Entertainment, Media & Creator Economy

Legal strategy for industries where creativity becomes value

The entertainment industry and the creator economy are built around assets that may not be physical but can represent a substantial portion of the value of a career or business: works, performances, sound recordings, catalogues, formats, brands, stage names, likeness rights, audiences, content and exploitation rights.

L&M Lawyers Associated advises artists, content creators, producers, managers, record labels, publishers, platforms, agencies, audiovisual companies and other participants in the creative economy on the structuring, protection, negotiation and defence of these assets. Our work goes beyond reviewing documents. We assess who creates the value, who controls the rights, how revenue is distributed, which obligations remain in force and how each contractual decision may affect a career or business over time.

Services and matters we advise on

The practice covers, among other matters:

• Recording, publishing, distribution, licensing and synchronisation agreements.
• Management, booking, representation, production and artistic collaboration agreements.
• Negotiation of advances, royalties, economic participation, territories, terms and exit provisions.
• Structuring, acquisition, sale, administration and exploitation of music and audiovisual catalogues.
• Definition of splits, ownership, credits, copyright and neighbouring rights.
• Registration and protection of stage names, trademarks, works, sound recordings and content.
• Royalty collection and administration through collective management organisations and other market participants.
• Licensing of image, voice, name, content and other personality rights.
• Contractual disputes, infringement, unauthorised uses and conflicts among participants in a creative project.
• Legal issues involving digital platforms, generative artificial intelligence and new models of content creation, distribution and monetisation.

Our distinctive approach

Creative industries require a simultaneous understanding of law, business and the practical process through which a work is created and commercially exploited. A provision that appears standard may determine for years who controls a catalogue, who authorises its use, how royalties are calculated or whether a creator retains the freedom to continue developing a career.

The firm combines legal experience, commercial judgement and direct knowledge of the creative industry. Luis Ángel Montealegre’s background as a lawyer, artist and legal strategist allows the firm to assess matters from both perspectives: that of the person creating value and that of the adviser responsible for structuring, protecting and negotiating it.

When legal advice is particularly relevant

Legal advice should be sought before:

• Signing or renegotiating a recording, publishing or management agreement.
• Granting rights over a work, catalogue, image or stage name.
• Receiving an advance or investment to develop a career or project.
• Launching a platform, record label, production company or content business.
• Buying, selling, licensing or administering a catalogue.
• Expanding the exploitation of works and content internationally.
• Starting a collaboration with artists, producers or investors.
• Responding to infringement, blocked revenues or unauthorised use.
• Early legal advice helps a client understand what is at stake before a contractual decision becomes an economic, creative or patrimonial limitation.