Music Tips for Music Lawyers

MUSIC TIPS:

Hello guys!

We’reeeeeee back! And you already know we’ve come back bigger, better, and definitely hotter. Once again, we’re here with some more juicy and insightful music tips to get you going, floating, and soaring in the music world.

Today, we have another special someone in the music industry whose work is again, mostly behind the scenes. But these guys are actual shadow guys, they’re like the men in black, call it whatever you want really, but just know they’re legally stealth… mostly. Okay okay don’t panic, they’re legal all the time. Maybe a little too legal in fact,  because they know the law like the back of their hands!

You’ve probably guessed it right by now, haven’t you? Welllll today we’re showcasing the Music Lawyers! These superheroes are always saving the day, whether it’s settling disputes and maintaining peaceful relationships or protecting their clients from shady deals in the dark alleys of the night, their priority is always the safety and security of the client, they let the creatives be creatives and go ahead to take care of the things on paper. Let’s find out more about them and what they actually do!

WHO ARE MUSIC LAWYERS:

Music lawyers are who we like to call industry experts (on all things legal). They specialize in the intricacies of music law, dealing with any legal issues surrounding the music industry. They handle a wide range of said issues, ranging from contract management to copyright claims, artist representation, and many more. Music lawyers are one thing we might overlook in the music business (especially for people on the outside) but they are essentially very key in protecting an artist's legal welfare and making sure their rights are secure. They are the serious side of entertainment.

And you best believe that we’ve asked our very own CiDAR Africa lawyer, Bobby, for the coolest words of wisdom to douse you in for whatever unique journey you’re aiming to embark on in the music world. So if you’re ready for some more scoop from the behind-the-scenes guys? Say less because we’ve got you covered!

Q & A :

1. In a nutshell, what would you say it is that you do at CiDAR Africa?

BOBBY: Well, in a nutshell, my role is ensuring that any agreement that goes out is perfect or any agreement we are reviewing is perfect. I also make sure there is a structure to the business aspect of CiDAR Africa, to ensure that we are not just merely a top distribution and marketing company, but also making money for and from the creatives that we work with.

2. ⁠How would you describe the role of law in the music business, how important is it and do you think it has any major impact on the industry behind the scenes?

BOBBY: The role of law in the music business is to make sure that structures are put in place. As a lawyer, You are basically in the art of entering a proper agreement with creatives, brands, and companies. So your job is essentially to look for loopholes for your clients. You also stand out in making flexible agreements for your clients. Even beyond just contracts, most lawyers are really good business managers so they can think on and explore great opportunities for their clients. For me, It’s very important and law has so much impact behind the scenes, lawyers are always negotiating so many lawyers bring the deals to the table at most points in time.

3. I guess It’ll be a good deal then, to get a lawyer today! If you were sleeping on that, now is a good time to wake up! No time like the present. So the next question is What’s your favourite song at the moment by any CiDAR artiste and in general

BOBBY: My favorite CiDAR artiste song at the moment, is ‘Awolowo’ by Fido, and generally, I would say “Phenomena” by BNXN.

4. ⁠What do you find most fascinating about music?

BOBBY: I think what I find most fascinating about music is how a song can take you up from 0 to a 100 within a short time. Especially songs I worked on, to see the progress on how people appreciate the music, It’s always lovely. I think another thing I find quite fascinating is how people have the liberty to be divided on their feelings about certain music. We can hear a song together and just ultimately hear two different things. You can hear a song and think it’s so perfect, and wonder how on earth anybody does not share that feeling with you. And you’ll hear someone say “ehh” and it’s just amazing because you feel the song. It happens a lot, it could also be the other way around. I guess I’m just fascinated by how music can be so subjective.

5. ⁠How would you describe your ideal day at work:

BOBBY: Uhm my ideal day. I think, once I’m back from the gym, I have like a to-do list of things I’m supposed to do set down so I just start running through them. Some days are so crazy that I could have a to-do list of 10 things before I start my day and within the day, I acquire extra 10 things to do. Sometimes I’m amazed and I really just want to run away but this is the life I chose, I love music, and I don’t think I’d love to be in any other place than where I am.

