Loeb & Loeb's Music Industry Practice has been long recognized as a leader in an industry that is rapidly changing because of the convergence of technology and content. Our experience and expertise is different from other law firms, in that our clients range from some of the world's largest music companies and some of the most successful talent (recording, performing, writing and producing) to major financial institutions, private equity investors and leading technology companies. We offer our clients sophisticated yet practical specialized service and a music industry-centric focus that is unparalleled in depth and scope.
In today's technology-driven marketplace, we have been at the forefront of structuring and negotiating a significant number of the most complicated licensing agreements as well as the earliest agreements for ringtones, digital downloading, digital content, aggregations, peer-to-peer distribution, all forms of API licensing and webcasting.
The depth of our practice extends to finance and lending, areas in which our attorneys assist music industry clients in shaping capital structures and raising debt and equity capital. We handle a large number of entertainment and media mergers and acquisitions, including intellectual property due diligence, industry-specific valuations, and other matters related to the merger, acquisition, or sale of entertainment assets or companies.
In addition, Loeb & Loeb is different from most other law firms because of its ability to bridge the depth and breadth of our music industry knowledge with our advertising and promotion experience, which we bring to our extensive representation of major advertisers, advertising agencies and music companies and/or artists in first-of-its-kind, high-profile endorsement and sponsorship agreements.
We also have extensive experience in the formation and development of production companies, record labels and publishing and licensing companies. We also represent motion picture and television producers in the acquisition and production of music for film, television, video programs and theatrical productions. Additionally, our Music Industry Group works hand in glove with our Interactive Entertainment Practice with respect to a wide array of video game and other interactive media projects.
Our experience includes negotiating, evaluating and documenting
- domestic and international record distribution agreements;
- recording agreements;
- songwriting and publishing agreements;
- merchandising and touring agreements;
- commercial appearances, endorsements and sponsorships;
- intra-group agreements for recording artists and business structures;
- film and television music supervisor, music composer and soundtrack album agreements;
- music licensing agreements;
- agency and management representation agreements;
- record producer agreements;
- music and sampling clearances;
- advertising, promotions and branding; and
- new media and technology.
We handle a wide range of music industry transactions, including valuation, acquisitions and sales of recording and publishing catalogs, as well as the administration and licensing of such catalogs. Over the past few years, Loeb & Loeb has handled the sales of music catalogs in deals aggregating well over $6 billion and has been involved in acquisitions totaling a similar number.
Service Approach
Because of our longevity and entrenchment in the industry, we have experience and expertise in representing every side of a deal. We bring a three-dimensional understanding to each client matter. We have also earned credibility among industry leaders, which allows us to engage in decision-level dialogue and to resolve matters efficiently and effectively.
Our group understands that there is more to the industry than just recording deals. We also combine our deep bench of talent from our intellectual property, litigation, corporate, tax, finance, private equity and mergers and acquisitions groups to provide a wide range of services for our clients.
Clients and Industries
We represent a vast and diverse range of music and recording industry clients, including major and independent record and music publishing companies; some of the world's foremost recording artists, songwriters, performers, producers and music supervisors; personal managers, business managers, talent agencies and concert promoters; and general entertainment companies, as well many of the Fortune 200 companies that interface with the music industry.
Leadership in Law
Loeb & Loeb’s Music Industry Practice has been nationally recognized for excellence by leading law firm directories and industry trade publications. Most recently, Loeb & Loeb was named "Law Firm of the Year" in Music by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in their 2013 rankings. The Music Industry Practice also received top-tier rankings in the annual Chambers USA Guide, which praised the firm for its “powerful reputation in the music business” and “extraordinary experience and understanding of the industry and its key players.” Chambers called John Frankenheimer, chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Music Industry Practice, “a giant in the music arena.”
