General outline of the main business contracts used in the Canadian music industry.
This course will provide a general outline of the main business contracts used in the Canadian music industry. The discussion will start with a review of copyright law as it applies to music and will continue with a review of a recording contract, a music publishing contract, and an artist management contract. The discussion will be focused on the main deal points with suggestions for counsel to consider when reviewing each on behalf of a musician.
Music Lawyer
Mark has been a lawyer since 1990. His practice is restricted to music related matters. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mark worked as a band roadie and music journalist. His legal career has been divided between private law practice and in-house counsel for music companies. Having sat on both side of the negotiating table, Mark brings a seasoned perspective to music industry contracts. Since 2001 he has been in private law practice. Mark’s work in the music business includes negotiating and drafting all manner of music agreements such as recording contracts, music publishing contracts, film and TV composer contracts and management contracts, both domestic and international. He has advised musicians and music industry executives on career development in Canada, the United States and Europe. He is a co-author of the legal text books Entertainment Law in Canada and Canadian Forms & Precedents – Information Technology & Entertainment both published by Lexis/Nexis. His podcast “The Music Law Podcast (available on iTunes) is trendsetting. He appears, regularly, as a panelist or moderator, at various music industry conferences including ADE in Amsterdam, Winter Music Conference in Miami and the International Music Summit in Ibiza, Spain. He has lectured academically on music business matters at Toronto’s Trebas Institute. He has also served as a television cultural commentator on CBC Newsworld and various internet radio shows. Mark also produces electronic music and has had releases on Black Nation Recordings (USA), Frequenza (Italy), Secret Weapon Records (Canada), Deep Tip Records (Canada) and has tracks licensed to European and Japanese dance music labels. Find Mark on Twitter: @TechnoAttorney On Instagram: @attorneygeneral
