Minor in Music Law
- Are you a songwriter or producer who want to learn how to protect and exploit your rights in a way that maximizes your income and exposure?
- Maybe you’re a future manager, publisher, executive, or entrepreneur who wants to master the legal intricacies of the entertainment business and how they affect your bottom line?
- Or perhaps you’re interested in continuing your education by going to grad school or law school to pursue a career as a music and/or entertainment lawyer?
Whatever your goals, Berklee’s Minor in Music Law is designed to empower the creative who wants to do more than just sign a contract; it’s for the future music business professional who wants to identify, understand, negotiate, and take control of their music, entertainment, and tech-related assets.
When you declare the 10-credit, 3-4 semester Minor in Music Law, you will:
- explore a mix of theoretical study, hands-on practice, and real-world case simulations;
- develop the critical thinking and strategic edge needed to defend your rights and those of your clients; and
- gain the legal fluency required for careers in music publishing, rights management, and entertainment law.
So, whether you are preparing for law school, seeking to become a power player in rights management, or simply wanting to protect yourself and your music, the Minor in Music Law: Theory and Practice bridges the gaps between legal theory, professional practice and the realities of the creative industries.
The minor in Music Law is open to all majors, both BM and BA.
Students interested in declaring the minor must have a GPA of 2.7 or above and have successfully completed the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better:
College students: Submit the Declaration of Major/Minor form to the Music Business/Management Department. See detailed instructions in the Registration Guide.
Conservatory students: Submit the Declaration of Minor form to the Registrar's Office.
Upon successful completion of the Minor in Music Law, students will be able to:
- demonstrate an in-depth understanding of copyright, trademark, and patent law principles as they apply to music and other creative works, including recent legislative updates and their implications for digital media, streaming, and artificial intelligence;
- analyze the elements and enforceability of contracts, understand contract negotiation dynamics, and draft deal memos containing essential contractual provisions that protect artists’ rights and commercial interests;
- recognize the broader scope of entertainment law, including rights of publicity, privacy, defamation, and the First Amendment, while analyzing ethical considerations relevant to the music, entertainment, and related-tech industries;
- investigate current events, case studies, and ongoing legal disputes within the music industry, demonstrating the ability to assess implications for practice and to consider ethical and compliance perspectives;
- perform legal research, brief cases, and analyze legal texts and precedents relevant to entertainment and music law, strengthening both theoretical knowledge and practical application skills; and
- articulate the ethical and professional responsibilities of industry intermediaries and legal professionals, emphasizing confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and the protection of creative rights in various legal contexts.