BCM Presents: Music Law for Musicians with Justin Laughter, Attorney

On Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. the Birthplace of Country Music will host a seminar for musicians or music business professionals who are interested in learning more about the legal side of the music business.

Tickets: $25 per person*

*All proceeds benefit the Birthplace of Country Music

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Registration Form

Workshop Details

–Choosing and Protecting Your Band Name

Are you searching for the right band name? Have you noticed another band on Facebook using a name confusingly similar or identical to yours? Band and artist stage names are vital to success. In a few words or less, an artist creates its brand and sets audience expectations.The goodwill associated with these words or “trademarks” are of substantial value as more fans become familiar and attend shows or purchase albums based on brand recognition. This program will provide an overview of trademark law in the context of band and artist stage name selection, protection, and enforcement.

–Songwriting and Sound Recording Law

Ever wonder who owns the copyright in a song written and arranged by members of a performance group? How about who owns the sound recording of a song tracked at a studio? Copyright law and content ownership is critical to the success of a musical artist. Often referred to as “mailbox money,” musical composition and sound recording licensing and residual payments are important sources of income for songwriters and recording artists. This program will teach attendees the basics of song and sound recording law ownership and licensing.

-Band Entities and Agreements

Are you a band member or considering starting a band? Do you know what to look for in a bandmate and how to document your agreement to operate the band during the highs and the lows? We all want our bands to be creatively and financially successful. Unfortunately, though, undefined goals and misunderstanding waste time and frustrate these efforts. What was easy to ignore during the excitement of the band’s launch can become its achilles heal during the roller coaster ride that is band life. This program will discuss the questions band members should ask each other before finalizing the band structure and what band agreement provisions should be considered to ensure band operations align with agreed upon goals, expectations, and obligations.

About Presenter

Justin Laughter, a business, intellectual property, and entertainment attorney with Threshold Counsel, PC in Richmond, Virginia will lead the seminar consisting of three separate hour long programs providing a crash course in music law – (i) Choosing and Protecting Your Band or Artist Stage Name, (ii) Songwriting and Sound Recording Law 101, and (iii) Band Entities and Agreements. Attendees will gain essential background into the legal areas relevant to their creative careers as well as practical advice to avoid common pitfalls.

Justin Laughter’s experience representing clients is wide-ranging, including business and non-profit structuring and operations, copyright and trademark protection and enforcement, internet law, and private securities offerings. He regularly counsels startups, makers, and other creative entrepreneurs.
Justin has been honored as a Virginia Super Lawyers-Rising Star in IP (2013-2016), part of Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite (2011, 2014) and as one of Richmond’s Top 40 under 40 by Style Weekly Magazine (2008). He is a 2003 graduate of the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa) and a 2006 graduate of William and Mary Law School (Order of the Coif).

He is also active in the nonprofit, creative, and entertainment community. Justin is a Board Member of C3: The Creative Change Center, Board Member of JAMinc, Board Member of AMP! Metro Richmond, Board Member of OneVoice, Board Member of Gallery5 (museum, art, and performance), a member of Lawyers for the Arts, and a member of the Richmond CenterStage Associates Board. He is also the former Interim Executive Director of Virginians for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy non-profit organization. Further, Justin is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, known for its Grammy Awards. He routinely speaks to community audiences, law students, and professionals on legal topics.

Justin is Co-Founder of Educational Media Creations Company, LLC dba Silly Bus, an educational media company organized to help children feel confident, successful, and happy while learning foundational components of elementary education (see www.sillybus.net).

For more information or questions, please email info@BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org