The Onyx
Artist management collective where artist managers become equity participants instead of employees, giving them a real profit share while keeping non-compete and relationship clauses enforceable under Dutch entrepreneurship law.
Netherlands
The situation
The Onyx wanted every artist manager who joins the company to share directly in its profits and long-term value, without becoming an employee. Under Dutch employment law, non-compete and relationship (client-poaching) clauses are hard to enforce against employees. The Onyx needed a structure that gave managers real equity participation while keeping the relationship a B2B one.
What we did
- 1
Structure
Designed a STAK-based certificate structure: artist managers participate through certificates issued by the STAK, giving them a share in profits without voting rights or employee status.
- 2
Legal documentation
Coordinated with a legal partner to draft the shareholders' agreement, the administration agreement, the deed of incorporation for the STAK, the deed of incorporation for The Onyx B.V., and the cooperation agreement between The Onyx and each artist manager.
- 3
Compliance
Built the structure so the relationship between The Onyx and each artist manager qualifies as an entrepreneurial (B2B) relationship rather than an employment relationship, which is what makes the non-compete and relationship clauses enforceable under Dutch law.
What happened
The Onyx now onboards artist managers with a clear equity and profit-sharing structure that gives every manager a real stake in the company, while keeping enforceable non-compete and relationship protections in place.