This article is the fourth of a six-part series. The series is meant as a legal checklist for musicians as they plan to release their music. In this fourth article, I explain some of the agreements you should consider prior to recording music (note I discussed band agreements in my prior article). In this article you will learn: The Default Rule for Joint Works Split Sheets and Collaboration Agreements (and the difference between them); Producer Agreements; Work Made for Hire

In this article, I provide a roadmap for bands. You will learn the key aspects of a band agreement which will hopefully push you to have that awkward conversation with your band NOW (otherwise you could become a horror story like these bands). The following questions are addressed: Who owns the band name? Who owns the music? Who makes the decisions for the band? What happens when a band member leaves? Partnership or LLC? Please make a note! Every explanation of law should sta

In this article, I provide a glimpse into how copyright law works. In this article, you will learn: When is your copyright protected? What benefits do you gain from your copyright protection? What are the benefits of registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office? Basics of “Joint Works” and music sampling Please make a note! Every explanation of law should start with “With some exceptions.” There are many exceptions and distinctions that exist, and it is far too b

In this article, we explore the questions you need to ask about your artist name or band name (in the rest of this article I’m just calling it your name) before making the decision to use it. In this article you will learn: Background of trademark law; Is your birth name trademark protected? Please make a note! Every explanation of law should start with “With some exceptions.” There are many exceptions and distinctions that exist, and it is far too burdensome to explain each