Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business »

Richard Stim specializes in small business, copyright, patents, and trademark issues at Nolo. He practices law in San Francisco and has represented photographers, software developers, crafts people, publishers, musicians, and toy designers. He is the author of many books, including Whoops I'm in Business, Music Law, and Profit From Your Idea. Stim also produces audiobooks, and performs and records with two bands, MX-80 and angel corpus christi.

If you belong to a band and love the art of your job, but sing the blues when it comes to the business, you need Music Law. Composed by musician and lawyer Richard Stim, the book explains how to:

*book performances
*choose a name and protect its use
*copyright song lyrics
*establish legal ownership of songs
*sample legally
*sign contracts
*write a band partnership agreement
*sell CDs, tapes and other recordings
*and much more

Music Law provides all the legal information and practical advice musicians need. The 4th edition is completely updated to provide the latest in the law and legal forms. It also provides new information on converting a band partnership to an LLC, protecting song titles with trademark law, royalties for downloads & and much more. All the legal forms and agreements are included as tear-outs and on CD-ROM.

Independent Publisher

Well organized, practically designed and clearly written, the book has one tiny fault. It should have been called 'Every Band's Business Bible'. It's that good. And that necessary.

1. Yes, Your Band Is a Business!
2. The Band Partnership Agreement
3. Management
4. Attorneys.
5. Band Equipment
6. Performance and Touring
7. Copyright and Song Ownership
8. Publishing Your Band's Music
9. Band Names
10. Album Artwork
11. Recording
12. Duplication: Manufacturing Your Recordings
13. Selling Your CDs, Records and Tapes
14. Independent Record Agreements
15. Taking Your Band Online
16. Taxes
17. Help Beyond the Book
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Index