how hard is it to get a job as a lawyer in the country music industry

by Maryse Blick II 6 min read

Should I hire a lawyer for my music career?

Jun 12, 2009 · Determine Your Needs. Music lawyers are under the umbrella of entertainment law, and many specialize in a certain part of the music industry. Understanding what you need legal help with will make it easier for you to find a lawyer who is up to the task. Knowing whether you are looking to build a long-term relationship with a lawyer is also ...

Can you make a career in country music?

Apr 01, 2022 · In my experience, it is very difficult to find a music lawyer willing to do this if you are a new artist. 2. Do you need a music attorney? How do you know if you need a music lawyer? If you are sued or someone is threatening to sue you or you need to sue someone to collect money, then you will need a music litigator.

How to get a job in the music industry?

Jul 03, 2020 · The most crucial thing is being able to talk to creative people and being a Manager helped me a lot in this. That skill can be honed.”. “Definitely it helps to be outgoing and really good with people,” Moo says, describing the personality traits that a successful Entertainment Attorney should possess. “That doesn’t mean you have to go ...

What degree do I need to be an entertainment lawyer?

May 02, 2018 · Shining a Spotlight on Lawyers in the Music Industry. Music law is a complicated niche, and like all legal niches, it comes with its own challenges. Below Lawyer Monthly gains insight on the music industry’s legal personalities through the eyes of Tony North, Co-founder and CEO of Centtrip Music. Whether you are an A-list client or a fledgling artist, when entering into …

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Are entertainment lawyers in demand?

Entertainment Lawyer Growth Trend Jobs for lawyers, including entertainment lawyers, are expected to increase 9 percent in the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.Jan 20, 2022

Do entertainment lawyers make a lot of money?

The salaries of Entertainment Lawyers in the US range from $10,018 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $18,674 . The middle 57% of Entertainment Lawyers makes between $18,674 and $74,346, with the top 86% making $187,200.

What type of lawyers work in the music industry?

Entertainment Attorneys handle all legal matters for musicians. This includes contractual agreements, negotiating, advice, and counseling.Jul 3, 2020

What type of lawyer is most in demand?

The Top 10 Lawyer Types You're Most Likely to NeedCivil Litigation Lawyer (a.k.a. Trial Attorney) ... Criminal Defense Lawyer. ... Defamation Lawyer (a.k.a. Libel and Slander Attorney) ... Business Lawyer (litigation or transactional) ... Family Lawyer (a.k.a. Domestic Relations Attorney; a.k.a. Divorce Lawyer) ... Traffic Lawyer.More items...•Dec 31, 2015

What type of law pays the most?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

What is the highest-paid lawyer?

Medical lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.

Can a lawyer be a musician?

Lawyer-turned musician, Folarin Falana, better known by his stage name Falz the Bahd Guy or Falz, has said that some of the skills he learnt as a lawyer are now helping in his musical career. The University of Reading, England-trained lawyer stated this during an Instagram Live session with his fans.Jan 2, 2021

Why do musicians need lawyers?

There are extensive record deals to be signed, intellectual property to be protected, and trademarks and copyrights to establish. Musicians need lawyers because navigating these areas can be difficult and sometimes even impossible without the right know-how.Aug 14, 2021

How much does a music lawyer cost?

Typically, a music lawyer will charge 5%. It could be 5% of a specific contract or 5% of your earnings from the music and entertainment business and your fee agreement should be clear on this.Jan 8, 2018

What's the easiest lawyer to become?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

What is the easiest law to practice?

Estate Planning Although being a legal clerk is the easiest career path, it is only suited for beginners. Estate planning wins the most stress-free legal practice area when practicing law for lawyers. Many lawyers avoid estate planning as it is a field of law associated with death.Jan 30, 2022

Who is the best lawyer in world?

Here are the top 10 highest paid criminal lawyers in the world:Jose Baez. Jose Baez is the best lawyer in the world, with a net worth of $7 million. ... Willie E. Gary. ... John Branca. John graduated from UCLA Law School with a law degree. ... Vernon Jordan. ... Harish Salve. ... Vikkie Ziegler. ... Stacey Gardner. ... Howard K.More items...

Unions, Groups, Social Media, and Associations

Entertainment Attorneys and students of entertainment law can join the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers. Moo also suggests networ...

What Is The Single Biggest Suggestion You Would Give to Someone Wanting to Get Into This Career?

“Try and have more of a broad set of classes you take. For example, learning tax law was really helpful for me but I also wish I would’ve learned l...

What’S The #1 Mistake People Make When Trying to Get Into This Career?

“It’s great to have drive and focus and I respect that. It’s great to be passionate but the reality is that the entertainment industry is only so b...

