Vetting Platforms and Agencies: A Due Diligence Checklist for UK Creators Signing Deals

Hook: Before you sign — stop wasting time on unknown agencies and platforms

Signing with an agency or platform can jump‑start a creator's career — but it can also lock you into poor terms, missed payments and lost IP. In 2026, with high‑profile rep deals like WME signing European transmedia studio The Orangery and broadcasters exploring platform partnerships (e.g., BBC & YouTube talks), creators must perform robust due diligence before signing. This checklist gives UK creators a step‑by‑step vetting framework you can run in 7–14 days before you hand over a signature.

The context: why due diligence matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw consolidation and big rep moves across media: major agencies are signing IP shops and transmedia studios (WME–Orangery, Jan 2026), and broadcasters are increasingly co‑producing with digital platforms. That increases opportunity but also complexity — new distribution models, cross‑border licensing and split revenue streams. Creators who skip checks risk:

• Undervalued IP or unknowingly assigning rights
• Opaque commission and fee structures
• Late/missing payments because of poor finance controls
• Poor reporting and lack of audit rights

How to use this guide

Work through the sections in order. Each section includes a short checklist, why it matters, and a specific action you can take today. Use the “red flags” and the sample email templates at the end to request clarifications or amendments.

Quick 7‑step vetting workflow (executive summary)

1. Verify company identity & solvency (Companies House check)
2. Review contract headline terms (term, exclusivity, commission)
3. Confirm IP & licensing positions (who owns what)
4. Check payment mechanics & audit/reporting
5. Assess reputation & real client references
6. Run legal review for risks and carve‑outs
7. Trial engagement or pilot clause before full commitment

Detailed due diligence checklist

1) Corporate & financial checks

• Companies House: Confirm company name, registration number, directors and filings.
• Group structure: Are you contracting with a UK entity or an overseas holding company? Note tax and jurisdictional implications.
• Solvency & funding: Any recent insolvency filings? Check credit reports or ask for referees.
• Insurance: Verify professional indemnity, public liability and errors & omissions cover relevant to your work.

Why it matters: agencies and platforms can be set up quickly for single projects. Confirming legal existence and insurance protects you if a partner disappears or a dispute escalates.

2) Reputation, track record & references

• Case studies: Ask for 3 recent UK‑based or comparable market campaigns and contactable client references.
• Press & deal announcements: High‑profile signings (e.g., WME–Orangery) indicate agency capacity for IP commercialization. Check trade press (Variety, Broadcast) for corroboration.
• Creator testimonials: Look for verifiable testimonials rather than anonymous reviews.

Action: Request references in writing and call at least two clients to ask about payments, reporting and creative control.

3) Contract headline review (first pass)

• Term length: Prefer short initial terms (6–12 months) with renewals, not multi‑year lock‑ins.
• Exclusivity: Is the agreement exclusive by territory, platform, or campaign? Ask for narrow carve‑outs.
• Commission & fees: Clarify percentages, what they're applied to (gross vs net), and any upfront fees. Typical agent commission in the UK market is often around 10% for direct deal negotiation; full service agency retainer or platform splits can be higher — get specifics.
• Termination: Insist on termination for convenience with a 30–90 day notice and protected wind‑down rights for live deals.
• Payment timings: Net 30 is common; insist on escrow or milestone payments for larger executions.

Red flag: automatic renewals that extend unless you opt out each year, or indefinite exclusivity with no performance KPIs.

4) IP, rights & licensing

• Ownership: Confirm you retain copyright unless you explicitly assign it. For commissioned work, prefer exclusive licences for specific exploitations and defined durations.
• Grant scope: Limit licenses by medium, territory and term. Avoid “all rights, worldwide, in perpetuity” unless a significant fee justifies it.
• Derivative works & merchandising: Clarify who controls future adaptations and commercial spin‑offs.
• Moral rights: Ensure attribution and integrity clauses are preserved where relevant.

Why it matters: in transmedia deals (see WME signing transmedia IP), agencies aim to package IP for large deals. If you give away everything early, you lose future revenue streams.

5) Finance, reporting & audit rights

• Revenue splits: Get clear net/gross definitions. Are expenses deducted before you’re paid?
• Reporting cadence: Monthly or quarterly statements should include line items for revenues, fees, and expenses.
• Audit rights: Reserve the right to audit accounts with 30 days’ notice, no more than once per year.

Action: Ask for a sample royalty/reporting statement before signing.

6) Data protection, rights of publicity & privacy

• GDPR compliance: Confirm data processing agreements and lawful basis for any personal data processing.
• Image & personality rights: Ensure any use of your image or voice is limited to negotiated terms.
• Third‑party clearances: Who secures music or stock licensing? Put responsibility and cost in writing.

Note: As platforms integrate more personalised ad tech in 2026, data usage clauses are increasingly material. Ask your lawyer to check compliance with the Data Protection Act and GDPR.

7) Operational integrations & platform features

• Booking & scheduling: Does the agency/platform provide a booking workflow with calendar integration and confirmation notices?
• Payments & escrow: Platforms should offer safe payment rails and escrow for multi‑stage projects.
• Content management: Look for version control, distribution logs and content delivery support for multiple platforms.
• Support & escalation: Who is your day‑to‑day contact? Is there a dedicated account manager?

