Do you know the answers to these questions? (You had better, if you want to survive in the music business.) * What can I copyright? * Why will a Poor Man copyright keep me poor? * Can I sell my copyright? Give it to my kids? * What is infringement? * What is Fair Use? (it is not what you think it is) * How do songwriters get paid? * What does a music publisher do? Do I need one? * Who are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC? * How do cover songs work? * What is the difference between a parody and infringement? * What is in a record deal? * We are putting out our own album, what do we do? * What do all those legal terms mean? * How do recording artists get paid? * Am I recouped yet? Mark J. Davis is an attorney, university lecturer, and former arbitrator for the US Copyright Office. His students have gone on to careers in the music industry after taking his classes. Rely on his 30 years of experience in entertainment law.

This comprehensive reference features in-depth discussions of every important music industry contract, all enlivened by personal anecdotes from the author's wide-ranging experiences. Updated to reflect the rapid pace of change in the music industry, this new edition includes a focus on group agreements, live performances, free music on the Internet, the effect of the Millennium Copyright Act, ancillary rights, and the independent record label. Other key issues covered include the artists' rebellion against record company contracts, litigation by superstars and songwriters against record labels, and the industry-wide downturn in record sales. - "I wish this book had been available when I was starting out."--Sam Moore, R&B artist, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer - For amateur and professional musicians; attorneys, universities and music schools, and libraries - Contains over 300 examples of contract provisions "From the Hardcover edition."

About the Book: This textbook is designed to inspire debate and discussion about the past, present, and future of the music industry--blending insights from legal, business, and policy perspectives. Students are introduced to the history of music as property in commerce; key technological and business milestones affecting all aspects of the creative process; legal protections for those who create music, those who own it, and those who want to use it; the competing (and recurring) policy debates from the past century that have influenced the way creative participants interact with one another; and the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. About the Authors: Julie Ross has been a full-time faculty member at Georgetown Law since 1998, where she has taught courses focusing on legal practice and music law. Her scholarship focuses on music copyright and writing pedagogy. She is a graduate of Hamilton College and Harvard Law School and clerked for the Honorable H. Lee Sarokin in New Jersey. Before moving to academia, she practiced as a litigator in Los Angeles. Michael Huppe is President & CEO of SoundExchange, an organization at the center of many legal, policy and technology issues confronting the modern music industry. With over 20 years in the industry, he has fought on behalf of artists, songwriters, labels, publishers, and studio producers. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he was originally a commercial litigator and now focuses on the business issues affecting creators, especially those relating to music and technology.

"First Published in 2004, Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company."

The Musician’s Business and Legal Guide provides vital information to help demystify the music business and the complex body of law that shapes it. This book answers such questions as how to protect name and copyright; what is and is not legal about sampling; what are the legal issues surrounding digital downloads and streaming; what are the jobs of managers, talent agents and publishers; what are common contractual relationship between independent and major labels. The new edition includes chapters not covered in depth by other books: social media law, TV talent shows, YouTube, and international copyright. As in previous editions, the book features clause-by-clause contract analyses for 360 record deals, music publishing, management, and producer agreements.

This must-have book is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to copyright and related rights in the music industry, illustrated with relevant cases and real world examples. Key features include: • An engaging and approachable writing style • A practical orientation for those in the industry and their advisors • The impact of social media on copyright infringement, management and remedies • Accessible explanations of key concepts in copyright and related rights, as well as commonly misunderstood topics such as sampling and fair use.

(Berklee Press). With the free-form exchange of music files and musical ideas online, understanding copyright laws has become essential to career success in the new music marketplace. This cutting-edge, plain-language guide shows you how copyright law drives the contemporary music industry. By looking at the law and its recent history, you will understand the new issues introduced by the digital age, as well as continuing issues of traditional copyright law. Whether you are an artist, lawyer, entertainment Web site administrator, record label executive, student, or other participant in the music industry, this book will help you understand how copyright law affects you, helping you use the law to your benefit. * How do you get fair compensation for your work and avoid making costly mistakes? * Can you control who is selling your music on their website? * Is it legal to create mash-ups? * What qualifies as fair use? * How do you clear another artist's samples to use in your own recordings? * What is the Creative Commons/Copyleft movement? * How do you clear music for use in an online music service or store? * Who decides who gets paid how much and by whom? You will learn the answers to these questions as well as: * The basics of copyright law, looking at the Copyright Act while explaining it in plain language * How revenue streams for music are generated under copyright law * The reasoning behind high-profile court decisions related to copyright violations *What licenses are needed for the legal online delivery of music * The intricacies of using music on sites like YouTube, Pandora, and Spotify * Deficiencies in current copyright law and new business model ideas