Galen Eagle Bull

I have always advised my band clients to pay the artist a lump sum of money in exchange for all copyrights and uses of the image. In lieu of assigning your work to the band, there are options that allow you to retain copyright ownership

Many performers are starting their own labels under which they can release their own records and/or other artist’s records. Some indie labels are no more than a name on a jewel case, while others are fully incorporated entities with trademarked names.

A way to save some money is to see how much of the work you can do yourself. Music law is not geared toward the general public; so instead of opening the yellow pages, ask around for referrals.

There are two copyrights when a band makes a recording. The first is in the sound recording and the second is in the underlying composition, i.e., words and music.

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device that indicates the source of goods and services. As a band, your goods and services are your merchandise, recordings and live performances.

Nielsen SoundScan is the system used to track sales of music and music video products in the United States and Canada. SoundScan was music’s answer to the film industry's emphasis on a big opening week.

"Shopping" a tape is when someone claiming to have industry contacts uses those connections to try and secure a recording contract for your band. Read on for some important points to keep in mind for a shopping deal.

The most prominent item on your artwork will likely be the album title. The general rule is that you can use any title you want, as long as it does not infringe on a famous trademark.

ASCAP, BMI and SESAC are performing rights organizations. They exist to ensure that songwriters and publishers are paid royalties when a composition is performed in public.

Contracts are what drive the music industry. There are aspects of a record deal that are too important to not reduce to a written agreement.

Whether you're a label or an artist, you should know what key contract terms to look for in a recording contract. Know what options, guaranteed release clauses and buy-back clauses are? Keep reading.