As a Band You Will Eventually Need an Entertainment Lawyer

When is the Best Time for My Label/Band to Hire an Attorney?

The answer to this question depends on how much work and research you want to do yourself, and how much money you have to spend. Either way, if you are serious about establishing a business, the expense of an attorney is something that you should plan for in advance.

A way to save some money is to see how much of the work you can do yourself. There are a number of legal self-help books on the market. Most contain form contracts that you may be able to use for simple matters like model-release agreements or a basic demo deal. However, for more complex matters such as recording contracts, a form agreement may not be tailored to your specific situation. In this case, you will want to find an attorney familiar with such matters. If your business finds itself involved in litigation, then you will definitely need an attorney to make sure the appropriate pleadings are filed in a timely manner.

So you have reached the point where you want an attorney for your music/entertainment business. Music law is not geared toward the general public; so instead of opening the yellow pages, ask around for referrals. Ask other local bands/labels if they have an attorney and if they have a good relationship with him/her. Attorneys are generally known by their reputation, so a good referral never hurts. Word of mouth is an excellent way for attorneys to gain clients, especially in the music business. Most importantly, find an attorney that is familiar with the industry. I would never handle a divorce matter because I am completely unfamiliar with family law. By the same token, make sure your attorney knows music law/entertainment law. You do not want to pay for an attorney’s learning curve. In other words, you do not want to be charged for the time it took your attorney to research the difference between artist royalties and mechanical royalties, when he/she should already know the distinction. An attorney that knows the industry will save you money.