You built the sound.
Now own everything that comes out of it.
Masters. Publishing. Stage name. Catalog. Royalties. In the music business, every one of these is up for negotiation from your very first signature. We're the legal partner who reads what you're signing before you sign it — and protects what you've built before someone else claims it.
What musicians lose when they
move without legal infrastructure.
Signing away your masters.
Label and distribution contracts routinely include work-for-hire clauses and IP assignments that transfer ownership of your recordings. Without an attorney reviewing before you sign, you could be giving away the rights to everything you create — permanently, in perpetuity, across every format that hasn't been invented yet.
Losing your publishing.
Publishing splits are the most lucrative — and most misunderstood — part of music. A casual co-write can lock you into an unfavorable split for the life of the song. Sync deals can give away mechanical royalties you didn't know you had. Every split needs to be in writing, signed, and structured intentionally.
Losing your name.
Your stage name, your band name, your producer tag — these are commercial assets. Without trademark registration, anyone can claim them, register them first, or use them confusingly close. We've seen artists lose names they'd been performing under for years because someone else filed at the USPTO before they did.
Leaving your catalog unprotected.
Your catalog is an asset that compounds — royalties, sync placements, publishing income, master licensing. Without an estate plan, it becomes a frozen asset when something happens to you, with no designated heir, no management structure, and no continuation strategy. Legacy requires legal intention.
Built for every kind of working musician.
Music is one of the broadest industries in the creator economy — and the legal terrain shifts depending on what you actually do for a living. We work with all of these professionals:
Recording Artists & Singers
Label deals, distribution agreements, recording contracts, performance royalties, and the trademark protection your stage name needs.
Music Producers
Producer agreements, production credits, points and advances, work-for-hire vs assignment, Production Entity Setup™ for studios and labels.
Songwriters
Publishing deals, split agreements, co-writer arrangements, PRO registrations, mechanical and sync licensing structure.
Instrumentalists & Session Musicians
Session agreements, work-for-hire releases, residuals on commercial work, and the entity structure that turns gigs into a real business.
DJs
Performance contracts, residency agreements, brand trademark, remix licensing, original production rights, and venue contracts that don't quietly strip your rights.
Composers
Composition agreements, film/TV/game scoring contracts, library music deals, work-for-hire vs commission structure, and ongoing royalty rights.
Two fee structures. You choose what fits your deal.
Music industry representation runs on industry-standard fee structures. We give you two clear paths — and tell you which one fits your specific situation in your Strategy Session. No hidden math, no surprise invoices.
Pay a fixed fee per service. Best for predictable, scope-defined work — single contract reviews, infrastructure setup, demand letters. No royalty participation, no ongoing percentage.
- Music Industry Contract Review (≤20 pages) — $2,500
- Music Industry Contract Review (21+ pages / major label) — $4,000
- Custom Producer Agreement Drafting — $5,000
- Splits Infrastructure Package™ — $5,000–$7,500
- Letter of Direction Drafting & Filing — $1,000
- Sample / Interpolation Clearance License — $2,500
- Pre-Litigation Demand Letter — $2,000
- Pre-Litigation Resolution Package™ — Starting $4,500
Pay a percentage of your deal's Defined Compensation over a 24-month window. Industry-standard for music industry transactional work. Best when SLG's negotiation directly drives the deal value.
- 5% Standard — Single-party, no IP complexity, no opposing counsel
- 7% Moderate — Opposing counsel engaged, contract over 20 pages, minor clearance
- 10% High Complexity — Sample/interpolation clearance, multi-party, retroactive recovery, major-label counterparty
- 24-month Royalty Participation Window — capped by design
- Applies only to the specific deal — your catalog stays 100% yours
- VIP courtesy: 0.5% reduction for past/current clients in good standing
Working musicians with constant deal flow ask us about our Annual Music Industry Counsel Retainer™ — a year-round legal partnership with monthly contract reviews, priority response, and reduced transactional rates on covered deals. We'll discuss whether it fits your situation in your Strategy Session.
Model your fee structure before you sit down with us.
Our Music Industry Fee Calculator shows you both options side by side. Enter your deal's upfront payment and projected 24-month royalties, select which services you need, and see exactly what flat-fee deliverables would cost versus the transactional percentage. The math is transparent — and the choice stays yours.
Her attention to detail and the passion she displays while addressing legal matters is unparalleled. A miracle worker. I can't thank her enough.— Taj Mahal · Grammy-Winning Blues Legend
The questions you're already asking before they cost you money.
I've been offered a record deal. Should I sign it?
Not before an attorney reviews it. Record deals are designed to transfer ownership of your masters and publishing to the label — often for the entire term of copyright (which is your lifetime plus 70 years). Key issues we look for: master ownership, term length, recoupment math, options to extend, advance vs royalty structure, and reversion rights. We tell you exactly what you're giving away and what to push back on.
