Info

Laws of Entertainment

The Laws of Entertainment provides an insightful look at the laws, trends and topical issues of all things entertainment. Hosted by Lisa Bonner, an uber opinionated 19 year veteran of entertainment and media law, Lisa and her guests take you on a fun, entertaining, behind the scenes look at this business of entertainment. If it’s in the zeitgeist, we’re talking about it; if it’s a current issue in intellectual property law, you’re hearing about it. You’ll be a little more entertained and a lot more informed.
RSS Feed
Laws of Entertainment
2017
January


2016
November
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
May


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2016
Nov 15, 2016

Asante Bradford is Project Manager for Digital Entertainment and Media for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the sales and marketing arm of the State of Georgia.

In this role, Asante helps promote the growth of the digital media industry as well as identify initiatives that will help grow businesses for the state of Georgia in interactive entertainment. His area of concentration with the Global Commerce office is to increase the impact of interactive entertainment for the State of Georgia as well as being a dedicated liaison to assist with promotions, logistics, and business development for attracting digital media companies outside the state to relocate in Georgia. Asante also helps educate potential prospects and provide clients with information about the Georgia Entertainment Industry Incentives Act, which is also known as the Georgia Tax Credits for Entertainment.  

Lisa and Asante discuss the opportunities in the industry for professionals within the media industry in Georgia. They also discuss the future of television as impacted by the popularity of on-demand content and the rise of digital content opportunities for producers and content owners.

Aug 16, 2016

Juliette Jones is Executive Vice President of Urban Promotions for Atlantic Records. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing the urban promotions staff and ensuring that music artists on her roster have optimal radio and promotional exposure through airplay, interviews, festivals, and touring. Some of her present roster includes MMG, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Wiz Kalifah, and Omarion.

Lisa and Jules discuss her rise from an unpaid intern to her present position, the value of mentors, what it's like to be a woman in a male dominated industry, and some of her biggest lessons and challenges in her career. 

Tune in to this frank, funny and informative podcast as Jules drops some jewels about the business (and sometimes shady side) of entertainment. 

Jul 26, 2016

Donyell McCullough is a talent executive with over 20 years of experience managing and recruiting talent for notable television projects. After 15 years of booking and casting celebrity guests and hosts while respectively managing with her own company and freelancing, Donyell took her talents in house as a talent executive to BET and then to TVOne. At TVONe, Donyell is the Head of Casting & Talent, where she is responsible for identifying and recruiting talent for the network's programming. Donyell has a knack for spotting and identifying talent and has the unique ability to connect with all people. 

Lisa and Donyell discuss how Donyell got started in this business, how she developed a personal database of over 500 connections and booked over a 1,000 guests, and what it takes to have staying power as a female in a male-dominated business. These long term friends also discuss the importance of branding yourself, having your business together, and how being kind (yet firm) in this business goes a long way. 

Jul 2, 2016

Lawrence Washington A.K.A. "Miss Lawrence" is the gender-bending, non-conformist, fashion-flexible celebrity-hairstylist, singer, actor, and LGBTQ advocate. Miss Lawrence has been styling hair for the past 20 years and discusses how he took his knack for styling hair and turned that into a thriving business through mentoring, education, and training. His styling led him to become friends with some of the Real Housewives of Atlanta (before they were famous) and walks us through how those non paid appearances led him to a co-host on Bravo's Fashion Queens, to guest star on Lee Daniels' Empire and as a recurring character on the upcoming Lee Daniels' project "Star" on Fox. Through his celebrity, he has become an advocate for LGBTQ rights and we discuss his thoughts on the unspeakable tragedy that unfolded at the Orlando nightclub Pulse and how he is using his voice in to raise awareness about issues affecting the LGBTQ community.

Jun 10, 2016

Jini D. Thornton is a CPA with over 19 years of experience in the business management and accounting professions. Her company, Envision Business Management Group (EBMG), empowers individuals with the information and knowledge needed to make sound financial decisions and achieve personal financial security. EBMG represents some of the music industry’s hottest entertainers. 

Lisa and Jini talk about protecting your assets through a loan out company, the importance of record keeping, the wisdom behind establishing payroll for entertainers, avoiding common financial pitfalls in the entertainment business and how to handle an audit. 

Take a listen as these two industry vets impart serious financial wisdom through their lively and spirited discussion. 

Jun 9, 2016

Jini D. Thornton is a CPA with over 19 years of experience in the business management and accounting professions. Her company, Envision Business Management Group (EBMG),empowers individuals with the information and knowledge needed to make sound financial decisions and achieve personal financial security. EBMG represents some of the music industry’s hottest entertainers. 

Lisa and Jini talk about protecting your assets through a loan out company, the importance of record keeping, the wisdom behind establishing payroll for entertainers, avoiding common financial pitfalls in the entertainment business and how to handle an audit. 

Take a listen as these two industry vets impart serious financial wisdom through their lively and spirited discussion. 

