An "advance" or "prepayment" is a payment that an artist receives from a publisher or record company. This payment will later be offset against the income from sales or licenses.

Artists should consider some important aspects when accepting an advance: First, the advance is usually repaid from future income, which means that the income from sales or licenses will be used first to repay the advance.

It is therefore crucial to understand the contract terms and to be aware of the amount of the advance, the repayment conditions, and any interest. Since an advance often represents a large sum of money, it is important to manage this money wisely.

Artists should also try to negotiate the best possible conditions, including the amount of the advance and the repayment conditions. It can be helpful to involve a lawyer or advisor to ensure that the contract is fair and protects the interests of the artist.