how much does it cost to charge a musician attorney?

Experienced music lawyers in big cities such as L.A. and New York typically charge $400 - $800 an hour and sometimes more for very top lawyers. If you don’t have that kind of money there are some alternative fee arrangements which I will describe below.

Full Answer

How much do attorneys charge per hour?

Absent complicating circumstances and including only a small group of titles, this should usually take about an hour or less of your attorney's time. There are also services like Indie Artist Resource that can register titles from $135 to $335, depending on the number of titles. 2. Trademark application.

How much does it cost to hire an entertainment lawyer?

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 [1] .”.

How much does it cost to hire a musician?

Mar 09, 2022 · Some entertainment attorneys will give you an hour of their time – a la carte – for a fee, often between about $350 per hour to $600 or more per hour (the closer to L.A., New York, or other major cities, generally the higher the hourly fee).

Do I need a lawyer in the music industry?

Aug 27, 2012 · I don’t know what other attorneys charge, but if we love the music and we love the package, we require a $5000 retainer. Feel free to contact us for more information. More

Why does a musician need a lawyer?

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 musician 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.

How much do most lawyers charge per hour?

What are Typical Attorney Fees. Throughout the United States, typical attorney fees usually range from about $100 an hour to $400 an hour. These hourly rates will increase with experience and practice area specialization.Aug 17, 2021

How do I choose an entertainment lawyer?

Choosing an Entertainment LawyerExpertise -- Look for someone who has the specific background you need, in this case, handling contracts within the music industry.Experience -- Focus on finding a lawyer or firm that has years of experience in the area you need.More items...

What qualifications do you need to be a music lawyer?

Many Entertainment Lawyers majored in Legal Studies or Music Industry Studies as undergraduates. A degree in Music Industry Studies or something similar can give the future Lawyer an understanding of the many areas of the music business before they hunker down and dive deep into the law at law school.Jul 3, 2020

Is there a such thing as 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.

How much does a top lawyer cost?

Attorney fees typically range from $100 to $300 per hour based on experience and specialization. Costs start at $100 per hour for new attorneys, but standard attorney fees for an expert lawyer to handle a complex case can average $225 an hour or more.

How much do the most expensive lawyers cost?

Topping the list of the country's most expensive lawyers is Kirkland & Ellis partner Kirk Radke. The private equity and corporate counsel bills $1,250 per hour. The big billers tend to cluster in finance-related practices.Oct 4, 2017

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.

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

How do you break into entertainment law?

It now seems to me that people break into the entertainment law field in one of three ways: Good connections, great experience on the business side, or incredible credentials. If you don't work at a top firm or you don't know anyone in the field, try taking a job—even an internship—on the business side.

Steven Todd Lowe

I don’t know what other attorneys charge, but if we love the music and we love the package, we require a $5000 retainer. Feel free to contact us for more information.#N#More

Bartley F Day

The fees charged by deal shoppers are all over the map, but often in the $2,500 to $10K range. But some attorneys, instead, do it on a percentage basis.#N#But, more to the point, it's really questionable whether this would be a productive approach for you, as already pointed out by other attorneys here. Here is the...

Maxwell Seaton Felsheim

It will vary depending on the attorney. You may want to also look into other non-attorney shoppers as well.#N#More

Ivan Jose Parron

It's not like the old days. Entertainment attorneys used to take new music clients on contingency iC they had potential. The thought was to take a cut of the signing bonus. But labels are paying as little as $3,000.00 so there is no longer much of a financial incentive to do so.#N#More

Marc Jacobson

Some will charge a percentage of your advance, e.g. 5-10%, possibly more, possibly less. Some charge by the hour. Others will charge a flat fee. I know a guy who charges $15-25,000 per artist but has no success at getting deals.#N#But the real challenge is that shopping a 3 song demo isn't enough anymore...

Eric Edward Rothstein

Every lawyer charges differently based on experience. That said, don't you want an agent for this? If you do want a lawyer interview a few. Ask what their connections are, what their experience is, etc.

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.

How to pay retainer fees?

Make sure that your contract includes the details of: 1 Contract – The agreement should list the total amount of any retainer deposit that you pay upfront. It should also state when you need to pay additional fees, if necessary. 2 Hourly Fee – Don't look only for the hourly rate of your lawyer on the agreement. Make sure you also see a description of the different hourly rates for each person who might contribute to your case. Ask for your payment schedule. Ask if you get a discount for early payment or if you pay penalties for late fees. 3 Contingency Fee – In a contingency case, the lawyer profits by the percentage they earn upon winning the case. The lawyer's contingency percentage and the payment-collection process should appear clearly outlined in your agreement. Sometimes, a lawyer will not collect any fees from you if they lose a contingency case, such as in personal injury disputes. In other situations, they may demand payment from their client only if they lose the case. 4 Costs of Suit – Check for clear terms to describe who pays for all of the different litigation costs involved. You should anticipate possible charges for court appearances and filing fees, hiring a private investigator, the cost of bringing in an expert witness, costs for officially serving and delivering legal documents, and travel fees.

