As a musician, you have a number of valuable assets: your sound, your written lyrics, your creativity and your brand, among others. So you must do everything you can to protect yourself, especially when making big decisions. If you’ve considered retaining a lawyer, but aren’t sure if the investment is worth it, read on. Here are some examples of what an attorney can do for you and why you should seek legal advice:

1. Contracts: One of the biggest things a lawyer can help you with is making sure that any contract you sign is legitimate and in your best interest. They can negotiate so that you get the most out of any contract you sign and they can help you understand what you’re signing.
2. A Lawyer Knows Your rights AND the Law: When in doubt, ask a lawyer. If you think you’re being taken advantage of or if you’re not sure something that you’re doing is legal (ie: covering someone else’s song or using a sample of it), it’s best to check with a lawyer first.
3. Connections: A good music attorney will have connections to other influencers in the music industry like managers, accountants and more. They can put you in touch with people that they know are credible and reputable, saving you time, effort and possibly money.
4. Credibility: If you choose to work with a sought after or reputable lawyer, he or should can also add credibility to you as a musician.

More specifically, here are instances when you should consider consulting a lawyer:

• you need to formalize your internal band agreement
• you receive a contract for use of your song in a film, commercial, video game, etc
• you need to register your copyrights or trademarks
• you find out someone is using your song without permission
• you want to get out of a bad contract
• a record label is interested in signing you/your band
• and more

Tell us what you think! Have you worked with a lawyer?

The SongCast Crew