How Long Will I Be Tied to This Record Company?

The flip side of the 5- to 10-album deal is that if you are really successful, the record company will keep exercising its options and you will be stuck with the same company and the same deal until you have completed the full number of optioned albums.  If you were free to negotiate, you might be able to get a better deal for your later work.  So, however tempting it may be, be careful about locking yourself in for too big a commitment -- before you sign!