In the Japanese television drama Quartet, four musicians form a string quartet. Each comes to the group with hidden goals and agendas, but without a mutual agreement about how their quartet will operate. That uncertainty makes for good television drama as the musicians’ private problems and personal agendas begin to affect the group’s rehearsals, performances, and relationships. But bands and other musical groups don’t need that kind of drama. They need a customized written agreement that minimizes drama so they can focus on creating and building their brand. Before accepting their first gig, musicians should work with an attorney who understands that groups and musicians are unique and can help them create an agreement that's reflects their culture and goals. With a good agreement in place, the group then can focus on creating music, rather than the distractions and drama that come with misunderstandings and disputes.
Read MoreArtful contract drafting is best thought of as relationship design. The strongest contract is not the most one-sided, but rather, is one that considers both parties’ needs and goals and makes the relationship work.
Read MoreLaunched in the UK in 2018, Hipgnosis Song Fund was touted as a groundbreaking opportunity for investors and musicians alike. By buying song catalogs directly from artists, Hipgnosis provided musicians with immediate cash. The Fund offered investors the opportunity own a piece of music history and receive long-term predictable income that wasn't correlated with the stock market. Although the Fund might have looked like an investment in artists and their music, in the US, many investments in artists and their music are securities. Learn how musicians can unwittingly find themselves needing to navigate the complex web of securities laws.
Read MoreCabaret cards, music royalty structures, sales quotas, and an American Federation of Musicians strike all started with good intentions but brought with them unintended consequences that transformed their industries that weren’t always positive. However, with proper planning and foresight, policy makers can foresee and prevent unintended consequences.
Read MoreCrowdfunding is a popular form of fundraising for musicians and small business because it helps build a following while also raising money. However, it’s important to know when crowdfunding becomes subject to federal securities laws and what to do about it.
Read MoreSync licensing can be a major income source for composers and songwriters. Businesses should be aware that any time they use non public domain music in their video content, they may need a sync license.
Read MoreThe US system’s use of performance rights organizations to license music is efficient and enables widespread access to music at the expense of artist control over the use of their recordings.
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