Royalties, Rap And Race: The Top 10 Law Schools That Teach Real-Life Music Issues
October 24, 2016 Billboard Magazine - Behind the success of every hitmaker are the lawyers, fielding the deliberations, deals and disputes that are a constant part of today's music business.
While attorneys have always been important to artists and music companies, new business models, from brand licensing to streaming, have only increased the need for legal expertise. The scope of that expertise is also wider than ever, moving beyond issues of contract law to questions of intellectual property in the digital age.
At which law schools do the top music lawyers gain that expertise? These 10 stand out as the alma maters of the majority of the music industry's most accomplished attorneys.
BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW
New York
FAME is the acronym for Cardozo's Fashion, Arts, Media and Entertainment Law Center, one of two programs targeting future music business lawyers, at the school's campus near Manhattan's Union Square. The second is the Intellectual Property and Information Law Program, under director Christopher Buccafusco. "Cardozo offers an incredibly deep range of opportunities for students interested in music law," says Buccafusco, "including internships, student groups, speaker series and practical-skills training."
Alumna: Julie Swidler, executive vp business affairs/general counsel, Sony Music Entertainment