In 2009 the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) estimated 95% of all digitally downloaded music was obtained illegally. This leaves only 5% of potential revenue to be distributed between all those who play a part in today’s music culture, including the most affected group, songwriters and music publishers. While some opponents dispute that number, [...]
We recently wrapped up the exclusive songwriting agreement between my client, Logan Brill and Carnival Music. Logan and her family are from the Knoxville area. She moved here to pursue a music degree at Belmont University, but ended up with a major in French and a minor in vocal performance. Logan is writing with other [...]
written by Jeff ScheeseLaw on the Row is making the jump from digital to “old skool” hardcover. Barry Neil Shrum’s article The Magical Ring of Gyges: Why Illegal Downloading is So Rampant in the Age of Cyberspace was selected by author and editor Thomas J. Hickey, responsible for the Taking Sides book series published by [...]
By Jeff Scheese* (with Barry Neil Shrum, Esq.) Great news for those of you who listen to The Music Row Show on WLAC Nashville! The show features my clients, Scott Southworth and Heino Moeller, who recently announced that starting June 3rd the weekly radio program will make the leap to WSM, the 86-year-old 650 AM [...]
Rascal Flatts is arguably one of the most successful bands in recent history, selling more than 20 million albums as the headline act on Disney’s Lyric Street Records until that label succumbed to the effects of illegal digital downloading that has a stranglehold on the music industry. When that happened, the band moved to the [...]
CRS 2011 Research Study Finds State of Country Music Healthy, New Media Engagement Growing Country Radio still king for consumers, new music discovery The results of the CRB Country radio research study presented recently at Country Radio Seminar 2011 in Nashville. The comprehensive study was sponsored through a partnership between Country Radio Broadcasters, [...]
By Nathan Drake & Barry Neil Shrum Warner Music Group's ("WMG") year-end financial reports for 2010 came as little surprise when you take into account two factors: (1) the general economic downturn in the U.S. and (2) the continued piracy in the global music industry. See the report on WMG’s website here. WMG has been [...]
(Nashville, Tenn. – Feb. 1, 2011) Thanks to a uniquely talented roster of writers and artists, Nashville-based publishing and artist development firm Identical Entertainment is making quite a name for itself in the music and entertainment industry. Founded in 2008 by twin sisters Kathy Aberson and Sheila Bauer, the multi-faceted enterprise has benefited in recent [...]
The U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled against LimeWire and its parent company, Lime Group, finding them liable for inducement of copyright infringement based on the use of their service by subscribers. U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood issued the 59-page decision Wednesday, siding with the 13 record companies that [...]
What songwriters can do to protect their ideas when submitting demo tapes to publishers Every songwriter has heard the words "sorry, we’re not accepting unsolicited material" from at least a dozen publishers. In fact, in a recent informal survey conducted by Law On the Row, two-thirds of the thirty publishing companies contacted indicated that they [...]
