Music & Entertainment Law Representation

Artists and Creative Arts Organizations Representation

• Copyrights • Corporations - Partnerships - LLC's • Contracts & Agreements

The entertainment industry is a dynamic and ever-changing field. We work with artists, musicians and organizations to review contracts, structure deals and generally help shape our client's business lives. Our fee structure is flexible and provides representation on an hourly basis, percentage, and/or value billing and includes a written fee agreement.

PERFORMING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Generally, three organizations license performance rights for most of the music copyright holders in the United States. They are ASCAP ("American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers"); BMI ("Broadcast Music, Inc."); and SESAC, Inc.

The performing rights organizations serve as clearinghouses for the royalties collected on their writers's and publisher's copyrighted works. A composer or publisher copyright owner grants the right to license performance of the work, and the right to prevent others from doing so without permission, to the organization. ASCAP, BMI or SESAC will then issue a license to individuals and organizations that use music in public places for a fee.

ASCAP’s and BMI’s performance rights are non-exclusive; individuals or entities that wish to may negotiate separate royalty agreements with individual composers and/or publishers to perform their music. However, it is a daunting and costly task in trying to negotiate separate licenses with each composer or publisher whose music will be performed. Therefore, those who wish to use publicly performed music will choose to obtain a blanket license. A blanket license permits the license holder to perform any or all of the works in the organization’s repertory.

The information contained herein is general in nature and has been issued to inform and not to advise. Laws develop over time and vary from state to state. This site does not provide legal advice about your specific legal problems. Let us advise you about your particular situation.