The Musician's Business and Legal Guide

By Mark Halloran (Compiler)
Beverly Hills Bar Association Committee for the Arts
Paperback - 441 pages 2nd Rev edition (May 1996)
Prentice Hall Trade; ISBN: 013237322X
Dimensions (in inches): 1.05 x 10.88 x 8.39
Available at Amazon Books

A simple recording of a live performance of our band led to some rather extensive investigation and discussion of various legal issues involved in music, recording, copyright, and licensing laws. A band member and occasional teacher of entertainment law gave me a copy of The Musician's Business and Legal Guide, which has proved to be an invaluable resource.

The very first section is entitled Group Breakups, so you know right away that the material is going to be relevant! Here is an outline of the main sections:

Getting Started: Music as a Business

Group Breakups

Entertainment Group Names: Selection and Protection

Business Entities

How To Set Up A Money Deal

Music Attorneys

Mediation For Musicians

Protecting Your Compositions

Copyrights: The Law and You

Copyright Infringement

Sampling: Legal Overview And Practical Guidelines

Music and New Media

Collaborator / Songwriter Agreements

Music Publishing

Performing Rights Organizations: An Overview

Music Publishing

Analysis of a Single-song Agreement

Analysis Of An Exclusive Term Songwriter Agreement

Music Licensing For Television and Film: A Perspective For Songwriters

Pop Music For Soundtracks

Performing and Marketing

Club Contracts

Showcasing

Publicity: How To Get It

Using The Internet To Promote Your Music

Music Unions

Merchandising Agreements

Managers and Agents

What A Manager Does

Analysis Of A Personal Management Agreement

Talent Agencies

Business Managers

Recording

Practical Aspects of Securing Major Label Agreements

Analysis of a Recording Contract

How To Read And Evaluate Your Artist Royalty Statements

Analysis Of A Record Producer Agreement

Recording And Distribution Contracts With Independent And Major Labels

Resources, Services, and Bibliography

Contributors

Stephen Bigger, Laurence J. Blake, John Braheny, Bartley F. Day, Robert M. Dudnik, Steven Gardner, Todd E. Gelfand, Brad Gelfond, Ronald H. Gertz, Mark Halloran, Edward R. Hearn, Neville L. Johnson, Christopher Knab, Evanne L. Levin, Linda A. Newmark, Peter T. Paterno, John R. Phillips, Diane Sward Rapaport, Margaret Robley, Alfred Schlesinger, James A. Sedivy, Madeleine E. Seltzer, Peter Spellman, Gregory T. Victoroff, Thomas A. White.

The Musician's Business and Legal Guide is a very thorough resource for any musician thinking beyond the basement. Available at Amazon Books.

Reviewed by Greg Dixon

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