what kind of lawyer does a music producer need

If you're entering into any kind of deal in the music industry where money and contracts are involved, you should probably hire an entertainment or music lawyer. You're looking for someone who specializes in things like record label contracts, and who knows the industry.

Full Answer

Do you need a lawyer to produce music?

Prior to this, Mr. Moo worked in the business affairs department of a boutique venture capital firm based in downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Moo earned his B.S. in Music Industry from the University of Southern California in 2002, his J.D. from Southwestern Law School in 2005, and was admitted to The State Bar of California in 2006. Mr.

What to look for in a music producer agreement?

Training Required. Music producers typically have several years of experience. Education Field of Study. Fine arts, music production, sound engineering. Key Skills. Leadership and coaching, musical direction, funding, negotiation. Job Growth (2020-2030) 6% (all music directors and composers)*. Average Salary (2020)

What degree do I need to become a music producer?

Mar 08, 2011 · Producers who are arguably writers of the songs as well can also be entitled to a cut of publishing monies. The first thing I would do is make sure you're clear on who owns the song. Perhaps he's not expecting a share of the copyright in the song. Even a simple sheet of paper you each sign saying that you own 80% of the song and he owns 20% (or ...

What can you do with a degree in audio production?

Master MIDI and audio production techniques. Use technology to compose music. Perform critical listening. Generate video to synch with the music. To succeed in the above outcomes, students study Live Music Production, Hybrid Recording Methods, Analog Synthesis, Music Video Production, and Advanced Studio Performance.

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 does a music copyright lawyer do?

A music lawyer is a specialized attorney who deals with legal issues surrounding the music industry. They are trained to handle a wide range of legal issues, like contract management, copyright claims, trademark disputes, artist representation, and many more.

What do you call a music lawyer?

Also Called. Entertainment Lawyer, Music Lawyer. Entertainment attorneys provide legal advice and representation to individuals and businesses in arts and entertainment industries.Jan 1, 2009

Why do artist need 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.

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

How much do music producers make?

According to payscale.com, Music Producers average salary is $50,986. Now, it is important to understand this figure is an average. The pay scale they list ranges from the low-end of $29,000 to the high-end of $99,000.

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 steps you need to take to find a music business attorney?

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. Check out Music Connection's Directory of Music Attorneys. Entering into a written attorney/client fee agreement is important.Oct 31, 2016

Are entertainment lawyers in demand?

Entertainment Lawyer Growth Trend The predicted growth rate for all occupations is 8 percent. Entertainment lawyer jobs are usually affected by the economy and the health of the entertainment industry which – including streaming services, music downloads and television revenue – continues to remain strong.Jan 20, 2022

Major Label Producer Deals vs. Indie Producer Deals.

To begin this installment of the series, it’s useful to outline the differences in the agreements that major labels use for producers and the contr...

Two Copyrights: ‘Sound Recordings’ and ‘Musical Works’

As we discussed in the prior installment on ‘sync’ licenses, copyright law protects ‘musical works’ including songs and any accompanying words as w...

Work For Hire vs. Non-Exclusive License

If the agreement is a sale, it will usually be structured as a ‘work for hire.’ In a work for hire agreement, the producer loses all rights in thei...

Three Producer Agreements: Two Simple Agreements For A Beat and A Net Receipts Deal With An Indie Record Label

Re-printed below are three different producer deals that a producer working directly with an artist or an indie label may receive. The first licens...

What is a music producer license?

The first license is a simple work for hire deal for the sale of a beat ; the second is beat agreement in which the producer receives a royalty in connection with the sale or license of the recording as well as an up-front payment; and the third agreement not only provides a royalty for the recording, but also a royalty in connection with the producer’s contribution to the underlying musical composition.

What is a producer in music?

Often in pop, R&B, and especially hip hop, producers are creating new music by providing beats or even complete music floors over which an artist sings or a rapper ‘spits.’. In that case, the producer is creating two copyrights: the sound recording and a part of the musical composition.

What is a beat in music?

Many artists, particularly in hip hop and R&B but also in pop music, work with drum, digital or other percussive “beats” as core elements of their recordings. Often, an artist or indie label will search for the right beat on which to base a song. Although some beats are sampled, others are purchased or licensed from a producer who creates beats with digital drum machines or other studio equipment.

Can a producer sell a beat?

Often, a producer will sell a beat outright. In that case, the buyer will have the exclusive right to use the beat. But other times, a producer will give a non-exclusive license to use a beat, and reserve the right to use the beat for himself or license it to others.

What is mechanical royalty?

In exchange for that permission, the producer usually receives a ‘mechanical’ royalty, i.e., a royalty tied to the use of the underlying musical composition contained in the record.

Is a beat a musical composition?

As we discussed in the prior installment on ‘sync’ licenses, copyright law protects ‘musical works’ including songs and any accompanying words as well as orchestral works, librettos, and other musical compositions. But copyright law also protects ‘sound recordings,’ that is, recordings of musical compositions. A beat is usually both a sound recording and a musical composition because the recording of a beat contains a separately copyrightable musical work.

What is a music lawyer?

A music lawyer is a specialized attorney who deals with legal issues surrounding the music industry. They are trained to handle a wide range of legal issues, like contract management, copyright claims, trademark disputes, artist representation, and many more. While their duties are similar to those of other lawyers, ...

What is a recording agreement?

