The need for legal advice
With
Judge JulesJudge Jules explains why you need a lawyer before signing a recording contract, and how restraint of trade can sometimes get you out of a bad deal.
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?
1:15
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
Understanding Recording Contracts: The Importance of Legal Advice
Recording contracts can be very tricky. One thing I learned early on as a lawyer is that:
- It's frequently not the nice, happy, smiley A&R person who is a huge fan of your music
- It's often the in-house lawyer, whose job is to maximize profits for the label.
The Disconnect
There is a significant disconnect between:
- A&R Representatives: Music enthusiasts who you hang out with, stay up late with, and who want your signature because they love your music.
- In-house Lawyers: The individuals who actually write the contracts that ultimately get thrust into your hands.
This is why it's incredibly important to have a lawyer.
Legal Advice is Essential
Certain case law suggests that if you signed a long and very restrictive record contract without having received legal advice, you might have grounds to get out of it. This situation falls under what's known as restraint of trade.
On a broader level, obtaining legal advice about record deals is crucial. Many people, desperate to land that first deal, may sign anything placed in front of them, even at the expense of their home.
A Sensible Approach
You must make sensible business decisions.
- I am not the only lawyer available. If I receive inquiries from artists with potential and good music, I will be the first to provide free advice regarding the deals they are considering.
Don't be shy about reaching out to lawyers to get advice.
As a specialist music lawyer, I often find myself cleaning up the mess left behind by artists who have signed oppressive contracts without any legal guidance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, protect yourself and your music career by seeking legal advice before signing any contracts. The potential consequences of skipping this step can be significant and life-altering.
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.