What is statutory fee?

A statutory fee is a payment determined by the court or laws which applies to your case. You'll encounter a fixed statutory fee when dealing with probate or bankruptcy, for example.

How to avoid disagreements with your attorney?

Either way, most states require evidence of a written fee agreement when handling any disputes between clients and lawyers. You must have written evidence of what you agreed to pay for anyone to hold you accountable for what you have or have not spent.

What is contingency fee?

An attorney contingency fee is only typical in a case where you're claiming money due to circumstances like personal injury or workers' compensation. You're likely to see attorney percentage fees in these situations to average around a third of the total legal settlement fees paid to the client.

What to ask when hiring an attorney?

When hiring your attorney, ask for a detailed written estimate of any expenses or additional costs. They may itemize each expense out for you or lump their fees all together under different categories of work. Lawyers may bill you for: Advice. Research.

Do lawyers charge retainers?

Sometimes lawyers may charge a retainer if they find themselves in high demand. Other lawyers who work more quickly and efficiently may see no need for charging you a retainer fee. Call different lawyers in your area to see if retainers are standard practice for your particular case.

How to determine the fee of a lawyer?

Just like with any question related to a lawyer’s services, the fee you will pay for a legal professional to look over your contract depends on the lawyer's hourly rate and the contract's complexity. Here are some factors it can depend upon: 1 The length of the contract 2 Your budget 3 What does the attorney need to look for 4 If you need just a review or help with drafting services 5 Your industry 6 Rules and regulations in your industry 7 The amount of money at stake 8 The duration of the contract 9 How much risk are you willing to take on 10 The number of signing parties involved 11 Your lawyer’s experience and current workload

What is redlining a contract?

In the legal world, this is known as “redlining a contract”, which can really help the whole process move along more smoothly. In other words, you don’t have to discuss the changes in your agreement with the other party, as they will receive the contract already finished with the option to accept or deny.

What is issue specific contract review?

An issue-specific contract review is the most economical option if spending money is the most important factor for you. If you are mostly happy with the contract, but not quite clear on some of the specific terms or issues, or need a specific clause of the contract explained, the lawyer will just look over those specific areas of concern. A lawyer can help decipher the legalese and explain those terms in common English so you can figure out if they work for you. You don’t want to sign things you don’t understand, so if you're on a tight budget, but still need the peace of mind, this is a good way to feel more confident before signing the agreement.

Do lawyers charge flat fees?

Each lawyer sets his or her own prices depending on their own level of expertise and the fees they charge can vary greatly from one attorney to the next. Most of the time, however, lawyers use either flat-fee pricing or hourly pricing when they get hired to review a business contract.

Why do musicians need a deposit?

Deposit. Some musicians require a deposit upfront to secure their services, which protects both the client and the performer. For the performer it means the client is less likely to double-book musicians for the event and cancel one of the performers at the last minute.

How much does Scotty Paulk charge per hour?

Scotty Paulk offers a variable hourly rate, typically between $50 and $100 per hour, depending on the event and how long it will last. Paulk can offer lower hourly rates when the gig is longer, as the increased hours balance out the cost of arrival, setup, etc.

Why is liability insurance important?

Liability insurance is important to you, because it protects the performer and the client in the case of an accident during their performance. Marketing. A freelance musician needs to promote and schedule gigs, which means the cost of marketing and the time spent following up on leads.

How to register a copyright?

The good news is that copyright registration is a relatively easy process that can be done either online or by mail: 1 Online registration. To register your copyright online, go to the U.S. Copyright Office website. 2 Print registration. To register your copyright by mail, download the appropriate form from the Copyright Office's forms page. Fill out the form and send it in along with your payment.

What happens if someone infringes on your work?

Additionally, if someone infringes on your work and you decide to launch an infringement lawsuit, you will need to pay the fees or costs associated with that lawsuit.

Is copyright registration required?

Understanding the Copyright Registration Process. Registration is not required, but registering a copyright can have important advantages, including allowing you to sue others for copyright infringement. Feb 22, 2021 · 3 min read.

Is copyright automatic?

is yes. In fact, obtaining copyright is automatic, and your copyright over your work arises from the moment your original work is expressed in a permanent medium. Regardless of how you copyright your work, what's most important is that it's protected. Make sure your work is protected START MY REGISTRATION. About the Author.