Artists: Copyright and Music Essay example

Submitted By mymomso
Words: 1790
Pages: 8

Artist management involves the activities of organizations or persons that facilitate the success of artists. The artist manager makes use of the artists’ potential in benefiting both parties of the agreement (Allen, 2011, p.1). Laws in place have affected the customs and practices in artist management over the last twenty-five years in music. Acts by the governing authorities have contributed to these changes in the United Kingdom. Initially agreement between artists and their managers neglected issues relating with the requirement of laws. However, dissatisfaction by artistes led to filing of suits, which later formed precedent by altering the laws governing music practices. Artist management has to be effective for all the stakeholders in music to benefit. Therefore, there has to be an artist manager who takes the responsibilities to ensure business takes place mutually (Allen, 2011). The person will take charge in planning and other managerial responsibilities. This paper looks at how the report cases influenced the music artist management in the United Kingdom. The cases in this study have caused a shift from the traditional practices in music management for over the last twenty-five years. The judgments of those cases have lead to the establishment of laws guiding relations in the music industry, specifically artist management. All the cases emphasized on the need to shift away from split management, which was common in the UK in the past. In the case of Mills Company as an example, Sullivan received 50% for the copyright, which later became a precedent in the customs and practices of artist management.
Legal authorities nowadays have influence on artist management activities compared to the past
(Allen, 2011). In the case above the judge ordered an inquiry into profits made by Mills
Company. There are compensations to artists as opposed to the past, from the above case mills is MANAGING ARTISTS 3 fighting for his empire, which is suffering because of engaging in malpractice. The judgment and laws in place forces him to adhere to requirements when managing artists.
According to the case reports music has become a source of livelihood to many individuals in United Kingdom. Allen (2011) states that the music industry has experienced growth over the past years commercially thus promoting professionalism in artist management.
The present day artists understand their basic patent rights regarding music and the relations with their managers (Marcone, 2003, p.145). Awareness has made the artists challenge status quo from the traditional style of artist management. In the case reports, financial agreements takes place in accordance to the acts stipulated thus alteration to custom and practices, which took place in the past. The case reports clearly highlight management roles in ensuring success to the music industry. All the cases prove that some management duties are more critical like marketing and selling artistry works. The report cases have influenced the present practices by managers whereby signing contracts have become a basic legal requirement before managing an artist
(Allen, 2011, p.2). This ensures justice and fairness to all the parties who engage in music in case where a dispute arises.
In the report cases, copyright is a sensitive element considered as the major contributor of disputes in music. Financial disagreements are subjective to patent rights when solving cases affecting artist managers (Beeching, 2005). The artists and other individuals in the music industry have the mandatory obligation of recognizing copyright laws as stipulated in the United
Kingdom. The copyright law has provision that allows for fair utilization of literature material by all citizens, whereby they have a right to conduct personal research on a piece of music works.
The law gives artists managers the right use music from other artists but reciprocate