For performance artists, music groups and bands, trademarks are important for protecting your unique sound and image. By registering your band’s name as a trademark, you can prevent others from unjustly profiting from your name, and you can enforce your intellectual property rights through litigation in federal court. The process of creating and registering a […]
The Process of Trademarking Your Musical Group’s Name Read More »
The federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals, here in New York, recently issued an opinion that is instructive on the legal question of “music sampling.” Sampling is using a small segment, the “sample,” of an older sound recording in a new song. Often, the older music, lyrics, or audio is played in the background while
Court Affirms Drake’s Music Sampling of Jimmy Smith’s Rap Fair Use Read More »
SoundExchange is a nonprofit collective management organization. This organization collects and distributes digital performance royalties to featured artists and copyright holders.
What is SoundExchange? Why Should an Independent Artist Join SoundExchange? Read More »
Whenever your song is played on the radio or TV, streamed online, or performed live, you are owed performance royalties. These royalties are paid as license fees to a Performance Rights Organization (PRO), which then distributes the payments to its member songwriters, composers, and publishers. If you are actively involved in releasing music to the public, you are eligible to join these organizations. Joining one of these PRO’s in today’s music environment is so simple that it almost doesn’t make sense to join one.
What is a Performing Rights Organization and Why Independent Musicians Should Join One Read More »
Establishing a loan out company as a musician has the potential to become a very smart business investment. As a music artist, if you are making a living performing, a loan out company might offer you the opportunity to gain both personal liability protection and tax benefits.
The Benefits of Establishing a Loan Out Company for a Music Artist Read More »
Like the rest of the entertainment world, the film industry has significantly changed over the past years. Among one of these many changes, having formal business structure has become one of the norms that, many years ago, was unheard of. While an LLC is an excellent option for many film companies, for some film companies, a corporation would possibly make better sense to fit your company needs. Having an attorney help you flush out the different types of business entities and help you make a determination as to which one might be in your company’s best interest can be quite invaluable.
The Business of the Film Industry: Forming an LLC for Your Film Company Read More »
The music business has changed in the past 10 years. Gone are the days when things were simple. While the independent artist is flourishing, the music industry and the record deal are still very much alive. In this post, we will help you in determining how to negotiate your record deal.
Tips for Negotiating a Record Deal in the 21st Century: It’s Different Than You Think! Read More »
Most actors, musicians, and other people who make their living in the entertainment world do not think about how important it is to have proper legal representation until the time comes to sign their name on a contract. However, this is a huge, possibly disastrous, mistake. It is always much better to be proactive when
Entertainment Law Firms in NYC – Choosing the Right Entertainment Lawyer Read More »
The music industry is a lot different than how it was years ago. With the increasing power of social media, the independent revolution has flurished. More often than not, artists are self releasing their music and becoming celebrities over night. And while the rise of the independent world has a multitude of benefits for the
Four Ways to Legally Protect Yourself as a Music Artist Read More »