May 26, 2016

Chiquita Banks wants you to know something: tax law isn't boring! As Viacom's newest Director-Tax Counsel, she assists productions internationally and domestically to reap the benefits of film tax credits and incentives as a production finance tool. Lisa and Chiquita sit down to discuss the business of tax credits, refunds and rebates; which states have the best incentives; and why and how this can help aid your film or television production save money.

May 11, 2016

Lauren Maillian is the Co-Host of Oxygen's new show "Quit Your Day Job." A serial entrepreneur, Lauren co-founded a vineyard at the age of 19, is the co-founder and CEO of LMB Group, a strategic marketing and advisory company and a Founding Partner at Gen Y Capital Partners, an early stage venture capitalist firm, and a best selling author of the New York Times best selling book: The Path Redefined: Getting To The Top On Your Own Terms, all by the age of 30. Lisa and Lauren talk about her career path, takeaways from her book, when to step out on faith and how to manage your brand.

Apr 11, 2016

Music publishing has been referred to as the "Cash cow" of the music industry, yet it, like record sales has suffered from the digital onslaught of the music industry. This week, Lisa speaks to Angelique Miles, a former music publishing executive who has signed such superstars as super producer Timbaland (now music supervisor on the hit show "Empire"), Busta Rhymes, and Missy Elliott, to name a few. Their conversation covers the basics of music publishing, what to look for in a deal, is an administration or co-publishing deal for you, and what's next in the future of music publishing.

Mar 28, 2016

Tye Farley has often been referred to as the "Male Olivia Pope."  Tye is an advanced political and legal crisis expert who handles and fixes crises for politicians, athletes, celebrities, and average citizens. Tye's services as an advanced crisis expert/fixer have been used by the Department of Defense to handle certain military issues and law firms all over the country. Lisa and Tye speak about when you might need a "fixer," what to do in times of crisis management, and how Tye's other services of litigation communication, witness veracity, trial prep, government level investigation, and may be helpful to the lawyer and layperson in times of need.

Mar 1, 2016

In 2014, revenue from streaming services outpaced CD sales for the first time, according to RIAA. Billboard also recently changed its chart system to include streams.

Music streamers like Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube contributed 33 percent of total recorded music revenues in the first half of 2015, according to the report by RIAA. With this change in revenue, are  sales and payments to artists, both independent and those signed to a major label affected.

Lisa interviews Tanya Bridges, a veteran music lawyer who specializes in digital performance revenues and licensing to explain how we got here and what this means to an artists bottom line today. 

Feb 12, 2016

Lisa's guest this week is Tabetha Plummer, Esq. We realize that we have a lot of listeners who are trying to get some answers on how to get a recording deal, and what to expect once you get that deal. Lisa and Tabetha talk about how the best ways to get your music noticed, what record deals look like in 2016 (oh how times have changed) and the basics of a co-publishing deal. This podcast serves as a primer for all the aspiring music artists on the fundamentals of the business and legal pitfalls and suggestions to help you on your quest.

Feb 3, 2016
This week, Lisa's guest is Johnta Austin. Johnta is a singer, songwriter, producer who has won 2 Grammy Awards for co-writing Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together' and Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You." Johnta talks to us about the business of songwriting, what makes a great songwriter, sampling, and how he got his start in music by honing his talent, preparation and making the right connections. If you're an artist looking to further your knowledge of the business side of the creative process, you don't want to miss this episode.
Jan 27, 2016
If you are serious about your handling your business in media, don't miss this episode. Lisa sits down with Christine Washington, an intellectual property and trademark attorney. Christine is owner of the consulting firm “Marks for Music, Movies and More.” Her international practice caters to the needs of artists, innovators and businesses in all fields of media (online and traditional), music, TV/film and general consumer products. Christine has handled trademark matters for Kraft, Marlboro, Jive Records, AOL & VEVO, and more. Christine and Lisa talk about the fundamentals of trademark and copyright, the differences between the two, what it each is, when you need a trademark, why you need one, when to copyright and how. Don't miss this episode, a primer for the fundamentals for protecting your intellectual property. 
 

 

Jan 19, 2016

Crystal McCrary is an award nominated producer director and New York Times best-selling author. Crystal a former lawyer, discusses how lawyering gave her a solid foundation to pursue her dreams of writing which ultimately lead to her career of producing content. We talk about  the business of writing and production, and the creative process. If you've ever wanted to write a novel, produce television or film, tune into hear Crystal share her wisdom on the business of entertainment.

Jan 12, 2016

Tracey Baker Simmons is a pioneer of Reality TV. Tracey and her business partner launched one of the first, and most successful reality TV shows, "Being Bobby Brown." Tracey sits down with Lisa to discuss her start in the business, from her days as a music video producer to making it in television and discusses her latest projects. Tracey also dishes on the business of television, from the basics of producing, availing yourself of tax benefits via minority owned business entities, retaining ownership of your product, what makes a good deal, "Frankenbite" and how other legal trends in the industry are changing the face of reality TV.

1