What Is The Question People Should Ask About This Career but Rarely do?

“The thing they should ask themselves beforehand is ‘Is this something I really want to do?’ They should really investigate and learn what it means...

If You Could Describe in One Word What Makes You Successful, What Would It be?

“Perseverance. Honestly, there’s going to be a lot of stuff that goes wrong along the way and that’s just life in general. There have definitely be...

Where can I find a music lawyer?

Most of the music attorneys are in New York and Los Angeles, but you can also find them in places like San Francisco, Nashville, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis and Toronto. One of the best ways to find a music lawyer is by referrals from friends and relatives or from people you trust in the music business. You can also research music attorneys online.

What is a music attorney?

Music attorneys generally fall into two categories: litigators or transactional attorneys. Litigators are hired to represent individuals and companies involved in the music business in court, arbitration and mediation. For instance, if you are owed money on a contract or you have a copyright infringement case.

What does a music lawyer do?

For superstar level clients, the Music Lawyer may also assist in licensing their image for merchandising purposes or handling the paperwork on sponsorship/endorsement deals. They may even get involved in non-business legal matters , such as prenuptial agreements or divorce settlements.

What do people think of entertainment attorneys?

When most people think of Entertainment Attorneys they envision a flashy, high-powered office and an intense workload. While this is certainly the case at many big-name firms, other Attorneys find this type of corporate environment doesn’t sit well with their creative clients.

What is entertainment attorney?

Entertainment Attorneys help their clients to understand legal agreements, ensuring that the terms are in their clients’ best interests. They work with Recording Groups, Record Producers, Songwriters, Music Publishers, Record Label Executives, Music Producers, and Composers. They negotiate recording, merchandising, touring and publishing contracts, as well as Producer agreements.

Who is Kamal Moo?

Los Angeles-based Entertainment Attorney and Manager Kamal Moo focuses on indie artists and labels, having worked with a wide range of clients from Grammy-nominated hip-hop violinist Josh Vietti to Warped Tour and ex-Epitaph Records band I Set My Friends on Fire.

What does Moo say about being successful?

Of the experience and skills necessary to become successful, Moo says, “it goes back to just being good with people. A lot of clients have said to me, ‘You’re so easy to talk to; the last Entertainment Attorney I talked to was a real jerk and made me feel stupid.’ It’s not brain surgery. Anything in law can be made simple. My goal is to explain a lot of things so people understand.

Is law school expensive?

Law school is very expensive and you have to consider this before getting into that much debt. Try to learn. There are lots of books and blogs out there, lots of ways to learn about the industry. There’s a great book called All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald Passman.

What companies post jobs on Music Week?

Music Week don’t usually post many jobs, but the jobs that do go live tend to be from the best companies in the industry, where you’re likely to see a job posting from Sony, Universal, Warner and more.

What is Glassdoor job board?

Glassdoor are the newcomers to the online jobs board scene, which can give you a new level of detail to the jobs available , including estimated salaries and reviews from past employees on what it’s like to work at the company.

What is Music Match?

Now named Media Match, Music Match is the leading job site for the music industry. They also pull a lot of jobs from Indeed which are specific to the music industry to save you some time.

Is LinkedIn a job search tool?

Linkedin is becoming an incredible tool for job searching, posting exclusive jobs as a direct feed from the companies themselves. Applying via your Linkedin profile can give you a head start, especially if you have maintained your profile and consistently demonstrated your passion for the jobs you are applying for.

Create a Job

Many people get their start in the music industry just by doing their own thing. Let's say you want to be a promoter. Don't wait around for a promotion company to hire you. Find some local musicians, arrange a few shows for them, do a good job of promoting them, and make connections with other local musicians who want the same treatment.

Be Flexible

So let's say in the above example, our promoter can't find any promotion work, and no one in town is playing any music he can convince people to buy a ticket to see. Maybe he should shift his focus somewhat. Perhaps there's a record store that needs a product buyer for the genre of music he knows the best.

Get an Internship

Some large music companies make internships available only to college students, but others are open to all applicants; don't assume your chances are over if you've graduated or are no longer in school. Another method that works especially well with indie music companies is to just approach them and offer your services.

Job Listings

Many music industry jobs are filled through word of mouth, but you can find out about openings and how to apply on company websites. If you can score a human resource person's name, see if she would grant you an exploratory interview at least.

How can I survive in the music industry?

To survive in the music industry, you have to be creative. Remember, music is an art. In art, people use creativity to set themselves apart from their peers. Your creativity sells you and your work. So, you have to find interesting topics and things that will inspire your creativity. You can choose to spend time alone and in silence, or you can choose to spend time with people observing them. Creativity lies in noticing the peculiar. So, you have to engage your observant juices and show that you have an eye that captures the unusual or strange.

