Workshop: Music Licensing for Venues & Performers

June 28 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Free

The Handmade Music School presents Music Licensing for Venues & Performers: What You Need to Know on Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Floyd Country Store. This is a free event with guest presenter Justin Laughter.

Music Licensing for Venues & Performers

Ever wonder who owns the copyright in a song written and arranged by members of a performance group? How about who owns the sound recording of a song tracked at a studio? Copyright law and content ownership is critical to the success of a musical artist. Often referred to as “mailbox money,” musical composition and sound recording licensing and residual payments are important sources of income for songwriters and recording artists. This program will teach attendees the basics of song and sound recording law ownership and licensing, including, mechanical licenses (cover songs), public performance licenses (venues/PROs), and synchronization/master use licenses (video).

Justin Laughter is a business, intellectual property, and entertainment attorney. His experience representing clients is wide-ranging, including business and non-profit structuring and operations, copyright and trademark protection, licensing and enforcement, music/film/literary/theater law, internet law, and private securities offerings. He regularly counsels startups, artists, labels, publishers, breweries, restaurants, makers, and other creative entrepreneurs.

Justin has been honored as a Virginia Super Lawyers-Rising Star in IP (2013-2018), part of Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite (2011, 2014, and 2016) and as one of Richmond’s Top 40 under 40 by Style Weekly Magazine (2008). He is a 2003 graduate of the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa) and a 2006 graduate of William and Mary Law School (Order of the Coif).

He is also active in the nonprofit, creative, and entertainment community. Justin is a Board Member of the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, Board Member of JAMinc, Board Member of AMP! Metro Richmond, Board Member of OneVoice, a member of Lawyers for the Arts, and an advisory board member of Gallery5 (museum, art, and performance). He is also the former Interim Executive Director of Virginians for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy non-profit organization. Further, Justin is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, known for its Grammy Awards. Justin is an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Law School. He also routinely speaks to community audiences, law students, and professionals on legal topic