New York Music Attorney for Artists, Producers, Labels and More
In the dynamic world of music, the right legal support is one of your most valuable assets. The Law Office of Adam C. Freedman offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the unique needs of artists, producers, and industry professionals
Protect Your Creative Legacy
Your music is intellectual property — it can be owned, licensed, stolen, and exploited. The difference between artists who build lasting careers and artists who spend years untangling bad deals usually comes down to one thing: documentation.
Copyright protects your recordings and compositions. Trademarks protect your name and brand. Together they form the legal foundation of everything you do commercially — streaming royalties, merchandise, sync placements, touring.
Most artists don’t think about this until something goes wrong: a collaborator claims ownership of a track, a label uses your name without approval, a sample cleared verbally becomes an infringement claim. By then, the leverage is gone and the costs are higher.
The Law Office of Adam C. Freedman specializes in getting this infrastructure in place before the crisis — so you’re protected while you’re still building.
Contracts and Agreements
Every significant moment in your music career comes with a contract attached. Producer agreements. Record deals. Management agreements. Publishing deals. Distribution agreements. Sync licenses.
“It’s standard” is one of the most expensive phrases in the music industry. Standard for whom? The other side has lawyers. You should understand what you’re signing before you sign it.
Services include review, drafting, and negotiation across:
- Producer agreements — royalty rates, work-for-hire, credit, recoupment, and beat ownership
- Record deals — advances, royalty structures, option periods, and reversion rights
- Management agreements — commission structures, scope of authority, and exit provisions
- Publishing agreements — co-publishing vs. admin deals, mechanicals, and sync splits
- Distribution agreements — territory, exclusivity, payment timelines, and termination rights
- Collaboration agreements — split sheets, ownership, and sample clearance
Dispute Resolution
Not every legal matter can be prevented. Collaborators fall out. Labels don’t pay. Managers overstep. Distributors withhold royalties without explanation.
The Law Office of Adam C. Freedman handles music industry disputes at every level — from a demand letter that gets an overdue payment released to full representation in contract and copyright disputes. The goal is the best outcome for your career, which sometimes means aggressive legal action and sometimes means a well-placed phone call.
Common disputes handled include:
- Unpaid royalties and placement fees
- Ownership disputes over masters, compositions, or beats
- Breach of management or label agreements
- Unauthorized use of music, name, or likeness
- Copyright infringement claims (incoming and outgoing)
If you’ve already received a legal notice, don’t respond without counsel. Early intervention almost always produces better outcomes than reactive damage control.
Sync Licensing
A sync license is what puts your music in a film, TV show, ad, or video game. It’s one of the most lucrative revenue streams in music – and one of the most paperwork-intensive. Every sync deal involves two separate licenses, negotiated payment terms, usage restrictions, and clearance of any underlying samples. Get it wrong and the placement falls through, or you license something you don’t fully own.
Services include:
- Reviewing and negotiating sync and master use license agreements
- Confirming chain of title so you can certify ownership without liability
- Clearing samples before they become a problem in the licensing process
- Advising on fair market rates across different media categories
- Structuring blanket licensing arrangements for production music catalogs
Electronic and independent artists are increasingly sought out for sync – their music is distinctive and easier to license than major label catalogs. If music supervisors are starting to reach out, having legal infrastructure in place means you can say yes faster and negotiate from a position of confidence.
We represent artists, bands, producers, songwriters, record labels, artist managers, music publishers, and more.
Some of our current clients include:
Of the Trees
Artist
Subtronics
Artist
Michael Bibi
Artist
Space Yacht
Record Label/Events
Prime Culture
Artist Management
Dome of Doom
Record Label
Level Up
Artist
Osees
Band
Decap
Producer
Why Choose The Law Office of Adam C. Freedman?
Industry Insight
With years of experience in the music business, we understand the nuances of the industry.
Personalized Approach
Your career is unique, and your legal strategy should be too.
Proactive Protection
Stay ahead of potential legal issues with experienced guidance.
Negotiation Power
Secure the best deals with a skilled negotiator on your side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does a music attorney actually do?
A: A music attorney handles the legal side of your career — reviewing and negotiating contracts, registering trademarks, clearing samples, and stepping in when something goes wrong, like a payment that never arrived or a collaborator claiming ownership of your track. The real value isn’t just crisis response. It’s having someone in your corner before the problem starts, when you still have leverage. Read the full breakdown: What Does a Music Attorney Actually Do?
Q: Do I need a music attorney before signing a record deal or management agreement?
A: Yes — and before you sign, not after. Once you’ve signed, your attorney is negotiating from inside a deal instead of structuring one from scratch. Record deals and management agreements contain terms that can bind you for years: recoupment structures that delay royalties, unilateral options that extend your contract, and commission provisions that outlast the relationship. The fear of seeming difficult is one of the most common reasons artists sign bad deals. A label or manager who won’t give you time to get legal review is a red flag, not a reason to rush
Q: What should I do if I haven’t been paid for a placement?
A: Start with professional follow-up before assuming bad faith — most unpaid placements are bureaucratic delays. Document your agreement, delivery confirmation, and any payment communications, then send a direct email asking for a timeline and recoupment statement. That resolves the majority of cases. If it doesn’t, the right move depends on the amount: under $3K, email templates are usually enough; $3K–$10K, a demand letter often triggers payment; above $10K, you need full representation. Move quickly. Waiting months to follow up signals to the other side that you’re not paying attention — and some of them are counting on that.
Q: I manage artists. Do I need a music attorney, or can my artists each hire their own?
A: Both, ideally — but for different reasons. Your artists need their own counsel for deals that directly affect them. You need your own attorney for the agreements that govern your business: management contracts with sunset clauses and commission structures, company formation documents, and any agreements where your interests and your artist’s interests might not be perfectly aligned (which is more common than people expect). One attorney cannot ethically represent both a manager and the artist they manage in the same transaction. Beyond the conflict-of-interest, building a relationship with a music attorney who understands your roster gives you infrastructure you can rely on as your business grows — someone you can refer your artists to and trust to handle their matters the same way they handle yours.
Harmonize Your Art with Experienced Legal Support
Don’t let legal complexities hold your music career back. With the Law Office of Adam C Freedman as your legal team, you’ll have the freedom to create, perform, and grow your brand with peace of mind.
Contact us today and take the first step towards a legally sound music career. Your art deserves careful protection and guidance.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
The materials on this site have been prepared by Adam Freedman, Esq. for general informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. Viewers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel on the specific facts and circumstances in question from an attorney licensed in their jurisdiction. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship between the user and Adam Freedman. Any information sent to Adam Freedman through this site will not be treated as confidential and is not protected by the attorney-client privilege.