PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

With major changes in the record and music industries, artist managers are more important than ever to guide artist careers through the minefields.

These experts come together to give you the inside track on major deal points, what they mean and what leverage you have to negotiate the best possible deal.

Most people think they can just hand a negotiation to a lawyer, and leave it at that. But as a professional, you need to be aware of the process and deal points, too, and what the short- and long-term implications to your artists’ careers may be.

Most importantly, you will see HOW a management deal is negotiated and be involved in the process.

Get educated about the art of deal-making!

Producers, Artist Managers and Artist Reps
Record & Music Publishing Executives
Music Attorneys, Concert Industry Professionals
Brand Marketing & Creative Executives
Accountants, Business Managers & CPAs

Major areas of negotiation, including:

• The right time to make a deal
• Terms
• Options
• Commissions and how they’re paid
• Sunset clauses
• Deliverables
• Selecting a business manager
• Making the most of the artist-manager agreement

William F. Leopold, Leopold Management
Alfred Schlesinger, Esq.

NARIP PROGRAM NUMBER: P87
PROGRAM DATE: July 22, 2009
HANDOUT:
1. Important deal points
2. Personal artist management form agreement

QUESTIONS? Call 818-769-7007 or contact NARIP

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

NARIP

WILLIAM F. LEOPOLD

Name a popular music act from the last forty years and Bill Leopold has probably promoted them, managed them, published their music, or produced a concert tour for them. Just out of high school in the late Sixties, Bill started promoting teen dances in the Northwest. Working for Terry Bassett and Seattle’s legendary disc jockey Pat O’Day, they promoted successful acts such as Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Byrds, The Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, The Mammas & Papas, The Shindogs, Delaney & Bonnie, The Box Tops, The Lemon Pipers, Herman’s Hermits and the Yard Birds, just to name a few. Through the late Sixties and early Seventies, the company evolved into the original Concerts West. Bill took his skills on the road producing North American tours for Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Three Dog Night, Jimi Hendrix, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, The Moody Blues and John Denver. After leaving Concerts West in the mid-Seventies to start W & L Music, he recorded and published acts like William T. Smith, The Funky Kings, Michael Finnigan and Spanky and Our Gang. Bill, working with attorney/manager Al Schlesinger, worked with David Gates and Bread, one of the biggest selling acts of the Seventies. The early Eighties saw Bill further demonstrating his versatility by producing television shows and promoting concerts with partner Bob Eubanks of the “Newlywed Game” fame. Next came working with The Eric/Chandler Company where Leopold promoted the Neil Diamond United States Tour and Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Tour. In November 1982, Bill was convinced by his wife Karla to see a young woman named Melissa Etheridge performing in a bar in Pasadena. He knew immediately that she would be a superstar and became her manager. Since that time, Melissa has sold more than thirty million records around the world and has become an icon to millions. Over the past twenty-five years, Leopold has built one of the premiere boutique management companies in the music business, known for attention to detail, focus and expertise in all areas of the music business. The company continues to thrive in an increasingly difficult business environment. W. F. Leopold Management is: Mark Graham, Josh Leopold, Dave Morris, Chandler Tuck and Nick Velo. The company currently represents Melissa Etheridge, Dave Koz and Eric Hutchinson.

ALFRED SCHLESINGER, ESQ.

Mr. Schlesinger has been a music business attorney for over 45 years. Prior to becoming an attorney, he had his own record and music publishing companies. Mr. Schlesinger was the personal manager of the recording and performing group Bread, and has written articles for the Beverly Hills Bar Association Journal, the National Academy of Songwriters (of which he is a founding member), the Association of International Entertainment Attorneys (of which he is a charter member), and various educational institutions throughout the United States. He has also taught courses on the music business and has been a guest lecturer and panelist for many educational institutions and music-oriented organizations. Mr. Schlesinger is a past president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and past two-term national chairman of the board of said academy. He is a past recipient of Billboard Magazine’s award for Entertainment Attorney of the Year. A first-class bon vivant, he was honored with the Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Service Award during the 2006 GRAMMY® Week festivities.

Program music courtesy of The G-Man (Golosio Music Publishing, BMI)