By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. Retaining ownership of the copyrights may be one of the most important decisions in an artist or writer’s music career. The person who owns the copyrights is the one with the control over how those works are used and also the one entitled to the…
The artist-manager relationship is one of the most important relationships in an artist’s career. The manager has to “get” the artist and the artist’s artistic vision, but also needs to have the knowledge on how to translate that vision into something that will generate mass appeal and profits. The manager…
By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. I often am asked for my thoughts on Spotify and whether artists need it. Adele and Taylor Swift are not on Spotify and sell millions of albums. These artists are already big enough that they will sell albums regardless of whether they are on Spotify.…
By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. A “term” of a contract usually refers to the length of time an agreement covers. For example, two parties may decide to work together for a period of three years, thus the contract would have a “three year term.” Sometimes, the term is broken up…
Music libraries have exploded in popularity since musicians and composers discovered synchronization (“sync”) placements as an opportunity to make money and gain exposure in the music business. However, songwriters are often confused about the differences between music libraries and music publishers, especially because many libraries are trying to cross over…
By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. A common and long-standing frustration amongst musicians is getting their music heard. Most companies do not accept unsolicited material and require any submissions to be through an artist representative they know and trust. Companies do this to try to protect themselves from claims of copyright…
Indie Artist Resource launched one year ago today! Thank you for everyone who has supported IAR thus far and this year will be better than ever! The website has been moved to a new server and spruced up for a better user experience. And for a big announcement: IAR contract…
By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net An attorney’s advice could make the difference for you between a successful and a nonexistent music career. Legal fees aren’t cheap, but they’re a worthy expense in your career progress. The cost of attorneys does vary due to a variety…
By: Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. It’s possible that you have seen or heard of the contract phrase “in all media now known or hereafter devised” or some similar variation. In music contracts, this language is usually used to define in what media your music can be used. This phrase allows a…
by Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. New artists trying to get discovered will frequently cover famous songs and upload videos of them performing these songs on YouTube. Many artists do not realize that without securing the proper permissions, posting a cover song on YouTube is actually copyright infringement. User-generated cover song…
