Starting a record company need a little help

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Nik Manning

Well-known member
Hello kind folks, I am getting into the wonderful world of making music for profit. My biggest concern is artist contracts. I would love a link to an example contract. I want to at least be familiar with it before I go to a lawyer.
Second Major concern is publishing. I am currently reading a book that says you have to setup a company to get publishing? Maybe the book wasn't clear or I just don't get it. I am trying and researching. Would love to spend the least amount possible in Lawyer fees. So if anyone has went down this road or would like to help I would really appreciate it. Can anyone recommend a good entertainment lawyer in the LA area?
 
I don't have a specific book in mind, but what I do when I have similar questions is go to Barnes and Noble's music section and browse through all of their music industry books - they usually have a lot, many with contracts included. NOLO also publishes some legal guides for musicians. So... skip down to B&N, grab a cup of coffee, and spand a little while getting yourself to the level where you know who to talk to next!

There are lots of web fora, etc, too... but I alweays find that you get a lot more out of them if you can at least get the basic terminology and concepts down before trying to search through 'em.
 
Actually, general "IP Law" is not so much the concern as industry standards and regulations and applications of law to different media, stages of production, etc... so indeed a dedicated music (or law, or music business-oriented) site would most likely result in better and more targeted information.

There's lots of great material out there specifically addressing what Nik is asking, and indeed, it's in other places....

Definitely check NOLO's music law books and web site (http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/E99ADB31-C4B6-4645-87DEC821D1D5548C/310/238/293/) which has links to lots of other useful stuff... the books are sure to be there waiting for you at Barnes and Noble! These particular NOLO books are focused towards the musicians, but still very helpful (they include all sorts of contracts, analyze the contracts in detail, and have a CD-Rom with editable versions); on the shelf at B&N you'll find plenty of books with titles like "How to start your own record label" and the aboverecommended "This Business of Music"...
 
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ESTEBEVERDE said:
Not really.... IP law is same same whether video or audio.


This is a good place to start.
Click to expand...
Sort of "what he said" But IP rights issues for film and video are actually fairly different. But what I was getting at was that there are a lot of things you should know and it's less likely that he will get a lot of good information about what he want's to do on this forum. There are undoubtedly sites just for independent record label start ups or something close. And a site like that would have a lot more on target info.
I wasn't trying to be harsh just helpful. I know a lot about synchronization rights, recording etc, but pretty near zitch about starting a record company.
 
Thanks folks I just finished reading "Start and run your own record label" by Daylle Deanna Schwartz. Very good book! It reads as a dictionary a little bit. Lets say Publishing, it will tell you what it is and how to get it then give you an example of what successful indie labels did. Doesn't really get down and dirty but a very good reference to keep close by.

Since I will be the main artist also I am now going to read "Making Music Your Business" by Traci Truly.

So far what I get is it will take longer and more money than you plan but if you have some marketable
qualities and good music things will go faster than you expect.

I am pretty good with overall design elements http://www.quickmoneymusic.com
so I guess that would be my strength.
 
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