Gone are the days when the music lawyer’s only job was to help a band negotiate a record deal and then monitor the deal over time.  Record deals where the label takes responsibility for almost everything are a thing of the past. Without a big label backing them, today’s bands are forced to take-on much of the business-end of music sometimes without any outside help whatsoever.  So, how can a lawyer help? How can Todd Murphy help you?

Once an artist decides he or she is going to make a living making art and that a major personal commitment is going to be made, one must start to think about the business end of things.  A good start is to talk to someone who knows the business and can first give an artist some direction.  Help establish some goals and consider some ideas to realize those goals – a business plan.  Of course, we believe that person should be an entertainment lawyer.

Once there is a plan, an entertainment lawyer can start figuring out how to carry out that plan.  What can be done DIY, what needs outside help?  Who might be able to help?  How to get on the road and  build a fan-base.  Make an EP or a CD and create other merchandise to sell on tour. Get the EP or CD distributed through the normal channels and decide if any other channels are available. Get some attention.  Create a brand.

Then, once a fan-base has been built, start putting some deals together.  All kinds of deals: some that have been done before, others that haven’t been thought of yet.  Always in the background, is a consideration of how to protect the rights, today mostly digital rights, in the intellectual property of the artist.  The intellectual property is your product, your income generator and it needs careful attention at al times.

The partnership that is formed when a lawyer like Todd Murphy joins forces with a talented and committed and hard-working young artist can be formidable to say the least.  This is the halo under which success is made in the entertainment business today.

“I am here to help you be financially successful while you focus on being artistically successful.” “As always, I wish you the best of luck in all that you do.” Todd Murphy, The Jazz Lawyer.

If you are just getting started, click here to learn about our Starving Artist Program.

If you have an established fan base, click here to contact Todd Murphy for a free evaluation of your situation.