What's the difference between owning my masters and owning my publishing?
Masters are the actual recordings — the audio files. Publishing is the composition itself — the song that could be re-recorded by anyone. They generate separate royalty streams: master royalties from streaming, publishing royalties from sync, mechanical, and performance. Most artists give away both without realizing they're two separate assets. We help you understand what you actually own and structure deals accordingly.
Do I really need a trademark for my stage name if I'm just starting out?
Yes — and the sooner the better. Your stage name is the commercial asset every other piece of your career attaches to. Without trademark registration, anyone can register it first, sue you for using "their" mark, or build a brand on something confusingly similar to yours. We've seen artists lose names they'd been performing under for years. The cheapest time to trademark is before you're famous.
How do I split publishing with my co-writer?
Split agreements should be in writing, signed, and structured at the moment the song is finished — not "we'll figure it out later." Standard splits are 50/50 unless the agreement says otherwise, but session musicians, producers, and "vibe contributors" complicate things fast. We draft co-writer splits that reflect actual contribution and protect everyone before the song goes anywhere commercially.
What's Production Entity Setup™ and do I need one?
It's our purpose-built package for music producers and creative entrepreneurs running production businesses. Covers entity formation, EIN, operating agreement alignment, foreign registration if needed, banking readiness, and one production contract review. If you're running a label, studio, or production company under your own name without an LLC, you're personally liable for everything that happens commercially. Production Entity Setup™ is how you separate yourself from the business.
Can you work with musicians outside Florida?
Yes. Trademark, copyright, contract review, business formation, and entertainment work are all available nationwide. The estate planning practice is Florida-only — but the music industry legal work happens across every state we file in.
What happens to my catalog after I'm gone?
Without an estate plan, your catalog becomes a frozen asset — royalties accrue but no one is authorized to license, renew, or strategically manage it. Disputes arise between heirs. Sync opportunities are missed. The catalog you spent your career building becomes a problem instead of a legacy. Estate planning for musicians involves designating who manages the catalog, who receives royalties, and how publishing and master rights transfer. This is generational wealth infrastructure — and it's the difference between income that lasts and income that dies with you.
What's "Defined Compensation" and why does it matter?
If you elect the transactional fee structure, the percentage is calculated against your "Defined Compensation" — the total of advances, master royalties, publishing royalties, performance royalties, sync fees, and SoundExchange distributions you receive from this specific deal during a 24-month window. Critically: your pre-existing catalog, unrelated future works, and earnings after the 24-month window are excluded. The transactional fee is matter-specific by design — your career equity stays yours.
How do I decide between flat fee and transactional fee?
Cash flow and deal scale. If you have upfront capital and the work is scope-defined (single contract review, infrastructure setup, demand letter), flat fees are usually more economical. If you're negotiating a major deal where SLG's representation directly drives the value — and you'd rather pay as your deal earns rather than upfront — the transactional structure aligns the firm's incentives with yours. Our Fee Calculator shows both side-by-side so you can model your specific situation. Final structure determination happens in your Strategy Session.
What if I have constant deals — do you offer something ongoing?
Yes. For working musicians with constant deal flow, we offer an Annual Music Industry Counsel Retainer™ — a year-round legal partnership with monthly contract reviews, priority response, access to our Music Industry Template Library, and reduced transactional rates on covered deals. It's not for everyone — it's structured for musicians who need a lawyer in the rotation, not just for specific matters. We'll discuss whether it fits your situation in your Strategy Session.
What happens in a Strategy Session?
You bring your specific situation — a contract you've been offered, a trademark question, a co-writer dispute, a publishing structure decision, or "I don't know where to start" — and Attorney Stokes gives you a one-hour focused legal diagnostic. You leave with a clear picture of your legal exposure, a prioritized action plan, and the right fee structure recommendation. If you retain the firm within 14 days, the $500 applies directly to your engagement.
Entertainment Law Overview
Musicians, actors, and models all live under the broader Entertainment Law practice. See the full picture — and find adjacent personas that might also fit your situation.
Visit Entertainment Law → Adjacent Buyer PathBuilding on a Platform?
If your music career is primarily built on TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, or Instagram — the legal terrain is different. Handle protection, brand deals, sponsorship contracts. Visit our Creators practice.
Visit Creators →Your name. Your masters. Your publishing.
Let's protect all three.
Start with a $500 Strategy Session — one focused hour with Attorney Stokes to review your contracts, your brand exposure, and your career stage. You walk away with a clear, prioritized legal action plan and the right fee structure recommendation for your specific deal.
Book a Strategy Session — $500 1 Hour · Zoom · By Appointment · Mon–ThuWorking musicians with active deal flow are welcome to ask about the Annual Music Industry Counsel Retainer™ in your Strategy Session.