Music Contracts

Danish Rapper Sleiman Sues Tekashi69's Publishing Company Over Unreleased Track

UMG Boss’ Son Dragged Into Ugly Tekashi 6ix9ine Legal Dispute

April 23, 2019

Danish rapper Sleiman has filed a lawsuit against Tekashi69 Publishing over an unreleased track. Now, two rappers, several music companies, and a multinational major label are involved. Alongside his compan... Read More...

Irving Azoff's Global Music Rights Wins Significant Victory in Case against RMLC

Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights Scores a Significant Victory Against RMLC

Daniel Sanchez

April 2, 2019

The Radio Music Licensing Committee’s ugly antitrust lawsuit against Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights continues to drag on. Irving Azoff’s performance rights organization, Global Music Rights (GMR), doesn’... Read More...

Co-Writer Behind Madonna's Vogue Moves Forward With $730,000 Suit Against Warner/Chappell

Co-Writer Behind Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ Moves Forward With a $500,000 Lawsuit Against Warner Music

Daniel Sanchez

March 27, 2019

Is Warner Music Group spent $1 million on legal fees to avoid paying $500,000 to a songwriter. Two years ago, the co-writer behind Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ filed a lawsuit against Warner Music Group (WMG). Rober... Read More...

EMI Music Publishing Declares War Against Kanye West — Lawsuit Filed for Breach of Contract

Ashley King

March 8, 2019

Kanye West meets with Donald Trump in October 2018, just prior to the signing of the Music Modernization Act into law. Kanye West has launched a legal battle on two fronts against EMI Music Publishing and Uni... Read More...

In Bitter Lawsuit Against EMI, Kanye West Pushes Once Again For Publishing Rights Ownership

In a Bitter Lawsuit Against EMI, Kanye West Pushes Once Again For Publishing Rights Ownership

Daniel Sanchez

March 5, 2019

Has Kanye West omitted a key clause that could ultimately cause him to lose his legal battle against EMI Music Publishing? Kanye West has remained pretty upset at Sony’s EMI Music Publishing division and Uni... Read More...

SoundCloud Signs New Deals with DAX and Pandora

SoundCloud’s Monetization Contract Has a Nasty Indemnification Clause — But Does It Matter?

Paul Resnikoff

October 26, 2018

Somebody read the fine print on SoundCloud's new Premier monetization program. For many emerging artists, this probably won't be a dealbreaker. But there are a few land mines in SoundCloud's user agreement ... Read More...

Universal Music Faces Litigation Over Millions In Disputed Drake Royalties

Marsha Silva

July 11, 2018

Universal Music Group (UMG) was handed some bad news from the New York Supreme Court this week. Judge Barry Ostrager refused to dismiss Aspire Music Group's profits lawsuit against the industry giant. Aspir... Read More...

Universal Music Fights Back Against Malu Trevejo’s Attempt to Void Her Contract

Marsha Silva

July 9, 2018

The legal battle between Malu Trevejo and Universal Music Group heated up recently when the record company filed a challenge to the singer's recent attempt to nullify her contract. Trevejo and her legal team... Read More...

Music Industry Latest: Childish Gambino, Sonos, BMI, TIDAL, Live Nation, Scooter Braun, PRS, More...

An Ugly Legal Battle Is Brewing Between Childish Gambino and Glassnote Records

Paul Resnikoff

July 8, 2018

Legal warfare is brewing between Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, and his former label Glassnote Records. We're now at the early stages of a legal battle between Donald Glover and his former label, Glass... Read More...

Evanescence Got Sued for $1.5 Million by their Former Manager. The Judge Decided to Give the Band $1 Million.

Mutembei Kevin

January 31, 2018

A frivolous lawsuit by Evanescence’s former manager took an unexpected turn. Amy Lee and Evanescence have come out on top in a court battle instigated by former manager Andrew Lurie over allegedly unpaid com... Read More...

UCLA School of Law Is Offering Free Music Industry Legal Advice + Contract Help

Paul Resnikoff

January 22, 2018

photo: Coolcaesar (CC 3.0) Nothing's free in this world — except for complicated music industry legal advice and contract assistance at UCLA's School of Law. A bad contract can complicate an entire music car... Read More...

Lil Pump Just Voided His Major Label Contract and Kept the $350k Advance

Lennon Cihak

January 16, 2018

Lil Pump's non-favorable contract with Warner Bros. Records is up. Lil Pump, an overnight rap sensation with his smash hit "Gucci Gang," inked a non-favorable contract deal with Warner Bros. Records when he ... Read More...

How a Movie Score Is Really Made — According to a Top Hollywood Director

“My Whole Source of Income Just Disappeared” — How Two Musicians Are Dealing With Cancelled Concerts

What Does It Take to Succeed In Songwriting? Surprising Lessons from Two Successful Sync Writers

Want to Get Your Music Heard? It Starts With the Winning Pitch

Want Your Music In a Major Gaming Series? Meet the Guys Who Create Their Soundtracks

Artist Branding Isn’t Selling Out Anymore — But What’s the New Balance?

The Revolution Will Be Recorded: How Can Artists Shape Movements and Change Lives?

Now That the Music Modernization Act Has Passed, Who's Gonna Run the Damn Thing?

Meet Lady A, the Black Blues Singer Whose Name Got Taken by Lady Antebellum — Our Latest Podcast

Spotify Probably Owes You More Money — Here’s How to Get It (Our Latest Podcast)

Meet the Artist Who Is Literally Saving His Fans’ Lives — Our Latest Podcast

How to Game the Billboard Charts (And Why You Shouldn’t) — Our Latest Podcast

Meet the Single Mom Cellist Who Makes a Living Off Her Music — Our Podcast Interview

How to Protect Yourself From the Copyright Trolls — Our Latest Podcast

Kanye West’s Label Contracts Include Master Ownership, Profit-Sharing Deals, and Multi-Million Dollar Advances

Kanye West Calls Music Industry a ‘Modern Day Slave Ship,’ Refuses to Release New Music

DJ Marc Kinchen’s Sad Story Is a Reminder — Always Read Your Contracts

J. Cole Admits He Didn’t Read His Roc Nation Contract Before Signing It

Judge Orders 1501 Entertainment to Release Megan Thee Stallion’s Music

UMG Boss’ Son Dragged Into Ugly Tekashi 6ix9ine Legal Dispute

Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights Scores a Significant Victory Against RMLC

Co-Writer Behind Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ Moves Forward With a $500,000 Lawsuit Against Warner Music

EMI Music Publishing Declares War Against Kanye West — Lawsuit Filed for Breach of Contract

In a Bitter Lawsuit Against EMI, Kanye West Pushes Once Again For Publishing Rights Ownership

SoundCloud’s Monetization Contract Has a Nasty Indemnification Clause — But Does It Matter?

Universal Music Faces Litigation Over Millions In Disputed Drake Royalties

Universal Music Fights Back Against Malu Trevejo’s Attempt to Void Her Contract

An Ugly Legal Battle Is Brewing Between Childish Gambino and Glassnote Records

Evanescence Got Sued for $1.5 Million by their Former Manager. The Judge Decided to Give the Band $1 Million.

UCLA School of Law Is Offering Free Music Industry Legal Advice + Contract Help

Lil Pump Just Voided His Major Label Contract and Kept the $350k Advance