Our Music Lawyers Can Help You Launch and Sustain Your Music Career

The attorneys at Graybeal Jackson can boast experience negotiating contracts and deals in the music industry. We can help you take your musical career from its humble beginnings to great heights. As the information age and the Internet bring about the “Long Tail” economic theory in the musical arts, business savvy musicians have recognized the advantages of pro-active legal planning. We offer specific package deals to bands as they start out to help new artists launch their career.

From initial band agreements to handling your portfolio of work, we can help:

• Band Agreements/Singer-Song Writer Agreements- The music industry is ever-changing. Bands come together and bands break apart every day. To the extent that it is possible, protecting the stability of the group could potentially be the difference between staying together and splitting up. Having working agreements in place before arguments arise can in most cases prevent the “worst than can happen.” And defining the relationship up front creates an environment where creativity and camaraderie can thrive.
• Work-For-Hire Agreements- Have you ever wondered if that backup singer you brought in for that one live show has a copyright in your song? We can protect your music by helping you put the right contracts in place before it becomes an issue.
• Recording Contract Drafting and Review - We can assist artists in sorting through and breaking down the legal “mumbo jumbo” when an offer is received. We can assist studios and producers in creating legal documents that protect the company’s interests when investing in an artist’s career.
• Business Formation- Serious artists understand the need to establish a solid business foundation from the start. Forming the proper business entity as a place to hold your assets and limit your personal exposure is smart business management for any artist’s career.
• Copyright and Trademark Protection - An artist’s intellectual property is his or her most valuable asset and it needs solid protection. We can help you establish, manage and protect your trademark and copyright portfolio.
• Copyright and Sample Clearances- In the digital nature of the audio industry, clearing copyright for covers and samples is of utmost importance when producing music.  We can handle all clearances and negotiations of use of copyrighted works and make sure you don’t end up as a cautionary tale.
• Digital Distribution Agreements - In today’s new world of digital media, CD sales may soon be as out-of-date as 8-track tapes. Indeed, the definition of a “unit sold” is ever-changing. We can help you navigate through the landmines in the digital age, and protect your interests so that several channels of revenue from your artistry flow back to you.