attorney who write music contractx

How to write a music contract?

Mar 03, 2021 · A contract can be drafted by any individual but an attorney can help draft a reliable and secure contract, especially in complex cases. A recording contract is a specific type of contract involving music.

Do I need a lawyer to sign a music contract?

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.

Why is contract law important for musicians and business people?

Music Law Pro provides you with a designated music lawyer to help guide you through the ins-and-outs of the music industry and cater to all of your music law needs. Established during a time of exciting changes and modernizations in the music industry, our team has an ear on the pulse of the industry. Get a music attorney to help protect your ...

Can a record company own your music after your contract expires?

Call (212) 480-2400 - Hrbek Law LLC is dedicated to serving our clients with a range of legal services including Entertainment Law and Business Law cases. Music Contracts - New York Entertainment Law Lawyer

What is a music lawyer called?

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

What does a record label lawyer do?

A record label lawyer is responsible for overseeing the legality of contracts and other transactions between musicians and the parties who pay them. They can negotiate contracts between artists and record companies, as well as copyright agreements and other binding documents.Oct 4, 2019

How do you write a music contract?

A Music Recording Contract should include the following:Recording company details (name, contact info)Artist details (group name, names of each artist, contact info)Production details, e.g. studio address, recording session dates, control over song selections on the recording, and control over album title.More items...

What are the responsibilities of a music lawyer?

A good music lawyer will be savvy as to the technology, the platforms and the apps that are out there. They'll think to raise questions in contracts about things like income from music streaming. A good music lawyer will also be able to help you recognise when it's not the right time to do a contract.Nov 14, 2016

Who do music lawyers work with?

We often work with artists, writers, producers and managers at the start of their careers to help support their craft, develop their reputation and to protect their rights.Mar 26, 2021

What type of lawyers deal with copyright?

Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers If you've created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.Feb 13, 2019

What happens if you break a music contract?

There are remedies for the violation of a music recording agreement. A lawsuit may be filed as a result of a breach of violation of the contract. Entertainment law may provide remedies for the aggrieved party, or non-breaching party. In some cases, a monetary damages award may be available to the non-breaching party.Mar 3, 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

What is a music business degree?

A music business degree prepares students to work in various parts of the music industry, including music production, management and finance. ... This can involve managing musical venues, scouting talented musicians to join a record label and choosing the soundtrack for movies and television shows.May 20, 2021

Is music an industry?

The music industry consists of the individuals and organizations that earn money by writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling recorded music and sheet music, presenting concerts, as well as the organizations that aid, train, represent and supply music creators.

What is a 50/50 record deal?

In a production deal, the artist usually signs a 50/50 deal with a single producer. The producer agrees to produce one or more of an artist's album in entirety but retains 100% ownership of the master recordings.Sep 16, 2020

How much does a record label pay an artist?

Record labels pay two royalties: one to artists, and another to composers & publishers. Artists can receive 10% – 15% of suggested album retail minus packaging costs. Composers and publishers receive 30% or more.

Who has the best music contract?

The 10 biggest record deals of all time, rankedMichael Jackson — $250 million (2010)U2 — $200 million (1993) ... Lil Wayne — $150 million (2012) ... Jay Z — $150 million (2008) ... Bruce Springsteen — $150 million (2005) ... Adele — $130 million (2016) ... Robbie Williams — $125 million (2002) ... Madonna — $120 million (2012) ... More items...•May 24, 2016

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

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

What does an artist manager do?

Artist managers shape their clients' careers both in a day-to-day and long-term sense. They often help clients book gigs, plan album projects, orchestrate record releases and tours, create marketing and merchandising strategies, get paid for their work, and establish and pursue long-term career goals.Jan 1, 2006

How much do music lawyers make UK?

PRS for Music Salary FAQs The average salary for a Lawyer is £61,881 per year in United Kingdom, which is 9% higher than the average PRS for Music salary of £56,652 per year for this job.Feb 25, 2021

How much of a song can you use UK?

You can not use 10 seconds of copyrighted music, or 100 seconds, or even 1 second without a license. Using any duration of a sound recording, no matter how long, will constitute an infringement unless you have permission. Remember, the owner of the recording had to license the song from the owner of the publishing.Apr 10, 2019

What are the 4 types of lawyers?

Here's an overview of the most common types of lawyers.Personal Injury Lawyer. ... Estate Planning Lawyer. ... Bankruptcy Lawyer. ... Intellectual Property Lawyer. ... Employment Lawyer. ... Corporate Lawyer. ... Immigration Lawyer. ... Criminal Lawyer.More items...

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

Which lawyers make the most?

Types Of Lawyers That Make The Most MoneyMedical 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

Can you buy yourself out of a music contract?

If your career goes well, you'll likely find yourself negotiating and signing, and renegotiating several contracts. ... There is no legal secret that will allow you to break free of unwanted contracts.

How do I get out of a music manager contract?

In writing, preferably with the help of an attorney, your friend can terminate the agreement with a clear explanation of how the manager failed to live up to the expectations of their arrangement. Realistically, the manager's only recourse here is to sue for damages, for breach of contract, or for lost revenue.

Can an artist change their name to get out of a contract?

Changing your name won't get you out of the contract. It's still you, by whatever name.Oct 10, 2019

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.

Do I Need a Music and Recording Attorney?

