how much for a music business lawyer

When it comes to an hourly rate, Donald S. Passman, author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business, Eighth Edition, states, “Most lawyers in the music business don’t charge on just an hourly basis. For the ones that do, the rates are from $150 per hour for new lawyers, up to $600 or more for biggies [1] .”

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer in the music industry?

Basic music business agreements Something like very basic agreements for management, producer, or band partnerships could cost $800 to $2,000+ depending on the agreement and details of your situation, or $300 to $400 for a template .

How much does it cost to hire a business lawyer?

How much does a Music Lawyer make? As of Apr 23, 2022, the average annual pay for a Music Lawyer in the United States is $67,628 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $32.51 an hour. …

What is the typical fee structure for a business attorney?

Apr 01, 2020 · When it comes to an hourly rate, Donald S. Passman, author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business, Eighth Edition, states, “Most lawyers in the music business don’t charge on just an hourly basis. For the ones that do, the rates are from $150 per hour for new lawyers, up to $600 or more for biggies.”

What is the average business attorney retainer fee?

Apr 27, 2022 · B. Percentage: Sometimes a music lawyer may agree to get paid based on a percentage of the money you will receive from the contract. For instance, when you are entering into a recording agreement where you will be receiving an initial advance when the deal closes. Typically, a music lawyer will charge 5%. It could be 5% of a specific contract or 5% of your …

What type of lawyers work in the music industry?

How do I choose an entertainment lawyer?

Do musicians need lawyers?

Do entertainment lawyers make a lot of money?

Are entertainment lawyers in demand?

Why you need a music lawyer?

Why do singers have lawyers?

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

How much does a Music Lawyer make?

As of Aug 26, 2021, the average annual pay for a Music Lawyer in the United States is $67,628 a year.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Music Lawyer Jobs

We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Music Lawyer job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Jose, CA, with Oakland, CA and Tanaina, AK close behind in the second and third positions.

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Music Lawyer Jobs in the U.S

We found at least five jobs related to the Music Lawyer job category that pay more per year than a typical Music Lawyer salary. Top examples of these roles include: Vice President Musician, VP Musician, and VP Music.

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Top searched cities for Music Lawyer Salaries

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What to Know Before You Seek an Attorney to Represent You

Heather McDonald wrote about music careers for The Balance Careers. She has worked in the music industry for over two decades.

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 something to consider.

How to Find a Lawyer

Once you know what you need from a lawyer, start asking those in your music industry circles. You are almost certain to know someone who has had to visit a lawyer for a music industry issue before.

Meet With Your Short List

Whether you do it by phone or in person, have a brief question and answer session with your short list of lawyers. Find out what they specialize in, how soon they can work on your case, how much they charge and what their payment terms are. If you get a bad feeling or just don't hit it off with a candidate, don't feel any obligation to hire them.

Can you sign a management deal without a lawyer?

Never, ever, ever sign a management deal without having a lawyer go over it and explain it. The language is very dense and difficult to understand and most importantly, the clauses within them will affect your career for literally years.

How much does it cost to register a trademark?

Unfortunately, registering a trademark is pretty expensive. Without legal counsel it costs $275, but it’s strongly recommended you hire a lawyer. Again, there is a lot of legal jargon to sift through and it’s worth covering all your bases.

Is it a bad idea to sign an agreement between band members?

It’s never a bad idea to sign an agreement between band members regarding a few key issues. Principally, who owns the copyright on the songs, how royalties are distributed, and who owns the band name are the matters at stake.

What is the role of a music lawyer?

Whatever your role within the music industry, you will usually be looking to your lawyer for three things: advice on contracts, litigation, and general advice and support.

Is it good to have a good relationship with a lawyer?

Having a generally good relationship with your lawyer can prove very useful, as they tend to be a good source for honest, independent advice on a range of issues. In an industry in which people often tell you what you want to hear, having a lawyer in your corner telling you what you need to know can prove invaluable.

What happens when you have a fan?

Unfortunately, at some stage in your career, you may find yourself in a situation where it all hits the fan – someone may be holding off payment for some work you did, your relationship with your manager/artist may have broken down, or you may have received an aggressive letter from lawyers acting another person.

What does an attorney need to know about music?

In the case of the music industry, attorneys needs to have a deep understanding of a very complex set of laws (intellectual property, contracts, etc.) in addition to the business and intricate payment practices of a very unique industry.

How much does an attorney charge per hour?

Speak with lawyer about fees, how those fees are paid, and make sure you are able to pay those fees. As I discussed in a prior article, attorney fees typically range from $250 to $1,000 per hour.

Can an attorney be friends?

Attorneys are allowed to be friends and socialize with clients, but don’t make sexual advances towards your attorney, call your attorney names, telephone your attorney when intoxicated (unless you need to be bailed out), or exhibit other non-professional behavior.

Do you have to sign an engagement letter with an attorney?

When you've communicated to the attorney that you would like to hire him or her, the attorney will most likely require you to sign an engagement letter or fee agreement.

What happens when you hire an attorney?

Once you've officially hired the attorney, you can then send whatever contracts or other information you need the attorney to review. The attorney can also start making phone calls or otherwise acting on your behalf.

What is an engagement letter?

This letter is an agreement between the client and the attorney and is there for the client’s protection.

How much does an attorney charge per hour?

Typical hourly fees range from $150 per hour to $325 per hour . Hourly fees for legal services can vary widely based on the factors previously mentioned.

Do business attorneys charge flat fees?

Although some business matters will incur a flat fee, most business attorneys prefer to utilize an hourly fee structure. As previously mentioned, a flat fee structure would likely be most advantageous for businesses with relatively simple and straightforward issues to address.

What is a business attorney?

A business attorney provides legal services relating to the operating and regulating of businesses. Business attorneys can represent several different types of clients, including business owners, employees, insurance agencies, and other parties. Other work-related matters, such as discrimination and hiring disputes, ...

What is business dispute?

Business disputes; Conflicts that involves the sale and purchase of stocks, and other securities; Compliance with business regulations and laws; Responding to the improper use of protected business information, such as copyrighted and trademarked materials; and.

What does a business lawyer do?

Besides litigating business disputes, a business attorney may assist with various tasks, such as: Assisting the business in their shift or change in organizational structure. Business lawyers may be consulted for a wide range of legal issues. In some lawsuits, a business lawyer may play the role of an expert witness.

What is the importance of consulting an attorney?

It is important when consulting attorneys to discuss their fee structure, as well as clarify what their hourly fee is if that is the agreed upon fee structure. Generally speaking, an attorney will work out how their fees are to be paid when they first meet with you.

How do attorneys work?

Generally speaking, an attorney will work out how their fees are to be paid when they first meet with you. A standard attorney fee arrangement will usually require you to fill the attorney’s retainer, which provides a set amount to the attorney that they may draw from for their first amount of work.