The music business

has changed a lot in recent years. While the recorded music market was the core area for decades, with the decline of the physical CD it was overtaken by the live business as the main source of income for many artists. Now, digital streaming is picking up speed, although this is not yet noticeable in the wallets of all artists. Digitalization has changed the processes of production, exploitation, and use of music, and with it the legal structures and contracts in the industry.
I advise creatives, producers, distributors, and other participants in the music business on contract drafting, new business models, digital marketing, social media, accounting issues (licensing, royalties), name and trademark protection, band formations, band disputes, the law of collecting societies (such as GEMA, GVL), artists’ social insurance (KSK), and so on.

I work in both German and international music law. During my studies in the U.S., I focused on American copyright law and wrote a comparative master's thesis on German and American music copyright. Especially when working with English-speaking partners or contracts, knowledge of Anglo-American copyright and music law is essential.

Springer-Verlag has published my practical handbook on music law, in which I discuss all relevant questions and contracts of the music business and give practical tips for successful creative and entrepreneurial activity.

Typical areas of advice:

• License agreements
• Recording artist agreements
• Producer contracts
• Assignment of rights, session musician agreements
• Distribution agreements (digital and physical distribution)
• Claims to appropriate remuneration (§ 32, 32a UrhG)
• Artificial intelligence (AI) in music production
• Claims for information and accounting
• Social media promotion
• Media cooperation contracts, advertising deals
• Music publishing contracts (sub-publishing contract, administration contract, edition contract, co-publishing contract)
• Music band agreements, partnership agreements
• Conflicts within bands
• Payment claims
• Concert contracts, tour contracts, ticketing deals
• Artist management contracts, booking contracts
• Film composer contracts, synch and master licenses
• Contracts between co-authors
• Termination of contracts
• Cover versions, remixes, rights clearance
• Music video production
• Merchandising
• Advertising, sponsoring, testimonials
• Collecting societies (e.g., GEMA, GVL)
• Artists' social insurance (KSK)
• Trademark and title protection
• International treaties
• Claims arising from GDR (DDR) contracts and recordings
• Advice to heirs and legal successors
• Claims for injunctive relief and damages
• Representation in court

You can also find out more about law and practice in the music industry in my "Practical Handbook of Music Law" (“Praxishandbuch Musikrecht”) and in my book "The Artist Management Contract" (“Der Künstlermanagementvertrag”).
I would be glad to talk to you about your legal needs. Contact me here.