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The RIAA hosted a panel discussion of the Restoring Artistic Protections Act introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) with 300 Entertainment executive Kevin Liles, BMAC co-founder Prophet, entertainment attorney Shay M Lawson, professor Jack Lerner, and attorney Dina LaPolt
Read more about the panel and the successful passage of AB 2799 in California preventing the use of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions over on Variety here
The Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy hosted its annual summer members party at Atlanta’s Terminal West with performances by Pusha T and Summer Walker. As Advocacy Chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy it has been my mission the past four years to let elected officials know that music isn’t just celebrity but we are constituents with real issues, real votes, and real power.
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I had the pleasure of sitting on the Deal Makers panel for Radio One’s annual Music Meeting to discuss :
Key Contract Clauses in Music
Common Misconceptions about Music Royalties
Copyright Basics
Protecting Creative Idea
Thank you to Radio One for the invitation and host Vic Jagger for leading a great conversation.
Catch the replay here:
BESLA presents: Mid-Year Conference Part II on Monday, May 23rd!
Shay M Lawson will be joining Paramount Senior Counsel Henry Behnen, Marlyne Jean Louis, and Complex Senior Counsel Nyasha Foy to discuss legal issues in intellectual property and transactions surrounding choreography, street art, and tattoos in the digital age.
Attorney Shay M Lawson was named to BIllboard’s 2022 list of Top Music Attorney.
FIND THE COMPLETE LIST HERE: https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-top-music-lawyers-2022-list/
Making MONEY MOVES is making sure you know the small print and you have your legal ducks in a row as you build your brand and business. Shay M Lawson joined @itstanyatime not once but twice on the Money Moves Podcast for an expert deep dive presented by @greenwood x @mastercard to talk about:
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💵 Protecting your brand
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💵 Protecting your business
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💵 3 agreements that you need BEFORE sharing your ideas
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LISTEN HERE:
Congratulations to client Sheldon Ferguson for being a part of the now RIAA platinum certified album from Money BaggYo “A Gangsta’s Pain”
Sheldon produced the single “Free Promo” watch the video here:
Client Eboni K William’s spent two days as co-host of ABC’s long running The View franchise!
Watch clips of her appearance here
The Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Broadcast Journalists hosts Shay M Lawson for a workshop on protecting yourself as a media freelancer and entrepreneur.
Honored to be named to Billboard Magazine's 2021 Top Music Lawyers list. The list of peers my name accompanies are so many I admire and respect.
The biggest thanks goes to my incredible clients who trust me and the Law Firm of Lawson McKinley with their careers
I had the pleasure of moderating the NBA’s Young Lawyers Sports & Entertainment Law Panel on A Day in the Life of Legal Affairs and In-House Counsel. Topics discussed included: deal structures, client profiles, law practice areas of expertise, and breaking into the industry.
GRAMMY.com published a great recap of the Industry Insights Panel on Navigating Entertainment Law featuring Shay M Lawson, Dina LaPolt, and Sunsan Genco. Read the 5 Career-Making Takeaways From The GRAMMY U Industry Insights: Navigating Entertainment Law Panel HERE
Three of Atlanta’s top women in entertainment law for an intimate discussion on their music journeys, business knowledge, and more. Featuring panelists Amy Oraefo, and Shay M. Lawson. Beth Moore, Entertainment Attorney at Vivid IP and Georgia State House Representative will be moderating the discussion.
Music industry advocacy organization Songwriters of North America (SONA) elected Shay M Lawson to its Board of Directors at the top of this year. A nonprofit organization formed by and for professional songwriters to fight for fair pay, safety, and equity in legislation, the industry, and beyond. Shay will join the group’s advocacy and education efforts lending her expertise in intellectual property and entertainment law.
Find Out More About SONA: HERE
New from Warner Bro pictures is the moving Fred Hampton biopic Judas and the Black Messiah. Released in theaters and HBOMax the movie is accompanied by a powerful soundtrack featuring the track “Plead the 45th” co-produced by client Groove.
Watch the Official Trailer and Find Movie Times: HERE
Listen to “Plead the 45th” and the entire soundtrack:
Entertainment Attorney and Entrepreneur @AmyOraefo, joined the podcast this week and breaks down how music creators can build business and network effectively within the continent of Africa's booming music scene. LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE
Ready to take the leap from corporate for good?
What should you be doing to prepare? What skills should you take from corporate over to entrepreneurship? What resources are available to make sure your business is a success? What does success look like?
Award-winning founder, creative director, and digital marketer Qianna Smith Bruneteau joins me this week on the Minute of Your Time podcast to share her journey going from working with organizations like Saks Fifth Avenue, TIME Inc, and Nordstrom to successfully launching the American Influencer Council – AIC the first not for profit trade organization for influencers.
We cover:
My masterclass on how to Legally Protect & Scale Your Brand was featured by Support Black College and BYOB for HBCU homecoming week. The two teamed up to provide a virtual career fair/ entrepreneurship expo to their Virtual Homecoming lineup because we all know COVID can’t keep a good HBCU Homecoming down!
