CHAPTER
7
PROFESSIONAL
Lawyers and accountants have diverse
opportunities open to them in the music
industry. Some have become managers, record
label executives, publishers, songwrit-
ers, tour accountants, and producers. Those
profiled in this chapter work for legal
and business management firms and represent
music clients.
LEGAL
ATTORNEY · LAWYER · LEGAL COUNSEL
· LEGAL AFFAIRS
JOB OVERVIEW
Lawyers in the music industry provide legal
counsel, negotiate contracts and other
agreements, and defend the rights of music
clients. Many attorneys are involved in
the overall strategic planning of their artist,
writer, producer, and other clients. "Our
goal is to get them a team to put together and
structure their management, record,
publishing, merchandising, and other
agreements," says Debra Wagnon.
PREREQUISITES
In this field, you need a law degree and
experience in the music industry.
POINTERS FOR THE JOB SEARCH
"Entertainment is changing drastically with the
advent of new technology; it's a
great time to be practicing [law]." Wagnon
advises those interested in the music
industry to "gain experience in the
entertainment field long before they're in law
school. If you're genuinely excited about the
industry, you'll work in the mail room or
do a summer undergraduate internship and be
passionate about it. Be willing to work
for free, delivering paper clips or whatever it
takes to get inside the entertainment
User Comments Add a comment…