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Pryor Cashman’s music practice is as eclectic as the music industry itself. Always on the cutting edge of new technologies, the firm advises a wide range of clients in matters as traditional as recording artist, producer and songwriter agreements and as topical and complex as the myriad of new media uses for music.

The music practice has been a mainstay of the firm from its inception. The ever-expanding landscape of the industry requires the kind of historical experience and diligent attention to constantly emerging developments that few other firms can offer. Pryor Cashman’s clients cover the entire spectrum of the music business from music publishing and record companies to scores of the most successful artists, producers and songwriters in both the American and overseas marketplaces. We also represent an impressive array of music-based technology companies as well as private and corporate industry investors.

Pryor Cashman distinguishes itself from other law firms active in the music business because of our firm’s extensive related practice areas that provide support for our music clients. Our Corporate, Litigation and Tax groups allow for thoughtful and effective business planning, tax guidance and, when needed, litigation support. Indeed, our litigators are leaders in the area of music litigation. Our Entertainment, Media and Communications group provides a natural adjunct and a logical outlet for client materials and projects.

Pryor Cashman’s music attorneys are also involved in transactions involving the sale, acquisition and financing of companies in the music industry, record catalogues, publishing catalogues and other intellectual properties. The firm has represented numerous clients, including lenders, in connection with intellectual property securitizations, secured lending transactions and income stream sales. Our attorneys are experienced in conducting due diligence of copyright assets, including major music publishing catalogs, on behalf of prospective purchasers of, and those wishing to securitize, such assets.

The attorneys in Pryor Cashman’s music group also have experience in the formation of record labels and the raising of capital funds through private placements.

Pryor Cashman attorneys have been at the vanguard of the music industry’s expansion into the brave new digital world.  They have negotiated and drafted agreements licensing catalogs of musical compositions and/or sound recordings for distribution on and via user-generated video sites, lawful peer-to-peer services, interactive streaming services, advertiser-supported services, and other emerging media platforms.  They helped create the template “new digital media agreement” between music publishers and record labels that have enabled labels to license to certain types of digital services both sound recording and publishing rights, thereby streamlining the licensing process, and allowing music to be made available digitally on a far more widespread basis.  They have also been involved in some of the most significant litigation (including in the Napster, Aimster, Grokster, MP3.com, and Multiply.com cases), as well as in rate-setting and the crafting of proposed legislation, in this arena.

 Whether the need is as basic as the establishment of a production company or the negotiation of a recording artist or music publishing agreement or as complex as the collateralization of an extensive catalog of works or the acquisition of a record label, Pryor Cashman’s broadly-based yet individualized approach to each transaction provides an unrivaled reservoir of experience coupled with an extensive level of personal attorney-client contact.