Music Business Law for Artists

Valerie Lovely

Authored by Valerie Lovely

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Course Code: OMBUS-381

Examine the key legal issues that affect musicians and songwriters. In this undergraduate music business course, you’ll learn when to handle matters yourself and when to seek professional help by gaining insight into copyright law, business best practices, and common music industry contracts.

Level 3
Intermediate Plus
Modality
Online
Duration
12 Weeks
3-Credit Tuition
$1,575
Semester Starts
Apr 6
Accreditation
NECHE

Key Learning Outcomes

  • Navigate common legal situations faced by musicians and songwriters across recording, publishing, live performance, and music distribution
  • Assess how managers, publishers, labels, and other intermediaries affect artists’ rights, income, and long-term control
  • Apply copyright principles to real-world scenarios involving recordings, releases, performances, and licensing decisions
  • Make informed decisions about when to handle legal matters independently and when to engage professional legal support
Overview Syllabus Requirements Instructors
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Course Description

Having a better understanding of music business and music law will help you achieve a more successful career in the music industry. It also helps when you can recognize the ideal time to bring in the appropriate professional to support your efforts. The more you know, the better the results you’ll get from the people on your team.

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This course examines the business and legal issues of special concern to songwriters and musicians. Areas of study include setting up a business, copyright law, recording, promoting and releasing music, and emerging technologies that affect the music industry. The focus is on DIY and how to handle the various aspects of an artist’s career. It also looks at the relationships between artists and other parties such as managers, producers, booking agents, record labels, and music publishers.

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

  • Trace how copyright ownership and licensing choices translate into specific music industry revenue streams
  • Evaluate the legal implications of live performance, promotion, merchandising, and distribution strategies
  • Interpret music industry disputes and media headlines by separating legal realities from public narrative
  • Anticipate how changes in technology, business models, and law may affect artists’ ability to earn, protect, and sustain their careers
Read Less

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Legal Issues in the Music Industry

  • Music Law
  • Attorneys
  • Conflict
  • Assignment 1: Disputes

Lesson 2: Business Basics

  • Naming Your Business
  • Business Organizations
  • Tax Obligations
  • Planning for Success
  • Assignment 2: Going Pro

Lesson 3: Performance and Promotion

  • Choices for Performances
  • Performance Agreements
  • Promoting the Artist
  • Assignment 3: The Merch Table

Lesson 4: Copyrights

  • Understanding Copyrights
  • Administrative Paperwork
  • Registering Copyrights
  • Assignment 4: Filing Copyrights

Lesson 5: Recording

  • The Producer
  • Right for the Job
  • The Paperwork
  • Producer Agreements
  • Assignment 5: Recording Music

Lesson 6: Copyright Licensing

  • The Licenses
  • Clearance
  • Placement Services
  • Assignment 6: Getting Syncs

Lesson 7: Self-Publishing

  • Music Publishing
  • Getting Started
  • Administration
  • Assignment 7: Royalty Calculations

Lesson 8: Distributing Music and Collecting Revenue

  • Legal Issues
  • Choosing a Distributor
  • Revenue Streams
  • Assignment 8: Publishing Revenue

Lesson 9: Intermediaries

  • Managers
  • Management Agreements
  • The Booking Agent
  • The Business Manager
  • Assignment 9: Management

Lesson 10: Deals with Music Publishers and Record Labels

  • When to Sign
  • Songwriters and Music Publishers
  • Artists and Record Labels
  • Assignment 10: Negotiating Recording Contracts

Lesson 11: Emerging Revenue Streams

  • Emerging Revenue Streams
  • Whether to Engage
  • Royalty Auctions and Sales
  • Assignment 11: Sold!

Lesson 12: Handling Disagreements

  • Conflict
  • ADR
  • Lawsuits
  • Settlement
  • Assignment 12: The Complaint

Requirements

Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements 

Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Completion of Music Business 101 or equivalent knowledge and experience is required.

Textbook(s)

Other

Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.

General Course Requirements

Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course. 

Mac Users

  • macOS Monterey 12.0 or later

PC Users

All Users

  • Latest version of Google Chrome
  • Zoom meeting software
  • Webcam
  • Speakers or headphones
  • External or internal microphone
  • Broadband Internet connection

Instructors

Valerie Lovely
Valerie Lovely

Author & Instructor

Valerie Lovely is Assistant Professor of Music Business/Management at Berklee College of Music and a practicing transactional music attorney. Her clientele is limited exclusively to musicians, songwriters, publishers, record labels, and others with music law needs. The firm provides various transactional music law services, such as contract drafting, negotiation and explanations, copyrights, trademarks, band business evaluation reports, and other music business and legal services. Attorney Lovely also hosts a free informational website, MusicLawInfo, that provides numerous music law articles of interest to today's musicians.

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Valerie has been a guest speaker, panelist, and lecturer at a variety of events sponsored by legal- and music-based organizations (American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Berklee College of Music, Blacksun Festival, etc.). She has taught copyright law to attorneys as a member of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts faculty.

Valerie has also been a musician for most of her life. She plays several instruments, has performed in rock bands, chamber groups, wind ensembles, and studio projects, and has composed music in various styles and for use in a variety of media. Read Less

What's Next?

When taken for credit, Music Business Law for Artists can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:

Related Certificate Programs

Related Degree Majors

Questions?

Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.

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