Customer Reviews

Legal Aspects of the Music Industry

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In the beginning there was music as a form of communication. Next it became an art limited by a composers own imagination. Now it is a multi-billion dollar a year industry governed by more legal aspects than one could possibly imagine. Wading through the exceptional amount of contractually paperwork and legal jargon defining the complexity of the music business is Legal Aspects of the Music Industry. From lawyers looking for a simplified explanation for a client, to artists looking to better arm themselves to all the label reps, producers, managers, agents and so on in-between Legal Aspects... leaves no one out and no stone unturned. The wide ranging overview includes contractual explanations for royalty administration, publishing, distribution, master ownership, performance rights, management, booking, production, recording, videos, soundtracks, licensing, copyright and more. The presentation of these contracts and legal explanations is what makes Legal Aspects...

so valuable. Their original forms, including all the jargon and legalese is included and then broken down point by point, explaining the finer parts in the text and including full translations of terms and phrases. Alternate provisions are included as well as explanations as to what they entail and how they change the original textual concepts presented. All of this is then enlivened by personal experience and a range of real world examples. Legal Aspects... helps to break down the barriers between the legal, artistic and business worlds in such a way that it works both as a basic educational tool in the way it reads and a valuable reference manual in the way it is laid out. The explanations are clear and concise covering with wit and wisdom a wide array of legal ideas which present themselves on a daily basis in the music industry. It is easy to see after even just glancing through the pages that Legal Aspects... can prove invaluable for anyone even threatening to try and become a part of the business of bringing the art of music to the masses. It is not, however, meant to be a replacement for a qualified attorney who can work with the specifics of situations that are only presented as a boiler plate ideas in the book. Intellectual property and relationship contracts are very complex and dynamic legal ideas and require more than just words on a page in a single book to comprehend even partially. Legal Aspects... works as an excellent starting point to understanding their intricacy. The degree to which Legal Aspects... is written it is easy to follow and provides enough detail to be incredibly informative without bogging down the reader. It allows anyone with legal questions in the music industry to obtain the expert-type advice and beginning legal direction to better prepare them for the obsticals which still lie ahead.

A friend in the entertainment business gave me Legal Aspects of the Music Industry as an early Christmas present when I told him I was thinking of handling my cousin's band. There are other books on the "music industry" but this one gives you a step by step run down of how to avoid being ripped off and how to get things done right...from the start. Schulenberg knows his stuff particularly contracts and rights. Even if you are contemplating a career in the music business, get this book, it's worth every penny!

If you are an aspiring music artist or a personal manager, you will inevitably come into contractual situations that require the employment of an entertainment attorney. This book will help you to understand some of the basic clauses that are found in most of the common industry contracts; however, for the true industry novice, much of the information contained here will go over your head. It does provide shrewd, practical advice on how to approach legal situations in a general sense, but its effectiveness will be best maximized when used to understand and improve communications with your attorney about whatever legal situation you are considering or negotiating.

This is (for the most part), clearly written in a straightforward manner, but you'll waste a lot of time if you don't already have a foundation.

Prerequisites:

1. "Everything You Need To Know About The Music Business" (Donald Passman)
2. "Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business" (Richard Stim)

This is a great, in depth book. It's almost impossible to absorb everything without being a lawyer but still, a great primer for anyone interested in the legal side of the music business.

When my Entertainment Law professor told his partners that he was going to start practicing Entertainment Law they weren't quite sure exactly what it was he was doing. They called it "Voo Doo Law", and honestly, it's not entirely untrue.

As in any business, agreements are necessary to hold parties accountable, define rights and responsibilities, and to give all parties terms they can reasonably rely on so that business can move forward. The Music Business is no different, but it has its own peculiar quirks, traditions, and problems.

This book takes all kinds of agreements between the many parties required to make a profitable, creative musical endeavor. The Author goes through band incorporation agreements, management contracts, recording and publishing agreements and explains them in ways that will benefit everyone from the aspiring 'band manager' to the experienced attorney looking to get a grasp on a new field of law.

Mr. Schulenberg examines every area of music contracts and gives plenty of demonstrations of contract language benefiting the Artist or the parties with whom the Artist is dealing.

This book also does an excellent job of addressing copyright and trademark law applicable to the music industry and giving thoughtful examination of how the digital download phenomenon is affecting the business in general.

Many people get al excited when they first try to get into the music business only to get shot down by the many intricate twists and turns involving all the legal aspects of running a record label. Mountains of forms and paperwork with no understanding slowly stack up on the producer's desk with no end in site. The situation is a cry for help and that help comes in the form of information, information obtained by reading this very interesting book that details all that is involved with law aspects of this kind.

Service was super, it arrived as promised well within the estimated time period and better than advertised. It arrived in excellant shape since it was packaged correctly and I couldn't have asked for more.

This book was not informative at all. There was no insight into the legal aspects of the music business. I was extremely disappointed in the content. This book was all about entertainment law in California. It did not give an overview of business law or business law practices. The title is quite misleading! Please do not waste your money on this book. I will give you mine if you'd like to have it. I will probably donate it to the library. I am sure that you will feel the same way that I do once you purchase this book...disappointed! Find another book to purchase that will live up it its name. This one did not!!