What Does an Entertainment Attorney Do? | Entertainment Law FAQ | Richard Corey Law

What Does an Entertainment Attorney Do?

An entertainment attorney is a licensed attorney who specializes in the legal issues that arise in the music, film, television, digital media, and creative industries. Entertainment attorneys assist clients with contract drafting and negotiation, intellectual property protection, rights clearance, licensing, royalty disputes, and litigation arising from entertainment transactions.

What Is a Recording Agreement?

A recording agreement is a contract between a recording artist and a record label that governs the artist's obligation to deliver recordings and the label's obligation to manufacture, distribute, and promote those recordings. Recording agreements typically address the number of albums or tracks to be delivered, the artist's advance and royalty rate, ownership of the master recordings, the label's marketing and distribution obligations, and the term and territory of the agreement.

What Is a Music Publishing Agreement?

A music publishing agreement is a contract between a songwriter or composer and a music publisher that governs the administration and exploitation of musical compositions. Publishing agreements address ownership of the copyright in the composition, the publisher's right to license the composition for synchronization, performance, and mechanical uses, the split of royalties between the songwriter and publisher, and the term of the agreement.

What Is a Synchronization License?

A synchronization license — commonly called a sync license — is a contract that grants the right to use a copyrighted musical composition in synchronization with visual content, such as a film, television show, advertisement, or online video. Sync licensing is an important revenue stream for songwriters and music publishers, and negotiating favorable sync license terms requires specialized legal knowledge.

What Is Entertainment Litigation?

Entertainment litigation encompasses legal disputes that arise in the music, film, television, and creative industries. Common entertainment litigation matters include: breach of recording, management, or licensing agreements; copyright infringement claims involving music, film, or creative works; royalty disputes between artists and record labels or publishers; fraud and misrepresentation in entertainment transactions; and disputes arising from failed joint ventures or co-production agreements.

Richard Corey Law — Florida Entertainment Attorney

The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents musicians, recording artists, producers, record labels, film creators, digital content creators, influencers, and entertainment companies throughout Florida. Contact us at 954-789-0461 or legal@rcenterpriselaw.com.

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