I am an entertainment attorney located on the famous Music Row in Nashville Tennessee. I have practicing music and entertainment law in Nashville for the past 11 years. I am also an experienced litigator. Prior to moving to Nashville with my family in 1996, I practiced law in Philadelaphia as an both a litigator and as in-house counsel to a Fortune 50 company. Below are some of my accomplishments:
Publications & Accreditations
Identified as one of America’s Premier Lawyers by Skynet Radio in 2006.
Creator & Editor of Law on the Row, a marketing publication targeted at developing new clients.
Author, A Day in the Life of a PDA-Enabled Lawyer, PDA247.com & CliePlanet.com, 2003; Reprinted or Linked on the following web publications: About.com, Palmtops/PDA’s; Punch & Jurists Weekly Newsletter, Vol. 11. No. 14; Paul L. Boley Law Library; and Handakte WebLawg (German).
Author, “The Impact of MP3 on Songwriters and the Music Industry,” American Songwriter, Jan.-Mar. 2000.
Author, “Songwriters Meet MP3: The Imminent Shift,” American Songwriter, Sept.-Oct. 2000.
Recipient, Meritorious Service Award, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 1997. Co-Author (w/Mitchell S. Bierman), “Avoiding the Legal Power Trap,” Delaware Law Forum, Vol. 17, No. 1, Sept. 1989.Author, “Setting the Standard, featured in Currents, the monthly publication of C.A.S.E. (Council for the Support of Education), Washington, D.C., November 1988.
Seminars & Appearances
Entertainment Law 101, Argosy Art Institute of Nashville, Nashville Tennessee, May 19, 2008.
Interviewed for segment on Digimusictv.com, an online live programming resource for entertainers, 2007.
Entertainment Law Review, Annual Meeting of the Legal Secretaries of Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, March 19, 2005
Current Litigation Developments in Entertainment Law, Nashville, Tennessee, August 31, 2004
Technology Law in Tennessee: An Advanced Approach, Nashville, Tennessee, December 5, 2003
Ethics for the Transactional Lawyer, Nashville, Tennessee, March 7, 2003
Entertainment Law - Copyrights & Trademarks Online - Law Seminars International, Nashville, Tennessee, December 6-7, 2001
The Law of the Internet in Tennessee, National Business Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, October 25, 2001
Internet Law and Research for Legal Professionals in Tennessee, Lorman Education Services, Nashville, Tennessee, October 18, 2000
The Law of the Internet in Tennessee, National Business Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, August 24, 2000
How to Become an Entertainment Lawyer, YMCA Black Acheivers Program, Nashville, Tennessee April 8, 2000
Emerging Legal Issues for Songwriters and Music Publishers, Nashville Songwriters Association International Songwriter’s Workshop, Nashville, Tennessee, June 4, 1998
Legal Aspects of Songwriting, Encore Books Workshop Series, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1994
Songwriter’s Workshop, New Jersey Songwriter’s Association, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 1994
Legal Aspects of Songwriting & Music Publishing, Christine Lavine’s First Annual Martha’s Vineyard Singer/Songwriter Retreat, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, September 1993
Litigation
Garth Brooks v. Commbine.com, LLC, National Arbitration Forum, Claim Number: FA0011000096097, Represented Complainant.. Decided January 3, 2001 in favor of Complainant.C. Russell Bridges p/k/a Leon Russell v. Steve and Ruth Kahn a/k/a Steve Kahn Assoc. a/k/a Leonrussell.org, National Arbitration Forum, Claim Number: FA0111000101818. Represented Complainant. Decided in favor of Complainant, December 27, 2001.
Douglas Snider v. Leon Russell, individually and d/b/a Young Carney Music, Chancery Court, Davidson County, Case No. 04-2805-IV. (Represent Defendant - Motion to Dismiss granted with regard to several counts - remaining counts settled in favor of Defendant).Marty Stuart v. Sherry Mattioli, National Arbitration Forum. Represented Complainant.
The Dixie Devils v. Castle Records, Chancery Court of Davidson County, (Represented Plaintiffs - settled prior to trial in favor of clients).
Bob Evans v. ZYX Music Corp., U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., (Represented Plaintiff - settled prior to trial in favor of Plaintiff).Warren Haynes v. Dennis Robbins Music, et al., U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., (Represent Plaintiff - significant financial settlement prior to trial in flavor of Plaintiff).
Dan Penn, Buckey Lindsey, Lonnie McIntosh v. Brooks & Dunn, Sony Music and EMI Music Publishing, U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., Case No. 3:97-0077 (Represented Plaintiffs - significant financial settlement prior to trial).Tony Evans, Photographer v. State of Tennessee, Tennessee Claims Commission (Dismissed).Stephen Allen Davis v. Al Gallico, U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., Case No. 3:02-0443 (Represented Plaintiff - Dismissed on Summary Judgment).
Charles Callelo v. Smith Music Group, et al., U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., Case No. 3:03-0035 (Represent Plaintiff - Verdict at trial - judgement for the Plaintiff).Sandy Linzer v. Smith Music Group et al., U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., Case No. 3:03-0034 (Represent Plaintiff - Settled Prior to Trial).
Faye Woodroof, p/k/a “The Grandmother from Hell” v. Donna Carter, U.S.D.C. Middle District of Tenn., Case No. 3:02-0225 (Represent Plaintiff - Settled Prior to Trial).American Federation of Musicians v. Charles Callelo, Chancery Court, Davidson County, Case No. 01-3679-1 (Represented Defendant - Settled in mediation)
Hi Barry:
I was doing a search and stumbled across your blog, and am glad I did so, as you have some very informative material on the site. Having studied political science and seeing both ends of the business as a performer and student, these things make a lot of sense to me.
I am a recording artist from Memphis, TN, spending most of my time in Los Angeles, and I suppose one could say there is a difference of opinion when it comes to classifying my music- music I would say is mainstream with a bit of Memphis muscle…which shouldn’t be that foreign when one considers the cross-genre appeal of Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood. I was always of the opinion that you can create a buzz even if you’re in Timbuktu, but I have always battled whether my efforts would be best directed in LA or nashville. I like what’s happening in country music right now, and i see a window of great opportunity. I’d like for you to visit my website (www.myspace.com/beaudavidson), and have a listen and look around, particularly at my bio, since there’s some information in there about the progress I have made with my music video and debut single.
I’m very interested to know how Nashville might receive me, because I can’t be in two places at one time. I’d like to get some label ears on my material to see how they might respond. Give it your ears, if you would first, and tell me what you might suggest.
Beau Davidson
Barry, I am good friends with M and S, and an entrepreneur/lawyer. M and I were business partners in XXXXXXX Inc. and S has been my executive assistant for 12 years. My profile is on linkedin.com. Sometime if you have a few minutes, let’s grab a drink or coffee. My office is in CS, and I live in W area. Cell is XXX XXX XXXX. Cheers, RF
I have received multiple offers from credible agencies concerning this song. I have a Tuesday 11 am meeting with an entertainment in San Francisco who will go through the offers. I’m at http://www.IfTomorrowWereADream.com
559 307 9027
Spc Pitchford
Barry,
It was good seeing you at the TSU seminar–thanks for the WordPress tip. I only hope that my blog is as cool as yours someday!
Chris Hugan
http://nashvegaslawyer.wordpress.com/