Music Row Lawyer (C. Stephen Weaver)

Artists and All Others: How to Handle Unanswered Emails and Voicemails

I just re-read a very informative blog post by Peter Bregman in the Harvard Business Review entitled “When Your Voicemails and Emails Go Unanswered, What Should You Do?"  This is an excellent read for any professional, business person or creative artist. 

            Even though I rarely pitch artists and songwriters to labels and publishers, it is not unusual for me to get emails from people requesting that I do so.  They hope I will listen to their music or songs – or both.  And then present their material to labels or publishers.  Incredibly, sometimes I get emails or calls back the same day asking if I have listened yet!  I can be a bit forgiving because I assume this person really does not have any concept how busy lawyers and others in the music business are – and as I understand it in most any other business.  But even if I accept their lack of business etiquette (and sometimes downright rudeness) as understandable, I nevertheless do not accept them as clients.  I cannot represent everybody and attitude is just as important as talent, ability to pay, etc.  So when I get emails or calls from people who show impatience to this degree, it helps me eliminate this prospective client quickly on the front end.  And I certainly would not want to send someone like this to a label or other industry gatekeeper with whom I have a trusted relationship.

            Now – perhaps more importantly for my artist and songwriter readers:  A&R executives, producers and others in the business are just as attuned to who is going to be trouble for them and or their company to work with and all other things being equal, it helps eliminate one CD from the stack of submitted demos piled high in their offices.

            Like the author of the Harvard Business Review Blog, I have experienced the same frustration with unanswered emails and voicemails.  And I have also violated the patience advice I am giving to you.  So I need to remind myself of the advice given in the HBR Blog.

 

Copyright © 2011 C. Stephen Weaver

"Rogue Websites" Bill Passed by Senate Judiciary Committee

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) just released the following press release:

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES "ROGUE WEBSITES" BILL

House Version Expected Soon

Nashville, TN -- The United States Senate Judiciary Committee this week unanimously passed legislation targeted at eliminating websites that primarily exist to allow the theft of music, movies and other intellectual property.
 
"The Nashville Songwriters Association International has been focusing on this issue for months and thanks the Senators who took a bold stand against the theft of American music on the Internet.  We expect similar legislation to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives very soon.  We continue trekking to Washington, D.C. and will soon launch and coordinate a national campaign for songwriters to communicate with their representatives on this issue."

"With only an estimated one of thirty songs legally purchased,
we MUST do something about the theft of music on the Internet."

    A more lengthy press release has been issued by Senator Patrick Leahy’s office and can be read here.

 

Copyright © 2011 C. Stephen Weaver

My Book and New Blog - Early Teaser

My Book is almost finished.  I am going back through it and cleaning up dangling participles, split infinitives and the like (my former teachers and law review editor are smiling).  The book started out to be for songwriters.  I thought I would translate an exclusive songwriter agreement into plain English which is something I sometimes do a shortened version of for clients in the course of negotiating an agreement for them.  But then I decided to comment on what the songwriters might want changed in the various paragraphs I had just translated.  Since I represent publishers also I thought I better put in a paragraph as to what the Publisher hopes to have changed in each paragraph.   And don't forget the paragraph I added explaining each translated paragraph in the agreement.  The small booklet I originally envisioned is now . . . a book!

    Now I’m not sure a songwriter would ever want to read this book.  It will probably be of more interest to lawyers who hope to add entertainment law to their areas of practice and law students who want more detail and "how-to" about this aspect of transactional entertainment law.  I guess I will find out.

    There is a new blog in my crystal ball.  It has been there a while but it seems to be coming into focus lately.  At the new blog I will write about being a solo entertainment lawyer—something I have over 30 years experience being.  I will have some fun writing about my journey and writing about technology which I enjoy immensely.  I will also talk about practicing transactional entertainment law and maybe sell a book or two.  Who knows.

 

Copyright © 2011 C. Stephen Weaver

Warner Music Group Bidders Down to Two

May 6, 2011.  As an update to the following blog, All Access has reported that Warner Music Group has accepted the purchase offer of Len Blavatnik's Access Industries.

Original Blog Post.  If you have been following the fate of the major labels you know that both Warner Music Group and EMI are up for sale.  Yesterday the NY Post reported that WMG is likely to be purchased by one of two bidders.  The first is Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries.  Music Row reports that Blavatnik, a 2% owner of WMG, has close ties to Warner CEO Edgar Bronfman.

The other potential purchaser are brothers Alec and Tom Gores.  Sam Gores, brother of Alec and Tom, is currently Chairman of the Paradigm Agency.

Both suitors have reportedly bid around $3 billion for the company.  Sounds to me like somebody believes there is still a place for major labels.

 

Copyright © 2011 C. Stephen Weaver