Getting the legal low-down on the music business | 22 February 11
LAW firm Ward Hadaway is helping to nurture the next generation of music businesses.
Carol Isherwood, a solicitor in Ward Hadaway’s specialist Creative Industries team, which is headed up by partner Laura Harper, is taking part in a series of workshops designed to give those working in the business a practical guide to the commercial aspects of the music industry.
The Music Clinics are being organised by Generator, the UK’s leading music development agency, and offer information on issues ranging from setting up a business and business plans to marketing and promotion.
Perfect fit - Vinyl Jacket, one of the bands helped by music development agency Generator. Ward Hadaway is working on a series of music clinics with Generator.
Carol, who was in a signed band and worked in music management before becoming a solicitor, has been offering her expertise on matters including contracts, licensing music, collection societies and copyright.
Carol said: “It has been a real pleasure to take part in these events and I have been impressed with the calibre of the attendees so far, who have included promoters, band managers and record labels.
“The music business these days covers a whole range of different disciplines and to be successful in it, you need to get to grips with a lot of often competing issues.
“New technology has radically changed the music business and has made making a living from it a more challenging task so the more you know about what makes the business tick, the better equipped you will be.
“Hopefully those attending the Music Clinics are getting a good flavour of the reality of the music business behind the glamorous media image and this will stand them in good stead for the future.”
Music Clinics have already taken place in Leeds and in Sheffield with further clinics happening in York on March 3 and Hull on March 17.
As well as featuring at these events, Carol will also be the legal panellist at the Music Managers Forum Induction Day course in Sheffield on February 24, which is also being run in conjunction with Generator, to advise up and coming band managers and will be at the Music Futures Conference organised by Generator in Leeds on March 30.
The Music Futures Conference is a new music industry conference bringing together guests from some of the UK’s largest music businesses and trade bodies to discuss innovation and new business models for regional business.
Early bird tickets are currently available for the conference at www.generator.org.uk/musicfuturesleeds
Damian Baetens, Generator’s Director of Business Development, said: “Small music businesses face many challenges in adapting to a marketplace where they must become knowledgeable about a wide range of issues and subjects.
“In order to support these businesses we rely on experts like Carol from Ward Hadaway to fill in the gaps with expert advice, tailored to specific business needs.
“Sharing such experiences and insight allow us to build sustainable music businesses and strengthen the skills base of small enterprises.”
As well as assisting a range of music businesses, Generator has given help and advice to a number of bands, including up and coming groups Let’s Buy Happiness – praised by the likes of Coldplay, The Guardian and BBC 6Music – and Vinyl Jacket, who have been played on Radio 1’s Chris Moyles Breakfast Show.
Last year, Carol was the legal panellist at the Music Managers Forum’s Induction Course in Liverpool in the first event of its kind to be held outside London, and again at the same event which was held as part of the In The City music conference in Manchester in October.
Ward Hadaway’s Creative Industries Team acts for a wide range of creative enterprises.
In the music field, the team has advised musicians, producers, record labels and management companies on matters including publishing contracts, recording contracts and merchandising agreements.
* Find out more about our Creative Industries services.