We are living through an unprecedented historic event which is having far reaching negative effects on everyone and every industry.  Obviously artists are effected in a direct and clear manner with the prohibition on public gatherings the main source of revenue has vanished almost over night. Thankfully there has been a rush to try to put together various aid packages for the entertainment industry.  From not-for-profit organizations like MusicCares to federal and state backed stimulus and loan programs, there is aid out there for artists and those that work within the entertainment industry ..read more

So much has been written already about the devastating effects that COVID-19 is having on our industry.    Social distancing, whether suggested or mandated, means no live performances.  No live performances means no money for venue owners, security and staff, ticketing companies, the artists and their teams.  Without live performance revenue all of these individuals are without the revenue that normally pays their bills. While some of the potential and actual legislation and ordinances put forward by government officials will look to help our industry, specifically bartenders, wait staff and o ..read more

Publishing is an often discussed and rarely understood element of music.  For those working as musicians or within the industry, understanding publishing and how it is divided is essential.  However, even for those of us that have a grasp on publishing, answering the question of how publishing is or should be split is not easy. There is no bright line rule or formula that must be followed when divvying up the publishing of a composition.  In a common (and usually fair) scenario the publishing is split equally between all writers who contributed to a song.  In an even clearer scenario, one writ ..read more

Whether you follow the music industry or not, it has been hard to avoid the ongoing saga that is Taylor Swift. There are hundreds of articles out there about all of the particulars and specifics of Taylor’s ongoing fight with Big Machine, the Carlyle Group and, most publicly, Scooter Braun. (Here’s one.). While relating to a super star who has a catalog worth $300,000,000.00 may be difficult, ownership of your art is infinitely relatable to musicians. Let’s start with the basics. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on a traditional label recording agreement. When you sign a ..read more

There is a key distinction in the law that differentiates between an employee and an independent contractor.  Employees are entitled to certain benefits and protections that contractors are not; chief amongst them, wage protection (minimum wage requirements and overtime benefits etc.), health insurance and paid time off.   Contractors, on the other hand, are viewed as hired guns that can be paid lump sums, do not qualify for overtime and are not eligible for insurance coverage offered to employees.  The music industry is dominated by contractor relationships.  Think of studio musicians, manage ..read more