Music and Entertainment
Our firm represents a broad spectrum of individuals and groups in a variety of circumstances related to arts, entertainment, and sports. We represent musicians, rock bands, dancers, playwrights, songwriters, concert producers, painters, sculptors, video and board game developers, toymakers, Fortune 500 corporations, institutional clients, and sports organizations.
Our goal is to prepare solid and relevant documents so that the rights of all parties in a complex entertainment-related transaction are clear and future litigation can be avoided. Our attorneys negotiate and prepare an array of licensing, distribution, performance, management, agency, publishing, and recording agreements such as:
- Consent and assignment agreements between our clients and the models and actors they engage
- Talent agreements, including agreements with well-known Hollywood actors, country-western artists, reality show performers, and Olympic medalists
- Musician/band performance agreements, and the related agreements with music publishers and recording companies to clear performance rights
- Agreements which transfer music composition and lyrics rights and other intellectual property to newly formed corporate entities
- Assignments of independent music label agreements to Napster
- Revenue-sharing agreements among musicians for distribution of proceeds from performance, music licensing and CD sales
- Website music rights and streaming agreements
- Agreements with world-renowned photographers for their services
- Agreements for the manufacture and distribution of original board games
- Agreements regarding copyright, licensing, and theatrical services for production of an original stage musical
- Consumer terms of service for online music services
- Incorporation and organizational documents for local symphony orchestras
Vorys entertainment lawyers also advise clients in matters involving the U.S. performing rights societies ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as similar international societies. We assist both corporate and non-profit clients to obtain blanket and website licenses from them. We also develop response strategies for clients who receive inquiry letters from these societies. We perform comprehensive audits of music use among our large retail and institutional clients to make sure they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations concerning the public performance of others’ music.
Practice Contact
Benita A. Kahn
614.464.6487
bakahn@vorys.com
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