Is it normal that a music lawyer would meet me and listen to my case before charging me?
With
Judge JulesJudge Jules explains that a good music lawyer will discuss your case for free first, and why you should be wary of anyone asking for money before that conversation.
What's in the course
46 lessons (1h 6m) · 1 free
01. Accounting
Free lesson1:16
02. Termination
1:29
03. Collection societies and letter of direction
0:26
04. Commission structure
2:32
05. Cross platform-multimedia aspects
0:39
06. Expenses
1:10
07. Key man provisions
1:01
08. A manager's obligations
2:33
09. Post term commission
1:30
10. Should a manager be involved in all aspects of an artist's income?
1:40
11. Term
1:46
12. Should a manager manage more than one artist?
1:24
01. Accounting payments and auditing
2:18
02. Ancillary shares
1:58
03. Artist approvals
1:51
04. Artist promotional obligations
1:50
05. Assignment or licence - what's the difference?
3:17
06. Interplay with publishing
0:51
07. Options
1:39
08. Release commitment
1:26
09. Rights in the artist's name and brand
1:26
10. Royalty types
1:20
11. Territory of agreement
1:54
12. Warranties and indemnities
1:37
01. What are the most important areas of a contract for a new artist?
2:11
02. Is it normal that a music lawyer would meet me and listen to my case before charging me?
You are here1:15
03. If a label, publisher or manager approaches me to sign a contract but I dont have the funds to pay for a lawyer, who should pay the legal fees?
1:20
04. Are 360 degree deals good value for an artist?
1:14
05. Am I still protected when it comes to copyright in the NFT or the crypto world?
0:26
06. Should I be wary of a publishing deal?
1:02
07. What protection exists for artists releasing their own music that don't have access to a lawyer?
1:03
Lesson transcript
Engaging New Clients: A Thoughtful Approach
When it comes to taking on new clients, I will always have a conversation for free to determine whether I'm the right person for that particular client.
Key Points to Consider:
-
Advance Payments:
If any lawyer tries to make you pay anything in advance of a thorough discussion about what you want them to do, then you should run a million miles. However, I don't think most lawyers would do that. -
Managers and Contracts:
A similar principle applies to managers for different reasons. If a manager suddenly appears, expresses a desire to manage you, and throws a contract underneath your nose before they've done anything, then you should run a mile again. -
Mutual Relationship:
I will always have the conversation because it's a mutual relationship. It's essential to determine whether the client is someone I feel I can help. -
Solvable Issues:
I can assist people in 99.9% of cases, but I want to ensure that they actually have a reason to need a lawyer. Sometimes people come to you with a problem that seems solvable, but it may not be the case.
"We hear about lawyers being Mr. Loophole or Mrs. Loophole, but the reality is you can't solve everything for everybody if they haven't actually got a solvable problem."
Therefore, you should definitely avoid paying a lawyer before having a very in-depth conversation about your issue with them.
46 lessons
1h 6m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Jules O'Riordan has over 30 years of experience across the entire spectrum of the music industry. This includes nearly a decade as an A&R for the Universal umbrella of labels, 15 years as a presenter on BBC Radio 1, over 150 record releases and remixes in his own capacity as a recording artist, plus a 30-year career as one of Britain's best-known, globally-travelled DJs (Judge Jules), with over 5000 gigs under his belt, plus extensive experience as an event promoter and artist manager at the highest level.
Suffice to say, Jules knows the music industry inside-out, and his clients regard him as a trusted advisor for whom no legal or business affairs challenge or problem is too large or small.
Jules has been a lawyer for 10 years. His practice takes in the entire breadth of the music-focused entertainment industry. His legal and deal expertise includes management, recording, publishing, distribution and label services, music-based apps, games and tech projects, production deals, producers, featured artists, endorsements, merchandising, neighbouring rights, TV/film scores, live performance, events and venue agreements, plus copyright and rights infringement and many other disputes.
Jules's clients include artists, management companies, record labels, songwriters, event promoters, producers, music tech businesses, production companies, live agents, music publishers and DJs. He has spoken on many panels and seminars including ADE, Brighton Music Conference and AIM events, and has been a guest speaker on legal issues across a number of on and off-line media outlets, including BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Introducing, Financial Times, The Sun, The Times and Mixmag.
Jules speaks fluent Spanish.
Who better to demystify the contracts and deals every musician eventually faces? In his course, Jules turns three decades of hard-won industry knowledge into plain-English guidance, so you can understand the business side of music and protect your work long before you sign on the dotted line.
