M.E.L.O.N.

Update - Events: Digital Music Distribution Panel

The Grammy Foundation® and The Entertainment Law Initiative® present Digital Music Distribution - The Paradigm Shift on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, from 7PM to 9PM.

BEAT-Law's Tony Berman will be a featured panelist, along with Jonathan Earp, VP of Legal Affairs, IODA; Sean Leonard, Digital Strategist; and David Hirshland, President, Bug Music.  Tony will be speaking about the subscription services business model as well as the issues of “disintermediation,” as that term is commonly understood by the digital music industry.

The purpose of this legal seminar is to educate and update the emerging trends of music industry distribution through "brick and mortar" stores to online digital music distribution with digital downloading technology such as Emusic.com, Napster, iTunes, and IODA.

Topics will include use of widgets, iTunes, blogging, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and more.

Gary Culpepper, Esq., co-founder and former Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs Emusic, will moderate the seminar, with opening remarks by Scott Goldman, Vice President, The GRAMMY Foundation. It will be held at The NEW offices of The Recording Academy, 3030 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA.

 

 

Will the PRO-IP Act Prove to be PRO-blematic?

by Shana Dines

Despite much controversy, President Bush signed into law the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008, affectionately known as the PRO-IP Act, on October 13, 2008. 

The usual suspects were characteristically divided over the PRO-IP Act.  Big content owners (RIAA, MPAA) in the entertainment industry enthusiastically pushed the bill, while public interest groups (EFF, Public Knowledge) fiercely argued to have some of the most extreme provisions of the bill pulled. 

Another supporter of the act was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which reported that 40% of the nation's economic growth, more than $5 trillion, comes from intellectual property.  This includes music, movies, pharmaceuticals, fashion, and software, which together represent more than half of U.S. exports. 

Particularly in light of the current economic crisis, Congress and the President seemed eager to protect such a large portion of the economy.

Neither side got everything they asked for, however, both were relatively successful in reaching a compromise. 

UPDATE - Events: Music Business Seminar

California Lawyers for the Arts is holding its annual Music Business Seminar on Saturday, November 15, 2008, from 9am - 5:30pm.

-- UPDATE --

BEAT-Law's Tony Berman will be the co-keynote speaker, along with lawyer and agent Elliot Cahn, former guitarist from Sha-Na-Na. Tony will be speaking about new opportunities for making money in the changing music industry.

BEAT-Law's Mark Pearson will be participating in the panel discussion, "The Online Connection," where he will talk about social networking, viral marketing, and internet resources. This will include the topics of licensing issues, iTunes, blogging, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and more.

Other panels will held on "The New Recording Industry," "It's All About the Money," and "The Producer Panel."

The seminar is designed for musicians, songwriters, producers, dj's, attorneys and related professionals.  It will be held at the  Ex'pression College for Digital Arts, located at 6601 Shellmound Street in Emeryville, CA.

For information on registration, check their website.

Hope to see you there!

Podcast: Why Should a Band Become a Business?

Today's podcast answers a question from Adam in Berkeley.  Adam asked, Why should a band incorporate and become a business?  Which type of business entity is best for a band?  Is it easy to manage one's own band? 

If you have a question you'd like Tony to answer on the M.E.L.O.N. podcast, please send it to [email protected]

Introdcuing: The M.E.L.O.N. Podcast!

In the interest of better serving our loyal readers, the M.E.L.O.N. Blog Team is excited to introduce the New M.E.L.O.N. Podcast!

Tony Berman, Esq. is here to answer all of your questions about multimedia and entertainment law.

Today's podcast answers a question from Will in Los Angeles.  Will asked why he should bother copyrighting his original songs and artwork.  Tony will also explain what someone should do if they find out their copyright is being infringed, how to go about registering a copyright, and what damages one can expect to recover if his copyright is infringed.

If you have a question you'd like Tony to answer on the M.E.L.O.N. podcast, please send it to [email protected]

Events: Bandwidth Conference

The Bandwidth Music | Technology Conference is taking place August 14 & 15 at the University Club in Nob Hill. 

BEAT-Law's Tony Berman will be leading the discussion about digital legal issues @ 1 pm in the Library.

Other featured speakers include Susan Bonds and Alex Lieu, President/CEO and Chief Creative Officer of 42 Entertainment, Jonathan Poneman, co-founder of Sub Pop Records, and Alexandra Patsavas, founder of Chop Shop Music. 

From their website:

Bandwidth features conversations with movers and shakers, as well as a chance to interact with others in an intimate environment - the right people in the right space in numbers that make it easy to connect.

Topics focus on marketing, fan behavior, trends and future forecasts, and an examination of the ways people discover, purchase, interact with, and are exposed to music.

Hope to see you there!

Music Biz: 360 Deals Pt. 4

by Tony Berman

Researched & edited by Howie Cockrill

In Part 1 of this article, I introduced the "360 Deal," and in Part 2, I delved into the specifics of 360 deals to give you a flavor of how they work.

In Part 3 I explored several issues that all parties thinking of signing a 360 deal should consider. 

Part 4 is a continuation of my look at specific issues regarding 360 deals.

Music Biz: 360 Deals Pt. 3

by Tony Berman

Researched & edited by Howie Cockrill

In Part 1 of this article, I introduced the "360 Deal," which is similar to a recording agreement between an artist and a record company but encompasses much, much more than just recordings.  I also provided a bit of history to put the 360 Deal in context.

In Part 2, I delved into the specifics of 360 deals to give you a flavor of how they work.

Now, in Parts 3 and 4 I will explore some issues that all parties thinking of signing a 360 deal should consider.

Music Biz: 360 Deals Pt. 2

by Tony Berman

Researched & edited by Howie Cockrill

In Part 1 of this article, I introduced the "360 Deal," which is similar to a recording agreement between an artist and a record company but encompasses much, much more than just recordings.  I also provided a bit of history to put the 360 Deal in context.

In Part 2, I am going to dive right into the specifics of 360 deals to give you a flavor of how they work.

Events: NAB Show

Once again digital media enthusiasts and prognosticators are set to descend on Las Vegas for the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.

The conference lasts from April 11th to April 17th. 

I will be giving 2 fascinating & timely presentations.  If you are at the conference, definitely check them out or at least stop by and say hello:

• "Keep It Legal: Safety and Legal Issues for Production."  Apr. 12, 2008.  3:30 pm - 4:45 pm.  Las Vegas Convention Center N264.  
• "Contracts and Copyrights."  Apr. 13, 2008.  9:00 am - 10:15 am.  Las Vegas Convention Center N264.

Hope to see you there!