Music Law

Music contracts are “the foundation that governs all professional relationships in the art world”. Proper drafting is important to prevent conflicts and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. At Arthur & Marin, we handle the drafting, review, and negotiation of various types of music contracts:

• Artist representation and management agreements, which establish the relationship between the artist and their manager.
• Booking and live performance agreements, which define the financial, logistical, and image-related terms.
• Music publishing agreements, which protect the copyrights of the works.
• Recording contracts, with both independent labels and major companies.
• Music licensing agreements, which permit the use of works in films, series, or advertising.
• Merchandising agreements, for the artist’s brand and its commercial exploitation.

Copyright protection is the basis of music law. We advise artists, composers, and producers on registering, assigning, and defending their musical works against unauthorized use. Our services include:

• Registering musical works with national and international bodies.
• Managing and assigning rights, covering both non-exclusive and exclusive rights.
• Protection against plagiarism or improper use of works.
• Counsel on royalties and collective management, dealing with collection societies (SGAE, SABAM, SACEM, etc.).

Intellectual and industrial property in the music world goes beyond simply protecting copyrights. It also includes aspects like stage names, logos, identifiers, and licenses that form an artist’s or group’s identity. Here is what we offer:

• Registration of trademarks and artist names with National and International Registry Offices.
• Protection of trade dress and music branding.
• License agreements for the use of image, logo, or brand.
• Legal defense against trademark infringement and unfair trade practices.

With this protection, we ensure that the artist maintains control over their image and its commercial exploitation

Disputes in the music sphere can be quite varied, ranging from plagiarism and contract violations to disagreements over royalties and unauthorized use, among others. We offer:

• Mediation and negotiations to reach out-of-court settlements.
• Legal defense in cases of plagiarism or copyright infringement.
• Conflict resolution for breach of music contracts.
• Representation in court or before collection societies.

Our approach combines legal counsel with a deep knowledge of the artistic sector, all with a strategy focused on protecting our clients’ prestige

Taxation in the music world is an aspect that is often overlooked, but it is essential for avoiding penalties and maximizing income generated from artistic activity. We offer tax advisory services for musicians, authors, publishers, and music industry companies, which include:

• Tax optimization for income from copyrights and royalties.
• Advice on taxation related to international tour planning and managing performances in different countries.
• Legal and tax structuring for music-related companies.
• Compliance with tax obligations before national and EU authorities.

In this way, we help our clients protect their income and comply with the tax regulations in force in each jurisdiction.