5 Crucial Reasons You need to hire a music lawyer in 2025

Whether you're an emerging music artist, songwriter, performer, or producer, hiring a music lawyer in today’s industry is an absolute necessity, not a luxury for the big names. 

From protecting your creative property from intellectual vultures to making sure you don’t sign away your future in a bad record deal, a good lawyer can save your career before it even starts.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• What a music lawyer does
• When to hire one
• 5 crucial reasons why they’re essential
• How to find and vet the right legal partner for your career.

Who is a music lawyer?

A music lawyer (or entertainment lawyer) is a contract and intellectual property specialist who works with artists, songwriters, producers, and labels to:

• Review and negotiate contracts
• Protect copyrights and trademarks
• Handle licensing deals and disputes
• Advise on partnerships, publishing, and distribution deals

They’re often the first line of defense between you and a bad deal. Unlike general lawyers, music lawyers understand the unique legal issues in the music industry—copyrights, publishing splits, licensing, sync, touring, brand partnerships, and more.

They also help you in understanding the different concepts that drive the music business, conceiving strategies designed to procure the best deal possible.  

In the past, music lawyers also did a lot of the work that music managers do today—networking, show management, shopping around to record labels, etc. This isn't really the case anymore. 

Still, they help in maintaining connections, acting as confidants and basically having your back throughout your music career. 

They should be your first point of contact when building a team as they are the linchpin that will bring it all together.  

Your lawyer will present you with all the information you need to make an informed choice when a deal comes up. 

Key reasons why you should hire a music lawyer

You could be under the impression that just because you're in show business, you don't have anything to do with lawyers. 

That's a big fallacy considering the many times we've seen cases of bad deals in the industry which could have been avoided if the concerned parties had lawyers by their sides. 

Lawyers are indispensable in the entertainment industry.  you will absolutely need professional music lawyers to protect yourself from people who are looking to rip you. Everyone out here is after their own interests and you have to be careful about your rights. 

Here are some of the reasons why lawyers for musicians are mandatory in the music industry.

Protect your brand

One of the first things you'll do in your music career would be to create a stage name (or a production tag and logo). This will be your brand—an address you'll be associated with throughout your career. 

How would you stop someone from stealing your name and making money with it? And have you considered protecting the rights to use your logo?

Here's where a professional music lawyer comes in. Generally, lawyers for musicians present two options to protect your name and logo. You can trademark your name or rely on the law of passing off. 

While the first option is the best and more expensive, the second option isn't. Which option you ultimately go for will depend on the circumstances you face.

Protect your intellectual property

Each track that you create will include several copyrights. For instance, whenever a song is produced, there would be credit and ownership for the writing of the lyrics, performing the song and the production of the song. If the musician is a solo artist who has written the entire song, this is relatively straightforward. 

However, if there is a collaboration of artists, things can get more complicated because each contributor would own their rights in your track. 

A music lawyer helps you:

• Draft and review split sheets and collaboration agreements
• Clearly define ownership percentages
• Make sure royalties are paid correctly
• Prevent others from using your work without permission

Setting your relationship with your manager right

A management contract will be one of the most important and personal contracts that you'll ever sign in your entire career. 

Usually, artist managers have the best interests of their artists at heart. But some may not be honest. 

Therefore, your lawyer will:

• Review or draft your management agreement
• Ensure fair commission percentages
• Limit how much authority your manager has to act on your behalf
• Protect your financial interests over time

🎯 Pro Tip: Never sign a management contract without legal review—especially if you’re just starting to gain traction.

Clearing samples the right way

Sampling another artist’s song without permission can land you in serious legal trouble—even if it’s just a few seconds.

A music lawyer helps you:

• Secure proper sample clearance
• Negotiate favorable licensing deals
• Avoid lawsuits and expensive settlements
• 
  

Remember Burna Boy’s sampling issue with Toni Braxton? A lawyer could’ve made that process cleaner, faster, and cheaper.

In 2025, with more songs going viral daily, sample clearance isn’t optional. It’s protection.

Avoid Bad Deals and Protect Your Future

Many artists get trapped in terrible record or publishing deals because they were too excited to “blow” to read the fine print. Don’t be one of them.

Before signing any deal—record, sponsorship, publishing, sync, or even an ambassadorial gig—get legal advice.

A good lawyer will:

• Review the terms and clauses
• Negotiate on your behalf
• Spot hidden red flags
• Make sure you’re not giving away ownership of your work

Your music is your business. Treat every agreement like it matters—because it does.

Other Ways a Music Lawyer Can Protect You

• Enforce your rights against slander or false stories
• Protect your assets in personal matters like divorce
• Guard your website and digital identity against fake versions
• Handle sync licensing and booking agreements
• Offer legal advice when expanding internationally

Where can you find a music lawyer?

The best way to find music lawyers is to tap into your trusted contacts in the music industry who have worked with legal advisors in the past. This is typically the best way to find any professional in the music industry—lawyers, managers, accountants, etc. If you trust your contact's judgment and opinion, then you'll likely have faith in their recommendations. 

You can also do a simple Google search or social media search for “music lawyers in Nigeria” or “entertainment Lawyers in the UK” and read reviews about the personalities you find before calling them. 

Things to look out for before you hire a music lawyer

• Their track record - how successful have they been in the past? What do people say about them? If they're relatively new to the industry, what makes them think they can help you navigate the complexities of the industry?
• Fees and billing - professional music lawyers are expensive, but their fees are also negotiable. Ensure you evaluate their quote with your budget and clarify the intervals of their payments and percentages. 
• Vibes and Vision - do they seem like someone you're willing to work with? Do they share your vision? Do they understand your concerns? Sometimes, vibe is all that matters. 

Final Thoughts

The music industry is evolving fast in 2025. New deals, new platforms, new revenue streams—and unfortunately, new ways to get ripped off.

Hiring a music lawyer means you’re serious about your career. They’ll help protect your rights, secure your earnings, and guide your decisions so you can focus on what truly matters—your music.

Bottom line: A great lawyer is not an expense. It’s an investment in your future.