E. Michael Harrington—a course author for Berklee Online’s Master of Arts in Music Business degree—has worked as a consultant and expert witness in hundreds of music copyright matters including cases involving Lady Gaga, T-Pain, T.I., Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and Mariah Carey. In this video, Dr. Harrington tells the tale of bringing the Civil Rights-era anthem, “We Shall Overcome” into the public domain. Working with attorneys Randall Newman and Mark Rifkin—the attorneys who freed “Happy Birthday” into the public domain—they pointed to the song’s origin from a time before Beethoven (who had as much to do with “We Shall Overcome” as Pete Seeger!) and convinced the court that music publishers Ludlow Music and the Richmond Organization had no valid claim to owning the copyright of the song.
About the Master Track Series: Berklee Online is celebrating the instructors of their master’s degree programs with a series of animated videos. The videos highlight course authors for the first two master’s degree programs Berklee Online offered: a Master of Music in Music Production and Master of Arts in Music Business. This video series not only shares compelling stories but also shines a spotlight on these Berklee instructors who have made great contributions to the music industry. Their talent, experience, and knowledge is priceless and is now accessible to post-graduate students accepted into Berklee Online’s master’s degree programs.
SEE MORE MASTER TRACK VIDEOS:
- Susan Rogers on Recording with Prince
- Prince Charles Alexander on Hip-Hop and Recording the Notorious B.I.G.
- Producer Sean Slade Recalls an Explosive Recording Session with Lou Reed