Signing a recording agreement is a big step in any artist’s career, especially for the ones who are new to the industry. However, artists may unknowingly agree to terms that might not be favorable to them in the long run, like selling their rights to a record label.

What is Chase Lawyers?

Chase Lawyers is an entertainment law firm comprised of veteran attorneys with considerable experience in the music industry.

What is entertainment lawyer?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

Which states offer competitive financial advantages for productions?

Many states outside of California and New York offer competitive financial advantages for productions, making it attractive to creatives on a budget to film in these other locations with local crew and other resources at their disposal.

How much does a retainer cost?

It may start at $1000 for contractual and/or advisement issues and go up to $100,000 should they be retained for litigation. Before agreeing to any terms with an entertainment lawyer, inquire about their retainer fee.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property, or IP, is big business. From a screenwriter’s spec script to a musician’s original song, anything created within this industry necessitates protection from those who may want to buy it, option it, license it—or infringe upon it with unauthorized use. An entertainment lawyer can see to it that a client’s intellectual property is handled properly and protected when copyright or trademark issues arise.

Can an entertainment lawyer be hired as an employee?

Unless you are potentially forming a company that would require the ongoing services of an entertainment lawyer, they would not be hired as an employee. Rather, they are a contractor who is part of a law firm or the proprietor of their own business.

Is entertainment lawyer specialized?

The nature of work for an entertainment lawyer is highly specialized. That in part explains the costly fees for them. However, it also indicates the extensive education they must attain to be skilled at their job.

Where is Anna Keizer?

Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and is currently in post-production on the short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and is executive producing.

What do music attorneys do?

A music attorney represents various types of clients in the music industry, such as artists, producers, songwriters, and record labels. A transactional music attorney will deal with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and help to protect the client’s intellectual property.

What kind of music business clients do you represent?

All kinds, from hip hop to jazz to rock. My current clients include music icon Janet Jackson , Lil B, and several independent record labels and artists.

What services do you offer your music industry clients?

I’m a transactional music lawyer, which means I draft, review, and negotiate contracts for my clients. Many times artists and songwriters will reach out to me and request that I shop their music for a deal — unfortunately, this is not a service I offer, so I usually put that disclaimer out there right away.

Can you help with disputes between people working in music?

Yes, however, ethical rules prevent me from representing two parties on opposite sides of a conflict. So, if there is a conflict, I can only represent one of the parties.

What makes you a good music attorney?

Having been a personal manager, I can say that I really do care about my clients. Also, I am always willing to explain each contract to my clients so they know what they’re getting themselves into. I’m also huge music fan, so I always love hearing my clients’ music and that helps motivate me to do the best job I can.

When would you recommend someone contact a music attorney?

If you’re ever offered a contract that has anything to do with your music, I would definitely recommend reaching out to an attorney. It’s always worth it to pay for professional advice avoid problematic legal issues down the road. Signing a bad deal can negatively affect your career for years to come.

How much do you charge for your services?

It all depends on the situation. Sometimes clients will bring me a contract that they just want me to review, and in those situations I’ll usually charge a flat fee. Other situations will require a retainer. But, overall, I always try to create a fee structure that makes sense for each client.

What are the duties of a music producer?

What are a Music Producer's Duties? Music producers oversee all aspects of a recording session, from planning the sessions to the finished product. As a music producer, you'll be responsible for providing instruments, scheduling studio time and handling funding, costs and negotiations.

What is the job growth of music producers?

Job growth is expected to be about 1% from 2018 to 2028; this little to no change will most likely be due to a lack of funding for musical groups, orchestras and performing companies.

What does an audio engineer do?

Engineers primarily deal with the technical aspects of the recording, such as broadcasting and converting sounds. If you're working with a smaller record label, you may perform the music producer's and audio engineer's tasks.

What is the job of a writer?

Writers and authors are responsible for producing written content for a variety of media, including blogs, advertisements and books. Top executives oversee the activities of an organization and help the organization meet its goals through planning and policy.

What is a music producer?

In most cases the music producer is a competent arranger, composer, musician or songwriter who can bring fresh ideas to a project. He/she also makes any songwriting and arrangement adjustments.

What is a recording producer?

A recording or music producer is a professional whose role is to oversee and manage the recording or production of the artist’s work. A producer has many roles that may include, but are not limited to, gathering ideas for the project, selecting songs and/or musicians, coaching the artist and musicians in the studio, ...

Who is Brian Wilson?

Brian Wilson- Creative force behind the Beach Boys; original member of the group; record producer since 1963. These recording artists are the exception. They possess both the creativity to write and compose music as well as the technological savvy to produce their respective arrangements.

What is an associates degree in music production?

Associate’s Degree – A music production degree at this level is usually offered as a major within a greater 2-year music program. These programs are built around the use of a campus’ music studio, and students likely spend more time in the studio than in the classroom. Students in this program learn the basis of music and mixing technologies through the understanding of analog and digital music. Courses are often taught by professional recording artists and musicians. Some schools refer to this degree as an Associate of Applied Science in Audio Production (AAS). A sampling of associate’s courses: music concepts, digital audio specifications, recording techniques, mixing and mastering, studio design, and surround sound techniques.

What is an AAS degree?

Courses are often taught by professional recording artists and musicians. Some schools refer to this degree as an Associate of Applied Science in Audio Production (AAS). A sampling of associate’s courses: music concepts, digital audio specifications, recording techniques, mixing and mastering, studio design, and surround sound techniques.