The Musician's Legal Companion » (2nd Edition)

Michael A. Aczon has practiced entertainment law and managed artists since 1983. Michael has written on the business of music for Guitar Player and Electronic Musician magazines. He was a contributing writer to the book The Independent Working Musician by Mary Cosola. He is a music industry studies faculty member at two colleges in California and lectures throughout the country on the entertainment industry. Michael lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Don't sign a recording contract before reading this book! The Musician's Legal Companion, Second Edition gets to the core of the legal issues you need to know about, in clear, straightforward language. Here you'll find easy-to-comprehend explanations of the four main contracts used in the music business: recording artist, songwriter, artist management, and performance. You'll also discover how to make the relationship with your current or future attorney more fruitful and cost-effective. This new edition includes expanded coverage of topics such as the use of independent producers, 360° agreements, distribution and marketing agreements, how radio and other media fit into an artist's career, film and television agreements, digital distribution, name and likeness agreements, merchandising agreements, and much, much more. With more than 25 years in the music business as a lawyer, educator, and writer, interacting with many musicians both personally and professionally, Michael A. Aczon shares the many lessons he's learned and takes you on a journey to a better legal understanding of the entertainment industry and your music career.

Introduction     ix
Pre-Production     1
How to Use This Book     3
Companion Questions     10
A Legal Primer     11
Personal Rights     13
Property Rights     14
Trademark and Copyright     17
Contract Rights     20
Specialties     21
Companion Questions     21
The Four Agreements     23
Songwriting and Music Publishing Agreements     25
Creative Considerations     28
Collaboration     29
Work For Hire     32
Sources of Income     32
The Writer-Publisher Agreement     36
What Is Included in the Catalog?     37
Who Owns What?     38
Administration Rights     39
Songwriting Commitment     39
Advances and Recoupments     40
Theme Variations: Timing Your Publishing Deal     43
Reversions, Revisions, and Restrictions     43
Sample Clearance Agreement     45
Companion Questions     46
Recording Artist Agreements     49
Background Material     51
Exclusive versus Non-exclusive     56
Contract or Lockdown?     58
Creative Control     59
Promotional Commitments     60
Royalties and Advances     61
Recoupable Costs     62
Royalties Revisited     63
Alternatives: Independent Record Companies     64
Alternatives: Production Agreements     65
Alternatives: Development Deals     65
Companion Questions     67
Artist-Management Agreements     69
Development     71
Paying the Piper     75
Packaging     77
Industry Promotion     79
Expansion     81
The Exit Plan     82
Major Contract Points     82
Companion Questions     87
Performance Agreements     89
Scope of Performance     91
Where and When?     92
Passing the Hat     92
Travel and Accommodations     94
Contract Riders     95
Liability to Your Audience     96
No-Show Penalties     97
Merchandising     98
Ancillary Audio Visual Products     99
Personnel     100
Side Musicians      101
Agents     102
Other Personnel     103
Promoters as the "New" Major Labels     104
Companion Questions     104
Business as Usual     107
Business Entities     109
Going It Alone     112
Partnerships: All for One, One for All     114
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies     115
Joint Ventures     116
Non-profit Corporations     117
Deconstruction     118
Get It in Writing     118
Companion Questions     124
Other People's Money     125
The Five Financial Fallacies     128
Preparing for an Investor     130
Characterizing the Cash     133
Companion Questions     137
Dispute Resolution     139
Assess the Damage     141
Remedies     141
Self-Help     143
Mediation     144
Arbitration     145
Small Claims Court     145
Litigation     146
Heading Off Trouble     147
Companion Questions     147
Side Deals     149
Declaration of Independents: A Self-Release Checklist     151
Artist Agreements     153
Artwork     154
Consignment Agreements     154
Consulting Agreements     155
Copyright Filings     155
Courtesy Letters     156
Distribution Agreements     156
Manufacturing and Printing Agreements     158
Master Licenses for Compilations     158
Mechanical Licenses     159
Money Agreements     159
Musician/Vocalist/Model Releases     160
Music Publishing     160
Performance Rights Organizations     161
Producer Agreements     161
Promotion Agreements     162
Publicity Campaign Agreements     163
Samples     163
Studio Agreements     165
Trademarks     165
Conclusion     166
Distribution and Promotions Agreements     167
A Distribution Primer     167
Physical versus Digital Products     169
Physical Distribution Contract Points     170
Digital Distribution Contract Points     173
Promotions Agreements     175
Care and Feeding of Your Entertainment Lawyer      179
Lawyer Shopping     179
Maintenance     180
Specialties Within a Specialty     184
Epilogue: Lessons Learned     189
Surround Yourself with Talent     189
The Artist Is Your Access     190
Don't Wear Out Your Welcome     190
Prepare Yourself Before Diving into the Industry     191
Keep Learning and Teach by Example     192
Take Some Chances     192
Your Chosen Family Is Everything     193
Glossary     195
Index     201