The Huron Law Group (HLG), a
preeminently rated business, entertainment, and real estate litigation firm,
represented the Marie Music Group in a case where they were accused of violating
the Talent Agency Act. This act is enforced by the California Labor Commission
and seeks to prevent personal managers/agents from procuring work for their
clients as well as collecting commissions/royalties for this work without a
valid talent agent license. Some artists, those who deliver their own
recordings such as singers and musicians, are exempt from this act.
The
petitioners in this case, Chris Lord-Alge and Thomas Lord-Alge (recording sound
mixers), argued that Lisa Marie of Marie Music Group lacked a valid license
hence violated the law which should void twenty years' worth of contracts and
prevent her from collecting commissions on those contracts.
Conversely, the HLG believed that
according to the definition of the act, sound mixers like musicians and
singers, can and often create their own original recordings and therefore
should be exempt from the act which would
invalidate the petitioners’ complaint. The premise of this case was how to
interpret the definitions of this act.
The Labor
Board Commission which has a tendency to side with artists, agreed with HLG's arguments
and determined that mixing services constitute contracts that are exempt from
licensing requirements. This landmark case changed the definition of recording
contracts.
For more information, please visit Huron Law Group website.