Hiring a record producer, at least on paper, has traditionally been the artist’s job. The artist contracts directly with the producer, agrees to pay the producer a share of the artist’s recording royalties, and sends a letter of direction to
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A Whole New World (of Copyright): Implications of Vetter and Beyond
Last week, units of Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and BMG took the highly unusual step of purchasing a copyright for the express purpose of filing a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ
B1G Time Coaching – A Look Into Matt Campbell’s Contract with Penn State
The college football coach carousel is in full swing and in this era of college football, each school competes in an arms race of sorts for not only the top players, but also the top football coaches. This blog post
The Dream “TEAM” – Talent, Esquire, Agent, and Manager
Athletes, entertainers, musicians and other individuals at the vanguard of their fields (whether it be the next Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Grammy-winning artist, or Oscar-winning director), often surround themselves with a team of advisors. That team often includes an attorney,
Clapback and Pay Up?: New Jersey Court Issues $50,000 Attorneys’ Fee Award Against Fan Under Anti-SLAPP Statute
New York Jets Star Cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (“Gardner”) engaged in a back-and-forth exchange with a Buffalo Bills fan (the “Fan”) on X (formerly Twitter) prompting a civil suit for defamation and emotional distress against Gardner. The dispute arose after
The Bat Flip Heard Around the World: Rocco v. Little League Baseball, Inc.
In the world of youth sports, few moments are as exhilarating as a home run in a championship game. For 12-year-old M.R. of Haddonfield, New Jersey, that moment became the center of a legal controversy that captured national attention and
The NO FAKES Act: Including the Potential Federal Right of Publicity in Catalog Acquisitions
Among the most dominant trends in the music industry over the past decade has been the proliferation of investment in catalogs of musical compositions and sound recordings. While many investors’ theses focus solely on the evergreen value of royalties generated
DEAL OR NO DEAL
Not just the name of the television show on NBC, Deal or No Deal is the question many attorneys are asking, as well as being asked by their clients, regarding transactions that are being made with companies and other individuals.
New SAG-AFTRA Deal Has Hidden Cost for Agents
The performers’ union SAG-AFTRA has finally reached agreement with the AMPTP, the studios’ bargaining group, after a lengthy strike. The union is touting what it says are breakthroughs in many areas. The new provisions are extensive, comprising 129 pages of
Neither Fake Nor Fixed: Pro Wrestling Docuseries Tell Stories About Life Beyond the Ring
The lives of professional wrestlers are neither fake nor fixed. Their realities are complicated and exhausting, both physically and mentally. Wrestlers face a multitude of challenges involving their family, friends, health, relationships and vices.
But fans of professional wrestling are