Certain recording contracts also gave the record company options on additional albums by the artist (with a purchased master, the label usually had three options, although it was not uncommon to have seven or eight options). Those options were particularly important with new artists because the label made significant up-front investment to launch a new act for which the company might not realize a return until three or four records down the road. Recording contracts customarily gave record companies the exclusive right to record an artist during the term of the agreement. If an artist failed to fulfill her obligations, most contracts permitted the company to suspend the contract. An artist could also request to be released from the contract, which the company might be willing to grant if it were repaid its recording costs and/or granted an override, or a percentage on the sales of the artist's records released by another company.