Catch the details and replay: HERE
The “Holding Court with Eboni K Williams” podcast officially launched this week via iHeartMedia as a part of Charlemagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network. The show’s initial episode hits the hard details of why the law was RIGHT on the Breonna Taylor case but how that meant an injustice for her brutal killing.
A mix of news, current events, and legal analysis we have come know and appreciate from Eboni K Williams along side co-host Dustin Ross (head writer for “The Read”) is a much needed addition to everyone’s podcast playlist.
Listen & Subscribe to Holding Court with Eboni K Williams: HERE
Client, Offset has launched a virtual concert experience for emerging artists to stay connected with fans in a new joint venture with Axis Replay. The JV’s AXR Experience allows for up to 50 fans to have an intimate VIP experiences with their favorite artists supported by onsite rapid COVID testing. Simultaneously, fans everywhere can join virtually through the hi-tech streaming capabilities of AXSD Media production team.
Learn more about the AXR Experience: HERE
Excited to be featured by Acuity Scheduling chatting about the risks I've taken in my career, the secrets behind building my law firm and of course how I use Acuity Scheduling to keep everything running smoothly and my sanity in tact!
Check out the full article here
Client Eboni K Williams will officially join the cast of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York franchise in season 13. Williams will make history as the first black woman to join the franchise’s cast. She told Essence magazine: "NYC is filled with successful and dynamic Black women." She went on to say, "Can’t wait to share a slice of life in this city that hasn’t been seen before."
Congratulations Eboni! Can’t wait to watch you take the Big Apple by storm!
Client, Gianno Caldwell has joined Newt Gingrich’s G360 to bring the “Outloud with Gianno Caldwell” podcast to iHeartMedia. With initial episodes featuring Herschel Walker, Kim Klacik, and Alan Dershowitz this podcast will make you laugh and think seriously about some of the beliefs you hold on to when it comes to politics and life.
Congrat’s Gianno!
I sat down with CBS news anchor Jessica Larche to give insight as an IP and Entertainment Attorney about Facebook banning music listening experiences as of October 1, 2020, including what the new policy means for music artists and DJs on the platform.
I was invited by the American Influencer Council for their 'Creator Lunch & Learn' series debut, "Contract Terms to Consider Prior to Signing: Morals Clause & Inclusion Rider."
The series topic was initiated in the article "How Influencers Are Protecting Themselves Against Misbehaving Brands,"
Catch the replay here
Building an enterprise takes time. But how exactly does it happen? This case study takes a look into Issa Rae, her show Insecure, Issa Rae Productions, and her Record Label and Publishing Company Raedio and the 4 principles to making multiple passions make sense from a strategic standpoint.
In Summary:
That big brand comes to you and they want to partner with you for you to produce some content for them. Forbes approaches your Business Insider sends an email to republish your great article they saw on Linkedin. CEOs and entrepreneurs that have built mega successful brands sharing signature frameworks via keynote opportunities speaking at conferences, what should you be looking for in your speaker agreements? The creative concept you pitched has picked up major traction and may get distribution on a larger platform.
How can you protect ownership of your brand and strategically negotiate opportunities to scale your business?
This part two of negotiating with power covers exactly what I do as a lawyer in every negotiation plus 4 lessons you can learn from the current dispute for ownership between Nick Cannon and Viacom for his Wild-N-Out improv show in protecting ownership of your brand
Let’s talk about powerful negotiations. Do you have the CEO mindset when it comes to negotiations? If you are looking for your personal brand or your business to be a household name, what are some key things you should be considering in negotiations.
I am sharing six lessons you can learn in negotiations from the current lawsuit that is going on right now between Netflix and Monique the Oscar winning actress and comedian.
If you have a CEO mindset if you are looking for your brand product service to be a household name, when those opportunities really start coming your way; these are the lessons in negotiations that I want you to be equipped with. The biggest mistake CEO minded entrepreneurs make is when those opportunities finally come your way, you don't negotiate because you are afraid of losing the opportunity.
Don't get caught shoplifting online! Today's episode covers the top 3 huge legal mistakes I see entrepreneurs making online during COVID19 that could cost them big time. These are things I'm seeing in FB groups, on Twitter, and IG that are getting entrepreneurs blocked from email platforms, blocked from access to IG Live, FB Live, and more. Understand the copyright laws that govern the internet and how it impacts the way you should be doing business online in a COVID19 world.
One of the main foundations of IP is the underlying value and goodwill built into the good or service associated with a particular brand.
Despite closing its doors and filing for bankruptcy, Pier 1 Imports was able to sell it IP for a whopping $20 million dollars. According to Retail Dive, the sale of sporting goods store Modell's intellectual property topped $3.6 million. Assets include Modell's trademarks, domain names, a customer database with some 5.6 million files in it .
So what about your business? If you were to sell the IP and goodwill of your business what would those Assets include?