What happens if you don't know what you want?

One of the biggest mistakes people make in life is not knowing their end goal. When you do not know what you want or where you are going, you will end up anywhere. You will have no control over the decisions you make because you have no clear purpose. A perfect quote here is from Lewis Carroll: If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. This is true, especially when talking about careers. You have to know what you want before you make your mind up about something.

What is survival for the fittest?

The phrase survival is for the fittest is a perfect fit for this tip. You will end up average or mediocre if you do not push yourself to grow and be better. No one wants to work with someone who is not driven. No one wants to work with someone who is not willing to push themselves. No one wants to work with someone who does not aspire for more. The music industry will push you to your limits. If you are not cut out for it, you will break. People are competitive in this industry, and you have to find your spot and thrive.

What are the jobs in the music industry?

Music Industry Jobs. The music industry is a fragmented and diverse world made up of executives, managers, publicists, musicians and everything in between. There are labels and talent agencies, PR and tech companies, Performances Rights Organizations and internet radio stations, social media platforms and specialized apps and many other types ...

What is a production music writer?

Production music writers write music for commercial use and will often sell their music to a Production Music Library for use in films, TV shows and commercials. Jingle writer. Jingle writers usually write music for use in commercials on radio, TV and elsewhere.

What are the different types of jobs?

Here are a few different types of careers you can apply for: 1 Intern. We've already talked at length about internships. As an intern, you will likely be responsible for admin tasks and additional support. 2 A&R. There are multiple jobs in A&R, including director, coordinator and administrator. Directors and coordinators responsible for finding new artists and overseeing the creation of recording projects. Administrators have various duties, which may include securing rights to songs, distribution, keeping project budgets on track and more. 3 General manager. A manager is a high-level job at a label and are decision makers with regards to marketing, budgeting, distribution, promo shoots and more. 4 Promotion manager and staffer. Also known as a radio promoter, promotion managers and staffers are responsible for helping the label's artists get radio airplay. A staffer will also set up on-air performances, promotional giveaways and so on. 5 Director publicist and staff publicist. A director will oversee the publicity department at labels and will help devise a strategy. Staff publicists will ensure artists maintain a positive public image and put together press kits, promotional campaigns and so on. 6 Artist relations. Artist relations representatives will help artists develop their careers from an artistic and financial perspective.

What is a solo artist?

Generally, an artist who writes and records their own music, accompanies their vocals on guitar, ukulele or piano and sets up their own gigs and tours.

What is a lyricist?

Music producer. A music producer is someone who writes, arranges, produces and records songs. As a music producer, you can record songs for others or for your own projects.

What is a composer?

Typically, they are producers in their own right too. Video game composer. A composer who focuses exclusively on the creation of music for video games.

What is a sound designer?

Sound designer. A sound designer’s responsibilities can vary from one to another. Generally, they are responsible for finding or creating the right sound effects and music for various productions, including films , TV shows, video games, theater, live performance, radio and more.

Musicians

Although country music singers receive the most fanfare, their success would not exist if it weren't for a dedicated team of musicians to help them on tours and in the studio.

Producers

Individuals with an ear for good music but perhaps without the interest in being a country music star can find their place in the industry by working as a record producer. With six top record companies along Nashville's Music Row, including Sony, MCA and RCA, producers have a number of job opportunities in the country music capital.

Grand Ole Opry Jobs

Nashville's Grand Ole Opry is the hallmark of country music, where artists have performed for decades. Country music lovers can look for positions at the Grand Ole Opry, where they can work behind the scenes to help produce country music shows at this historic venue.

Event Promoter

Individuals who love to attend country music concerts can turn this passion into a career in the industry. Working as an event promoter for a venue, like a country nightclub or large arena, exposes the individual to the country music industry by allowing him to market and promote upcoming country concerts.

Who is Marc Miller?

Marc Miller, founder of CareerPivot. com based in Austin, Texas and a Next Avenue Influencer in Aging, shared the story of one of his clients, age 62, who found a job this year by doing just that. For most of her career, she worked as a trainer, curriculum developer and customer-support person.

Who is Nancy Collamer?

May it be a better year for us all! Nancy Collamer, M.S., is a semi-retirement coach, speaker and author of Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit From Your Passions During Semi-Retirement.

Who is Sarah Johnston?

As an example, Sarah Johnston, a job search strategist in Durham, N.C., worked with a 56-year-old marketing executive who had enjoyed a long and successful career with his firm and planned to retire from it. But at the start of 2020, he began to question the direction of the company.

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