Take It From Them

One of the most avoided subjects of the entertainment industry is LAW, but it is the most important concept to understand in order to survive a gruesome industry. Many artists have talents, but the individual later find themselves irrelevant in a couple of years due to the lack of legal knowledge that result in multi-million dollar lawsuits. We even see in articles that artists and musicians we look up to are caught in legal battles that seem senseless but are later lessons for all who are watching.  Take the legal woes of Drake, Beyoncé, and New Boyz to understand how agreements and copyright infringement can be a headache in the long run.

In the news, it has been reported that James Prince, the guy who discovered Drake, is suing Drake’s management team for money. Prince states he is owed money from a verbal agreement between him and Cortez Bryant. Prince is also asking the judge to stop the negotiations between Drake and his record label because it would hurt Drake financially in the long run. Prince teaches us a lesson that when we do business, we should always get agreements in writing. He could have avoided the legalities if the agreement was already put into writing and both parties had signed. However, we must understand that verbal agreements can uphold in court also. BE WISE and CAUTIOUS of the words you say.

Oftentimes, mainstream artists become a target for lucrative ventures because of the artist’s major following and the company’s ability to make millions of dollars. This is the case of Beyoncé and Gate Five who wanted to release a video game with Beyoncé’s dance moves. The deal was very lucrative for both parties, but in the middle of the agreement, Beyoncé requested more money from Gate Five. Since the company was not able to come up with the money, she pulled out of the deal. It was then reported that Beyonce’ was actually looking at doing business with another gaming company (EA Games) which was a breach of contract. Therefore, Gate Five is now suing her for damages and for the judge to release documents of conversations she had with other parties that could unfold her motive of leaving the deal. In this instance, Beyonce’ business ethics come into question. If an individual does not want to do business with a company, just say NO! Going behind the backs of people destroys trust and a good relationship. It is important to know as artists that your reputation follows you everywhere. Practice business ethics to ensure your practices are sound.

Lastly, the importance of research is key in this next case. Frequently, an artist comes up with a unique name, but they do not know someone else across the world thought of the same name. New Boyz is a Hip-Hop group who is being sued by a Christian group from Australia named Newsboys. Newsboys from Australia have been receiving bad reviews from followers who think they have been releasing vulgar music, which is actual music from New Boyz.  Therefore, Newsboys are suing for damages for lost revenue during the time this confusion happened. I feel that this is something that management and label’s lawyers should have researched before releasing music under this name. Cover the bases because being creative is not too common nowadays. However, I do not agree with the fact that Newsboys should get paid for loss of revenue because they are from Australia, but some type of statement needs to be made.

All in all, having legal knowledge of the business can save you trouble in the long run. Be proactive about your career and learn from these artists who are constantly in the media. Remember to get everything in writing, have good business practices and ethics, and RESEARCH information.