Example: marketplaces that excel in hiring & booking will provide API integrations with calendars, automated invoices and milestone payments — features you can test in a trial phase.

8) Legal review checklist (what to send your lawyer)

• Full contract & any schedules
• Sample statement of work or brief
• All referenced third‑party agreements (e.g., platform terms)
• Clarify payment flows, commissions, and expense responsibility
• List of deliverables, KPIs and success metrics

Ask for a redline with suggested protective clauses: limited term, narrow license grants, termination for convenience, audit rights, dispute resolution in the UK, and liability caps.

Practical audit & verification steps you can run in a day

1. Companies House search (10 mins): confirm registration and filings.
2. Google News + trade press (30 mins): search for recent deal announcements (e.g., “WME Orangery Variety Jan 2026”) to validate capacity.
3. LinkedIn check (15 mins): confirm team bios and tenures.
4. Ask for references and call two creators for 20 mins each.

Red flags — stop and escalate if you see these

• No verifiable company registration or physical address
• Refusal to provide client references
• Overly broad IP assignments or perpetual worldwide rights
• Unclear revenue split definitions or no reporting commitments
• Pressure to sign quickly without time for legal review
• No termination for convenience or punitive exit costs

Negotiation tactics and phrases that work

Use neutral, constructive language. Here are short, copy‑paste phrases you can use in email negotiations:

• "Can we limit the licence to the specific campaigns and territories listed in Schedule A?"
• "I prefer an initial 12‑month term with a 60‑day termination for convenience clause — can you accommodate?"
• "Please confirm whether commissions are calculated on gross receipts or net — can we define net as receipts less third‑party expenses?"
• "Before signing, can you provide a sample monthly statement and one reference who can confirm timely payments?"

Sample onboarding workflow for creators (6 steps)

1. Intro call & capability brief — exchange portfolios and send a one‑pager brief.
2. Short trial/paid pilot — capped scope to validate the relationship and process.
3. Contract with SOW — include milestones, KPIs and payment schedule.
4. Technical onboarding — calendar sync, invoicing setup, platform access.
5. First campaign & reporting — require a sample statement after the first payment.
6. Quarterly review — performance KPIs and renewal discussion.

Case study: What creators can learn from WME–Orangery (practical angle)

When WME (a major global agency) signed The Orangery, a European transmedia IP studio (Variety, Jan 2026), the move illustrated two things creators should note:

• Agencies want control over IP they can exploit across media — if a partner has strong IP, expect different deal dynamics.
• Big rep deals often include co‑development and shared upside. If an agency proposes a revenue‑share tied to downstream licensing, make sure the share and reporting mechanics are explicit.

Takeaway: if your prospective partner demonstrates the ability to package IP for larger markets, negotiate milestone payments and clear carve‑outs for retained creator rights.

Checklist: What to get in writing before signing

• Complete contract and SOW
• Defined licence grant with listed media/territories
• Clear commission percentages and deductions
• Payment schedule, currency and bank details
• Audit and reporting cadence
• Termination and wind‑down mechanics
• Contact points and escalation process

Sample legal queries to send to the agency (short email)

Use this if you need a rapid clarification before your lawyer reviews the contract:

Hi [Name],
Thanks — I’m reviewing the agreement. Could you confirm three points before I proceed with legal review:
1) That the licence is limited to the territories listed in Schedule A.
2) That commissions apply to net receipts after third‑party production costs.
3) That I can terminate with 60 days’ notice and a defined wind‑down period for live deals.
I appreciate your help — happy to discuss on a short call. Best, [Your Name]

When to walk away

Walk away or delay signing if the partner:

• Refuses to limit IP grants or insists on perpetual ownership
• Fails to provide basic client references
• Insists on payment terms that put you at financial risk (e.g., long payment windows without escrow)
• Won’t allow any audit or reporting transparency

Final checklist: 10 things to tick off (printable)

1. Company verified at Companies House
2. Two positive client references contacted
3. Sample reporting statement received
4. Term & termination acceptable
5. Exclusivity is narrow and time‑bound
6. IP ownership & licence limits confirmed
7. Commission & fee mechanics defined (gross/net)
8. Payment schedule & escrow/milestones agreed
9. GDPR/data processing clauses present
10. Legal review completed and redlines agreed

Parting advice (2026 focus)

In 2026, the lines between agencies, platforms and IP studios are blurring. High‑profile deals (WME–Orangery) and broadcaster‑platform collaborations increase both value and complexity. Creators should treat representation and platform agreements like business partnerships: validate the partner’s ability to execute, protect your IP, and secure transparent reporting and payment mechanics.

Call to action

Use this checklist as your template when you evaluate offers. If you want a ready‑to‑use pack, download our Representation & Platform Vetting Pack at contentdirectory.uk — it includes a contract redline checklist, a sample SOW, a one‑page reference call script and the email templates in editable form. Don’t sign blind — run these checks first and protect your creative future.

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