Music Business Law

In this course, you will analyze the most important legal issues in the contemporary music industry, including how these issues began, how they have evolved, and where they are headed. You will explore copyright law, including fair use and public domain, and how it affects sampling, interpolation, and mashups. The course explores contracts related to songwriting, 360° deals, revenue sharing, and more, in addition to legal documents related to bands, booking, and touring. You will also explore contemporary and new means of creating and disseminating music, including streaming audio/video and augmented/virtual reality, and explore associated legal implications. By the end of the course, you will have the analytical skills to evaluate a broad range of issues in the industry and evaluate competing sides of contracts in order to author favorable conditions for any side in a negotiation involving aspects of the music and entertainment industry. 

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Analyze legal issues in a broad range of areas connected to the music and entertainment industry, including songwriting, recording, touring, distribution, and technology
• Evaluate various issues related to bands, including what constitutes fair and equitable agreements between artists and managers, responsibilities of departing and remaining band members, and the importance of the band unit and band name 
• Assess various songwriting and publishing conditions, terms, durations, compensation, duties, responsibilities, and contracts
• Evaluate concert riders and contracts, in addition to the legal responsibilities of venue owners and managers
• Author favorable conditions for any side in a negotiation involving aspects of the music and entertainment industry
• Evaluate opportunities to resolve conflicts outside of course, including summary judgment, mediation, and arbitration
• Analyze legal issues that pertain to streaming audio and video, in addition to new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality

Syllabus

Lesson 1 The US Court System and Law

Lesson 2 Intellectual Property and Copyright

Lesson 3 Sampling, Replay/Interpolation, Mashups

Lesson 4 Songwriting and Publishing

Lesson 5 Band Agreements

Lesson 6 Trademarks

Lesson 7 Managers, Agents, and Attorneys

Lesson 8 Live Music and Touring

Lesson 9 Record Contracts

Lesson 10 Downloads and Streaming

Lesson 11 Music Placement

Lesson 12 Social Media, Augmented and Virtual Reality

Requirements

Proof of a Bachelor’s Degree

Proof of a bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in this non-degree, graduate-level course.

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Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements 

Required Textbook(s)

• None required

After enrolling, please check the Getting Started section of your course for potential deals on required materials. Our Student Deals page also features several discounts you can take advantage of as a current student. Please contact [email protected] for any questions.

Instructors

Dr. E. Michael Harrington

Author & Instructor

Dr. E. Michael Harrington is a professor in music copyright and intellectual property matters. He has lectured at many law schools, organizations, and music conferences throughout North America, including Harvard Law, George Washington University Law, Hollywood Bar Association, Texas Bar, Minnesota Bar, Houston Law Center, Brooklyn Law, BC Law, Loyola Law, NYU, McGill, Eastman, Emory, the Experience Music Project, Future of Music Coalition, Pop Montreal, and others. Michael has worked as a consultant and expert witness in hundreds of music copyright matters including efforts to return “We Shall Overcome” and “This Land Is Your Land” to the public domain, and has worked with director Steven Spielberg, producer Mark Burnett, the Dixie Chicks, Steve Perry, Busta Rhymes, Samsung, Keith Urban, HBO, T-Pain, T. I., Snoop Dogg, Collin Raye, Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, George Clinton, Mariah Carey, and others. He sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Popular Culture, advisory board of the Future of Music Coalition and the Creators Freedom Project, and is a member of Leadership Music. Michael has been interviewed by the New York Times, CNN, Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, Time, Huffington Post, Billboard, USA Today, Rolling Stone, Money Magazine, Investor’s Business Daily, People Magazine, Life Magazine, and Washington Post, in addition to BRAVO, PBS, ABC News, NBC’s “Today Show,” the Biography Channel, NPR, CBC and others. Harrington has bicycled twice from Los Angeles to Nashville and once from Florence, Oregon to Nashville (3,400 miles).

What’s Next?

When taken for credit, Music Business Law can be applied towards these associated programs:

Associated Certificate Program

• Music Business Law and Policy Graduate Certificate

Associated Degree Major

• Master’s Degree in Music Business

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