication. all the equipment and everything is there, and the materials will be there, at much discounted prices, by me buying them from work.

what i'm not so sure about is the distribution of royalties and so forth. it would essentially be like a compilation CD, with 10-12 artists on it. say we sold the DVD for a fiver, and that production and overheads had to be covered out of that, does anyone have any idea of what form the specificities of the deal i'd need to make with the contributors would be? obviously i want to pay them a cut, but does it tend to be worked out as a percentage of profit (which would be easy), or are there complications like flat fees and so forth?

i know a few people on here do distribute records, thought it might be a good place to seek advice.