Music

The work we undertake in the music industry ranges from acting for record labels, music publishers, managers and agents to advising individual artists, bands and composers.

In addition to recording, music publishing and artist management agreements, the Media & Technology team advises in situations where music is used as part of another production. We have particular expertise in dealing with all aspects of the creation, synchronisation and secondary exploitation of sound track music, the use of music on video, in television, in theatrical productions and on sound tracks for computer games. We also regularly advise a number of specialist music video producers.

More recently the team has been retained by a number of emerging artists who we have advised on a whole host of agreements including recording, publishing and merchandising.

The team also acts for number of catalogue owners who we advise on licensing issues as well as copyright infringement. In addition, we have considerable experience of investigating and acquiring catalogues of existing recording and music publishing rights.

On the contentious side, we have handled a number of high profile High Court and Court of Appeal cases involving ownership of copyright in recordings and disputes with recording artists, songwriters, producers and recording companies.

Recent work in this area includes:

• Advising plus listed One Media Publishing plc on its catalogue acquisitions.
• Advising a major international bank on providing finance for a portfolio of music publishing and recording catalogues valued at $30 million.
• Representing Gallows, t.A.T.u, Funeral for a Friend, Bring Me the Horizon, Lethal Bizzle, Blackhole, In Case of Fire and Fightstar.