NYC Entertainment Lawyer | Creatives, Music, Film & Media

Entertainment Law Services in New York City

New York City is one of the world's great creative capitals — a center for music, film, television, theater, publishing, digital media, and content creation. For artists, producers, and companies operating in this ecosystem, the legal agreements and intellectual property protections underlying creative work are as important as the work itself. A poorly negotiated recording contract, an overlooked copyright registration, an unsigned location release, or a badly structured production company can cost creators their rights, their revenue, and their careers.

At Agarunov Law Firm, P.C., we provide transactional legal counsel to artists, producers, production companies, content creators, publishers, and media companies. Our practice covers the full lifecycle of creative work — from the agreements that launch projects through the intellectual property protections that preserve their value.

Our Entertainment Law Services

Contract Negotiation & Drafting

Every creative project and business relationship in entertainment is governed by contracts. We negotiate and draft agreements that protect your creative rights, ensure fair compensation, and provide the flexibility to grow your career.

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Contract Negotiation & Drafting

Recording contracts, publishing deals, management agreements, licensing, sponsorships, and talent agreements.

Production Counsel

Productions — film, television, commercial, music video, or photo shoot — require legal infrastructure at every stage. We serve as production counsel handling location agreements, venue and equipment rentals, crew and talent contracts, NYC film permits, production insurance, and post-production through distribution.

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Production Counsel

Location agreements, venue and equipment rentals, crew contracts, film permits, insurance, and distribution.

Intellectual Property Protection

Your creative work is your most valuable asset. Copyright registration, trademark protection, and proper rights management ensure that you maintain ownership and control while maximizing commercial value.

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Intellectual Property Protection

Publishing & Media

New York is the center of American publishing and media. We represent authors, publishers, podcasters, and digital media companies in book deals, content licensing, distribution agreements, and cross-media adaptations.

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Publishing & Media

Book publishing agreements, author contracts, podcast deals, content licensing, and media company counsel.

Entertainment Business Formation

Behind every creative career is a business. We help entertainment professionals form production companies, record labels, publishing entities, and loan-out companies with the right legal structure.

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Entertainment Business Formation

Production companies, record labels, publishing entities, joint ventures, and loan-out companies.

Entertainment Contracts We Negotiate

Most of our entertainment work happens before anything is signed. We read the whole agreement, explain in plain language what it means for your rights and income, and negotiate the terms that matter most for where your career or company is headed.

Agreement	What we review and negotiate	Learn more
Record deals	Term and options, advance and recoupment, royalty base, master ownership and reversion, key-person clauses	Record deals guide
360 deals	Which income streams are included, gross vs. net, carve-outs, caps, post-term participation, cross-collateralization	360 vs. 720 deals
Producer agreements	Fees and advances, producer points, credit, sample clearance, work-for-hire and ownership	Producer agreement guide
Publishing & co-publishing	Administration vs. co-publishing, term and retention period, reversion, controlled composition clauses	Music contract basics
Management & agency	Commission rate and base, sunset clause, key person, post-term commissions, termination rights
Sync & licensing	Scope of use, media, territory, term, fees, most-favored-nations terms
Film, TV & production	Option and purchase agreements, chain of title, talent, crew and location releases, distribution terms	Production counsel
Brand deals & influencer contracts	Deliverables, usage rights and duration, exclusivity, approval rights, FTC disclosure, payment terms
Events, pop-ups & activations	Venue and vendor contracts, permits, insurance, talent riders	Event production guide

How Working With Us Works

Free consultation. Tell us about the deal or project and send the draft agreement if you have one.
Clear quote. We explain how the work will be billed before we start.
Review memo. You get a plain-English summary of the key terms, the risks, and what we recommend pushing back on.
Negotiation. We negotiate directly with the label, publisher, brand or production company, or coach you through it.
After signing. We calendar option dates, reversion windows and renewal deadlines so they do not pass unnoticed.

How Entertainment Lawyer Fees Work

Entertainment matters are billed in a few common ways: a flat fee for a defined review, such as a single producer agreement or brand deal; hourly billing for open-ended negotiation; or a monthly retainer for artists and companies with steady deal flow. The right structure depends on the scope, and we tell you which one applies, and what it will cost, before any work begins.

Who We Represent

Musicians & Recording Artists: Recording contracts, publishing deals, touring agreements, and royalty structuring
Film & TV Producers: Production counsel, financing, talent agreements, and distribution deals
Content Creators & Influencers: Brand partnerships, sponsorships, platform agreements, and IP protection
Authors & Writers: Book deals, ghostwriting contracts, and adaptation rights
Publishers & Media Companies: Author agreements, content licensing, and distribution
Photographers & Commercial Productions: Location agreements, crew contracts, and rights management
Talent Managers & Agents: Management agreements, agency contracts, and fiduciary compliance

Serving New York and New Jersey

Agarunov Law Firm is licensed to practice in both New York and New Jersey. We represent artists, producers, content creators, and entertainment companies throughout the tri-state area including all five NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island), Westchester, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey including Bergen County, Hudson County (Jersey City, Hoboken), and Essex County (Newark, Montclair).

New York City is the epicenter of music, media, and entertainment, and our Manhattan office provides convenient access for clients across the industry.

Entertainment & IP Legal Services Across the Region

Need Legal Counsel for Your Creative Career?

Schedule a free consultation with our experienced entertainment attorney.

Call (212) 920-5989 Contact Us Online

Entertainment Law FAQ

Do I need an entertainment lawyer?

If you are signing contracts, licensing your work, producing content, or operating a business in the entertainment industry, legal counsel is strongly recommended. Entertainment contracts contain industry-specific provisions that general business lawyers may not fully understand.

How much does an entertainment lawyer cost?

Fees vary by service. Contract reviews may be flat fee or hourly. Ongoing representation is often structured as monthly retainers. Copyright and trademark registrations involve flat fees plus government filing costs. We offer transparent pricing and free initial consultations.

Should I have a lawyer review my record deal before signing?

Absolutely. Recording contracts are complex agreements that can bind you for years and control your masters, publishing rights, and creative output. An attorney can identify unfavorable terms, negotiate better royalty rates, and ensure you retain appropriate rights.

Do I need a lawyer for my production?

If your production involves contracts with talent, crew, locations, or equipment — or if you plan to distribute the finished product — production counsel is strongly recommended. Properly drafted agreements protect you from liability and ensure a clean chain of title for distribution.

What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?

A copyright protects original creative works (music, films, books, art) and exists automatically upon creation, though registration provides important legal benefits. A trademark protects brand identifiers (names, logos, slogans) used in commerce. Both are important for entertainment professionals.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

An entertainment lawyer negotiates and drafts the agreements behind creative work, such as recording, publishing, producer, management, licensing and brand deals, and protects the intellectual property that gives that work its value, through copyright and trademark registration and rights clearance.

When should I hire an entertainment lawyer?

Before you sign anything that transfers rights or ties you to a company for years: a record or 360 deal, a publishing or management agreement, a producer agreement, or a brand partnership with exclusivity. Changing terms before signing is far easier than getting out of them afterward.

Do you represent companies as well as artists?

Yes. Along with musicians, producers, writers and creators, we represent independent labels, production companies, publishers, media companies and brands on the other side of the same agreements.

Do you handle entertainment matters outside New York City?

Yes. We are licensed in New York and New Jersey and work with clients across the five boroughs, Westchester, Long Island and Northern New Jersey, as well as out-of-state clients doing deals with New York companies.