Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business

by Richard Stim

Overview

If you belong to a band and love the art of your job, but sing the blues when it comes to the business side, you need Music Law. Composed by musician and lawyer Richard Stim, the book explains how to:

• find the right manager
• buy, insure and maintain equipment
• get gigs and get paid
• tour on a budget
• use samples
• do covers legally
• protect your copyright
• trademark your band’s name
• choose a recording studio
• sell your music
• manage your website
• understand record contracts
• deal with taxes

Music Law provides all the legal information and practical advice musicians need. This edition is thoroughly updated with the latest changes in copyright and trademark law. Plus, find expanded information on musical collaborations between DJs and other musicians. You'll also get the most up-to-date legal forms available. Interactive forms are downloadable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413325607
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	09/30/2018
Edition description:	Ninth Edition
Pages:	568
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.25(d)

About the Author

Attorney Richard Stim specializes in small business, copyright, patents, and trademark issues. He is the author of many Nolo books, including Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business, Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference, and Profit From Your Idea. Stim regularly answers readers' intellectual property questions at Dear Rich: An Intellectual Property Blog.

Table of Contents

1. Yes, Your Band Is a Business!
2. Band Partnerships and Beyond
3. Management
4. Attorneys
5. Band Equipment
6. Performance and Touring
7. Copyright and Song Ownership
8. Publishing Your Band's Music
9. Band Names
10. Album Artwork
11. Recording
12. Duplication: Manufacturing Your Recordings
13. Selling Your Music
14. Independent Record Agreements
15. Taking Your Band Online
16. Taxes
17. Help Beyond the Book
Appendix: How to Use the Forms
Index

What People are Saying About This

Jim Aikin

"If you're serious about a career as a performing musician, you'd have to be a damn fool not to rush out and buy a copy of this book."
— Jim Aikin, Keyboard

From the Publisher

"Explains the business side of running a band from a legal perspective.... Covers downloads and other Internet issues."  Reference & Research Book News 

Moses Avalon

"I usually hate books written by attorneys. This one is an exception."
— Moses Avalon, author of Confessions of a Record Producer

Editorial Reviews

If you’re serious about a career as a performing musician, you’d have to be a damn fool not to rush out and buy a copy of this book.” Jim Aiken, Keyboard

“It’s the scuba gear every musician needs to swim with the sharks.” Vibe

“I usually hate books written by attorneys. This one is an exception.” Moses Avalon , Author of the Confessions of a Record Producer

" Author Richard Stim presents musicians, music industry professionals working in a wide variety of contexts, and general interest readers with an examination of the business and legal aspects of collaborative music recording and performance. The author has organized the chapters that make up the main body of his text in eighteen parts devoted to the business of being a band, band partnerships, management, attorneys, band equipment, and a wide variety of other related subjects. The author is a musician and practicing intellectual property attorney." Eithne O'Leyne, Editor Ringgold, Inc. ProtoView

From the Publisher

I have read most of the books which attempt to explain music business law and practice to musicians, and this one is by far the most practical and the most useful.

The Bomp Bookshelf

If you're serious about a career as a performing musician, you'd have to be a damn fool not to rush out and buy a copy of this book.
—Keyboard

Jim Aikin

Well organized, practically designed and clearly written, the book has one tiny fault. It should have been called 'Every Band's Business Bible'. It's that good. And that necessary.

Independent Publisher

One of the best books I’ve seen that addresses all of the issues that face a band today, in addition to those of the individual musician. Unlike most lawyers, Richard’s writing is clear and concise and he provides the reader with a wealth of information and all of the necessary contracts that will effectively protect today’s up and coming bands. This book is a must for anyone that is in a band—from the novice in a garage band to the professional.

Todd M. Gascon

Stim, a lawyer, musician, and adjunct professor, distils his experience and knowledge into a readable account of the dirtier side of rock-and-roll. He explains the ins and outs of the band partnership agreement, management, attorneys, band equipment, touring, copyright and song ownership, band names, album artwork, recording, duplicating and publishing songs, selling CDs and tapes, independent record agreements, and taxes. The accompanying disk includes electronic versions of the book's sample forms. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Explains the business side of running a band from a legal perspective.... Covers downloads and other Internet issues.

Reference & Research Book News

If you're serious about a career as a performing musician, you'd have to be a damn fool not to rush out and buy a copy of this book.
— Jim Aikin

Keyboard

Here under one cover is everything you need to do it right, from sample contracts and explanations of legal issues to handling taxes and choosing a recording studio.

Midwest Book Review

Brings together all the confusing elements of running a band and puts them into a simple handbook... giving you step-by-step ways of navigating through all the legal tangles you're sure to encounter.

Mish-Mash Music Reviews

We once again suggest reading Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business...

The Indie Band Survival Guide

It's the scuba gear every musician needs to swim with the sharks.

VIBE

I usually hate books written by attorneys. This one is an exception.

Moses Avalon

This book is a must for anyone that is in a band -- from the novice in a garage band to the professional.
— Todd M. Gascon, Esq.

California Lawyers for the Arts