If you are planning to release an album or want to produce a reality TV program, it is important to consult an experienced attorney before embarking on your project. A knowledgeable attorney will be able to guide you in all of your efforts to get the necessary funding, gather the essential source material for licensing, safeguard your creative works, and strategize for product distribution.
The entertainment industry is rife with legal nuance, and it is critical that you focus on how the law applies to your work. This is why a competent lawyer can add value to your creative work.
Who Is a Music Lawyer?
While some creative individuals primarily consider their work as an art form, others consider it to be a business. In the entertainment industry, there are a variety of issues that may not strike in the mind of an artist.
Some of the challenges that arise can involve the corporate formation of production entities, contracts for book publishing, rights management for a recording label, negotiating with film studio executives, and monetizing one’s artwork, which are often neglected.
To understand the complexities involved in today’s music business, it is vital to understand the many factors and media at play, including the internet, digital radio, albums, and web streaming. Whether you are working with an independent label or studios with bigger names, a skilled Music Lawyer In Philadelphia can help you understand what it will take to achieve your first successes in the music industry.
Songwriters, stage performers, and composers may all require legal representation for guidance on aspects of music law that are relevant to them. Signing an agreement blindly and without the proper guidance can lead to trouble down the line.
This is why it is so important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to support you at each stage. A legal professional can direct you with regard to which decisions may be right for you and your business, such as in the scenario of a royalty contract or regarding usage rights in a project in which you are considering participation.
In the music industry, intellectual property theft is quite prevalent. This means that there is an urgent need for you to protect your work. In the event that someone else claims your work as their own, you may need to enforce your copyright against them. To understand the best course of action, a well-versed lawyer can bear the burdens of the law while you focus on your art and business responsibilities.
Important Considerations for Choosing an Attorney
If you believe that someone else has infringed upon your rights as an artist, you should consider working with an experienced lawyer to hold them responsible. Some of the important considerations that you should keep in mind while choosing an Entertainment Lawyer include:
Practice Area:
If your legal matter involves music, it is important not to accept the services of a lawyer who does not have the requisite experience in the field, even if they are offering it for free. In the music industry, the contracts are specific to the field and it is critical that your legal professional intimately understand the industry practices at play in the entertainment field.
The entertainment sector is nuanced and each type of contract is evaluated differently. You may need different lawyers to handle aspects of your business as they relate to music and film, respectively. Not every experienced attorney will have the requisite knowledge to assist within the music or entertainment sector.
Additionally, a lawyer who does not have a background in entertainment law may miss crucial points during the negotiations process that could potentially help them secure a good deal on your behalf. An even worse consequence could be losing the rights to your intellectual property or having to spend a huge amount of money in paying royalties for using something that is rightfully yours.
Negotiation Style
Your lawyer’s negotiation style can be another vital factor when choosing an attorney to represent you within the entertainment sector. Your attorney should be able to negotiate in a particular way that will be beneficial for your business. Two of the most common styles of an attorney are:
- Bulldogs: This style refers to legal personalities who present themselves as stubborn, tough, and fierce. While they may not seem to be outwardly aggressive, opposing parties may find them difficult to argue with.
- Screamers: These types of attorneys often rely on a loud voice to get their messaging across. Like all other styles, screamers have mixed efficacy in negotiations.
You should always look to hire a music attorney who has many years of experience and has the skills required to negotiate effectively on your behalf. A lawyer who focuses their practice on the entertainment industry will be able to help you understand the clauses within the contracts you wish to enter, how to successfully resolve any kind of disputes relating to your business, and how to comply with all relevant laws and regulations within your segment of the industry.
