Music
Our IP legal specialist worked for many years in a series of commercial roles for major multi-nationals. Part of that work involved negotiating music licensing and distribution agreements, at first-hand, in dozens of countries, plus the subsequent drafting of the agreements. This included 12 years with one of the major record companies, followed by further years in music business consultancy.

So if your business relates to music, we can offer to you a legal service augmented by substantial commercial experience and success, as well as a full awareness of the challenges, difficulties and opportunities.

We can offer you advice and assistance in negotiating deals relating to:

• Music licensing and distribution agreements (including matters of copyright and royalty rates)
• Recorded music deals – “record contracts” (for companies and artists)
• Copyright law
• European and Global music deals
• Clearance rights and contracts
• Live music
• Tours
• Catalogue deals
• Music publishing (see below, in our Artist, Media, & Publishing section)
• Digital music platforms (involving non-traditional operators e.g. mobile phone companies)
• Management and agency agreements
• Merchandising agreements
• Sponsorship agreements and
• New business models.

Our IP Department can cater for your needs both in the UK and internationally, because of our wide experience of overseas music markets.

Music Publishing and Collecting Societies
In tandem with the record company side of the music business, we can advise you on matters relating to the potentially-lucrative area of music publishing.

Additionally, we can give you advice regarding Collecting Societies.

For more information about this please contact David Main at dm@wdavies.com  or Graham Mott on gm@wdavies.com