6. Have you ever been in a very dramatic situation with artists and if you have What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever worked on? Any wild stories or bizarre requests?

BOBBY: Oh yeah I’m always seeing dramatic cases. Well not always because I’m careful not to work with dramatic people but I mean, you don’t know until they get really dramatic. But I’ve been in a situation, where I was representing a producer and I thought that I was having solid communication with the producer but he kept sidestepping me and went ahead to chat with the artiste on his own and they developed a separate agreement. But my client (the producer) kept telling me a different story so I had to go back to the artiste to say ‘Oh this is what my client says’. Then the artiste pulled up a chat between Himself and my client (the producer), a conversation that was totally different from what the client had told me. The client then tells me to take the fall and not call him out as responsible for the drama.That was a crazy one.

7. If you weren’t a lawyer, what role would you play in the music industry? Would you pursue a singing career, fulfill any secret dreams of being a producer or A and R?

BOBBY: Before I was a lawyer, I was an artiste actually. So that dream has already been pursued. But I also do business management so that’s another thing I would do. With A & R, It’s a bit dicey hmm. I think have the ears for music, sometimes in the creative process but I also think my ears for music work more on the finished product. I can tell what song should be put out at what time or how a project should look in terms of what songs should fall behind each other. So that’s a bit on the fence for me.

8. ⁠In a world where artists or managements are constantly worried about getting “played,” what’s one legal tip you think every musician or person in the music business should know?

BOBBY: I mean you can’t always remove the fear. I would say sign contracts because it’s very essential, but even with contracts people will still fail you and be very silly. So I think the best thing is always to “not to lose guard” because the creative industry is so funny so you always have to have one eye open, in fact, your two eyes open, even at night. You also need to surround yourself with people you can trust and a small circle at that.

9. What’s your work ritual or a go-to pointer you use, when dealing with a client (you don’t have to give us all the juice but a sip is enough )

BOBBY: My work ritual to be honest is, when there’s so much to be done or when I’ve done so much, I take a one-hour break, playing FIFA. Trust me, I can play. So I love to play because it relaxes my brain and I’m ready to take on the next hours after that.

10. ⁠What’s the one music industry myth you’re tired of hearing that you won’t hesitate to correct if given the chance? Or any myths about business law in general

BOBBY: Hearing that Afrobeat does not have substance. It’s a very silly take to me. Maybe a lot of commercial mainstream songs might not be the biggest in terms of lyrics, but there are a lot of Afrobeats artists who put in the work in terms of lyrics. I think the problem we have is that once you put on a beat that has a higher bpm, that is above average, it can feel like the lyrics don’t matter anymore and it’s just all about the beat and that’s something I disagree with. There are lots of artists who put out party songs with crazy good lyrics.

Then I also think we we also attribute “good lyrics” with heartbreak or issues of Nigeria and reality type issues. Yes those are good subjects, but you can write a song about s*x and it’s beautifully written. A party song with good lyrics. You can have songs on other issues that have nice lyrics. So I don’t think Afrobeat music does not have substance. Do we have artists who do pangolo music? yes we do, but we also have artists who write a lot of god stuff

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11. ⁠Can you give us an example of a contract clause that most artists overlook but could really save them in the long run?

BOBBY: Yeah I think an accounting clause and auditing. It’s usually skipped but it’s a clause that allows you to audit statements properly especially when you feel there’s been a misuse of money or mismanagement of funds in general. So that clause helps you a lot.

12. How do you explain to your non-music friends what you do? Do they see it as a different cool world or do they think you’re constantly fighting crazy, tedious battles

I mean they feel it’s so cool. When I just say entertainment industry, everybody’s like ah it’s so nice. But when I get to give them a glimpse of what I do they’re wowed. “They’ll be like wow  I didn’t know it could be this deep or this serious”. So at first they think I’m just living the life but they don’t know the struggles, I have to fight almost every morning, clearing songs and all of that.

   And there you have it. It’s a wrap today on  this insightful Q & A session. We surely hope to see you next time! And until then, we hope you’re soaking it all in, xoxo!

You can check out Bobby on his Socials:

Instagram:  @bobbyvie_

Twitter:  @Bobby__vie

LinkedIn:  Victor Ekpo