what does a music lawyer do

What is A Music Lawyer?

• Facilitate Recording Agreements. Signing a recording agreement is a big step in any artist’s career, especially for the ones who are new to the industry.
• Intellectual Property Licensing. Music lawyers can also help songwriters get sufficient compensation for their work. ...
• Broadcasting Rights. ...

Full Answer

What does a music industry lawyer do?

Correspondingly, how do music lawyers get paid? 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. Beside above, how much does an entertainment lawyer make a year? Salary and Qualifications

Is music law a good career for me?

Music lawyers, also called Entertainment lawyers, specialize in the area of the law that deals with the entertainment industry. While many of these lawyers also work with laws pertaining to television, movies and other entertainment media, some of these attorneys focus their efforts specifically on the field of music.

What is music law?

Jun 12, 2009 · 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.

What does an entertainment attorney do for a living?

Mar 10, 2010 · In this clip from www.artistshousemusic.org - Don Passman is an entertainment lawyer and author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business. He describe...

What are the responsibilities of a music lawyer?

Essentially, a music lawyer is part of the team, advising on legal issues and helping to guide the business aspects of a career in collaboration with other members of the team such as the manager and accountant. Nonetheless, knowing when to appoint a lawyer can be a difficult decision.Jan 23, 2020

What is a music lawyer called?

Entertainment Attorneys handle all legal matters for musicians.Jul 3, 2020

When should you get a music lawyer?

Always consult an attorney before using someone else's work. Are songwriters making significant money—say, more than $1,000 annually—on streaming royalties, or is it really just a game for larger corporations with a great number of copyrights, and maybe a superstar at the highest level?

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

What skills do you need to be a music lawyer?

A masterful understanding of music law and intellectual property, serious attention to detail, and a healthy sense of risk management. Persuasive negotiation tactics and, relatedly, a sharp, logical brain. Fierce dedication to / protection of those they work with.Jan 25, 2019

What are the skills needed to be a music attorney?

Music lawyers have extensive relationships within the entertainment industry that can yield opportunities for musicians, a knowledge of music law and intellectual property, attention to detail, and a strong awareness of risk management.Jun 18, 2020

Do record labels need lawyers?

Yes, it is extremely important to have the help of a contract lawyer if you have a recording contract issue. As noted above, an important first step is to have legal representation prior to signing the contract.Mar 3, 2021

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 singers have lawyers?

Trademark and Copyright - Prevent Others From Using Your Work. Artists need help doing a trademark or copyright. They need that type of advice from a lawyer or they can find themselves in litigation. People will also take artists' art, design, or photos and post them on social media channels or web pages.

Who is an art lawyer?

As an art lawyer, you will be advising clients on the use of copyrighted material, drafting consignment agreements with art dealers and work-for-hire agreements, commissioning contracts for public art or setting up limited liability corporations for artists, to name but a few pursuits.

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...

Why is music law important?

Music law is important to creating and performing music . Music lawyers do their part to help their clients understand the laws and protect their interests. While the music industry primarily involves licensing and contract law, music law may involve a number of different types of law that are all a part of creating and performing music.

What is music law?

Music law includes any laws of any kind that apply to the business of creating, selling, performing and listening to music. Music law is a part of entertainment law.

Why are contracts important in the music industry?

Many performers and event producers are independent contractors, and music producers rely on distributors to sell their work. For all of these people in the music industry, contracts are important to make sure that everyone involved has clear expectations. Even consumers use contract law in the music industry. Anyone who buys a subscription to a music service or even buys a concert ticket has some interaction with music-related contract law.

Can you buy sheet music without a license?

Buying the sheet music alone doesn’t give a consumer the right to perform a musical work. Instead, the purchaser needs a license to perform the work live. Exceptions to licensing requirements are called Fair Use. The courts look at fair use exceptions on a case by case basis in order to determine whether the performer violates licensing laws by performing the work without a license. Some fair use exceptions include:

Do musicians need a visa to travel to another country?

To enter the United States, non-citizen musicians generally need one of a number of different P category visas depending on the nature of their work. Music lawyers must help their clients secure the visas that they need in order to enter the country for their intended purpose.

Do musicians pay taxes?

Whether you’re a U.S. citizen, a lawful resident or simply in the country for a short duration to perform, all musicians in the United States are subject to U.S. tax laws. U.S. citizens may also need to pay taxes for what they earn abroad. In addition to tax liabilities, there are tax exemptions and deductions that may help musicians like a deduction for a home office or expense deductions for self-employed musicians. Music law may involve tax law to the extent that music lawyers may help their clients comply with tax laws and lawfully minimize their tax liability.

What are fair use exceptions?

Some fair use exceptions include: Criticism of the work which may include praise as well as negative comments. Satire. Commenting on the work.

What do entertainment lawyers do?

According to Schroder, entertainment lawyers may protect their clients’ intellectual property rights, represent them in court over disputes, negotiate contracts, show them ways to maximize earnings, and help them manage their taxes, among other tasks. Image via Flickr by elsa.org.

How long does it take to get an entertainment license?

A program with Entertainment and Industry certification requires approximately two years to complete and covers several aspects of law that apply to the entertainment industry, from guilds and professional organizations to entertainment entities and intellectual property rights organizations like BMI.

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 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 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 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 is a music publicist?

A music publicist is someone who handles media and public relations on behalf of a music group or a musician. Most artists will consult with their publicist before any communication with the public.

What degree do I need to become a publicist?

Most publicists hold an undergraduate degree in english, public relations, marketing, advertising, journalism, or communications. A university degree will give aspiring publicists access to internships …. Read about How to become a music publicist.

What is a music teacher?

A music teacher teaches people how to play an instrument (for example the piano, guitar or violin) or gives singing and voice lessons. Some music teachers work in schools from elementary to high school levels, and teach many students. These teachers are responsible for directing the school bands, choirs and orchestras.

How much does a music teacher make an hour?

Music teacher salary. The average pay for music teachers in the United States is around $28.57 per hour. Wages typically start from $14.46 an hour and go up …. Read about Music teacher salary.

What is instrumental teacher?

An instrumental teacher in a school setting, such as a band or orchestra director, might be responsible for instructing students in more than one instrument, even if they are not extremely familiar with how to play every instrument in the entire band.

Who Does Music Law Impact?

Federal, State and Local Laws May Apply

Licensing and Publishing

Broadcasting

Live Performance

Other Areas of Music Law

Who Practices Music Law?

• Music lawyers are entertainment lawyers. They’re primarily contract lawyers, but they also work in all of the fields of law that music law may involve. Music lawyers also handle dispute resolution that may include formal litigation. While music lawye...

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Why Become A Music Lawyer?

Keeping The Beat with Music Law