For many, considering a music and recording career does not equate to hiring a music and recording attorney. Depending on what you plan on doing in the music and recording business, this may be one of the most important decisions you make. Not only who to hire, but when to hire a music and recording attorney should be considered.

Benefits of Music and Recording Attorneys

If you are in the music industry and are presented with a contract, it is a good time to think about hiring a music and recording attorney. An attorney can often provide advice on both the wording of any contracts or agreements, as well as help draw up any legal documents you require.

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.

What an Entertainment lawyer can do for you

If you are an entertainer, movie producer, or musician, an entertainment lawyer can assist you with important legal issues, including intellectual property rights. Hiring an entertainment attorney will enable you to negotiate or write your contracts, deal with intellectual property issues, and work on publication deals.

Why hire an Entertainment attorney

Entertainment lawyers provide services to the entertainment industry, including film, music, television, theater, publishing, visual arts, and multimedia. They also represent sports stars and other celebrities. Entertainment lawyers negotiate and write contracts, deal with intellectual property issues, and practice employment and labor law.

Did you know?

Although entertainment lawyers do assist their clients with legal decisions such as contracts, compensation, real estate purchases, etc., entertainment attorneys also use their skills to help further a client's career.

Music Contract Basics

When dealing with music contracts, remember to keep them simple. Form a simple document that covers the basics, including money, the length of the agreement, and the division of labor.

The Contract Term

When working on the term of your contract, start with the length of the agreement with the music manager. You both need to agree upon a term and cancellation policy.

Job Expectations

The expectations you have of your music manager depends on where you are in your career. If you're part of a newer band, your manager should promote you to the labels and try to get you performances. If you're already established, your manager should make sure others promote your music.

Management Fees and Expenses

Standard management fees are typically around 15 to 20 percent of your earnings. The manager receives a cut of the proceeds from album sales, advances from the label, and earnings from negotiated deals. Unless otherwise agreed upon, they don't receive money from songwriting royalties, merchandise sales, or deals they haven't negotiated.

What Are Production Companies?

Production companies typically have one or two individuals that make demos or tracks for artists, who in turn shop them to a real record company. Unfortunately, sometimes the company presents an agreement that locks the artist into a long-term deal, takes a huge cut of the income the artist makes, and makes the company the artist's music publisher.

Why is it important to have a written contract?

It’s important to understand that the best contracts protect both parties. This might be worth mentioning if you are ever asked by a client why it is necessary to have a written contract. It’s not only about trust, it’s also about clarity. A contract exists to protect both parties.

What is a performance contract?

Just as it’s the responsibility of a seller of goods or services to provide a written purchase order and receipt, the performance contract is generally viewed as a responsibility of the artist or band. The contract is essentially the agreement you have with the person hiring you, in the form of a written document.

How long does it take to cancel a contract?

There can be a clause that spells out what happens if either party needs to cancel. Typically, there is a time period, often 30-60 days, where the contract can be canceled without penalty.

What is boilerplate slang?

According to an online legal dictionary, boilerplate is:“ . . .slang for provisions in a contract, which are apparently routine and often preprinted. The term comes from an old method of printing. Today boilerplate is commonly stored in computer memory to be retrieved and copied when needed.”.

What is the first paragraph of a contract?

Typically, the first paragraph states who the parties to the contract are, and use terms like “artist” and “purchaser” to refer to each. Note for a contract to be considered legally valid, the addresses and contact information for both parties must be included.

What is a rider in a contract?

A rider is an additional page or pages attached to the contract spelling out requirements too detailed or lengthy to be included in the main contract , such as travel arrangements, equipment needs ( which may also be in a separate equipment rider), food and lodging, etc.

What is compensation clause?

In cases where invoicing (billing) the client or employer is required, the compensation clause in the contract becomes a guide to creating the invoices. On each invoice, you will need to include what the payment is for, when it is due, and to whom it should be paid.

What is contract in music?

Contracts are the primary tools that entities in the music industry use to enter into business relationships with one another. This makes it important for musicians and business-people alike to have a general sense of how they work. Therefore, the purpose of this guide is to provide a basic overview of important principles in contract law, ...

What is an offer to do?

Importantly, the offeror must make the offer with the intent that the contract will be a binding agreement if signed. For example, record labels offer artists contracts to record a certain amount of music for a certain amount of time, in exchange for an advance and royalties, as well as marketing and promotion.

What is a record deal?

Record Deal. An artist assigns and transfers ownership in their sound recording copyright (s) to a record label, (usually) in return for an advance and subsequent royalty payments. The record label often agrees to market, promote, and license the recordings to music users such as streaming services and consumers.

What is a publishing deal?

Publishing Deal. A songwriter assigns and transfers ownership, or partial ownership, in their compositions to a music publisher (usually) in return for an advance and subsequent royalty payments. The writer, in effect, sells, in whole or in part, their composition (s). Distribution Deal.

What is synchronization licensing?

Synchronization licensing is the process by which production companies of audiovisual works clear the rights for outside music to be used in their productions. Both the sound recording copyright and the underlying composition copyright must be cleared in order to use the work in synchronization.

What is MFN clause?

The MFN clause in a music industry contract specifies that one party must give the other party equal or better terms than the ones they have with any outside party. This list is not exhaustive; it is an overview of a few of the more common components in music contracts.

What are the two types of contracts?

In general, there are two types of contracts: unilateral and bilateral. Bilateral contracts are probably the most familiar - these are agreements that are entered into by different parties, and they require some type of performance on the part of both.