From venue contracts to liability concerns, touring artists face a variety of legal issues when taking a show on the road. Hear from industry professionals and entertainment attorneys who will explore the legal and practical considerations involved in touring in Tennessee and Texas. Covering topics important to both attorneys and artists, we’ll discuss the rules of the road, from the booking process, radius clauses, artist performance agreements, ticketing, venue deals, merch and more.
Hosted by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville (ABC) and Texas Accountants & Lawyers for the Arts (TALA) and ESLABA – Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the Austin Bar Association.
This course is approved by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and the State Bar of Texas for a maximum of one (1) hour of general credit.
Moderator
Heather Liberman VanDyke – Entertainment Attorney, Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, Founder of Javalina Legal
Heather is the founder and principal attorney at Javelina Legal, focusing on live / experiential events, entertainment / music related transactions, content licensing, copyright, trademark, outside GC services and more. Heather is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Law where she teaches the Law of Music Festivals and Live Events. Prior to Javelina, Heather was the General Counsel of South by Southwest (SXSW) where she handled a range of legal issues, including IP protection and enforcement, licensing, contracts, insurance, and litigation management. Before SXSW, Heather worked at an entertainment and IP boutique law firm in Chicago, Illinois. In a past life, Heather was a professional modern dancer on the off-off (off) Broadway stages in NYC. Heather currently serves as the Chair of the Entertainment and Sports Section of the Austin Bar Association. Heather lives in Austin, TX with her husband, daughter and corgi.
Panelists
Brendon Anthony – Vice President of Big Loud Texas
Appointed Vice President of Big Loud Texas, Austin-based industry veteran Brendon Anthony oversees Texas operation across label functions. In this position, Anthony works hand in hand with Big Loud Texas’ co-founders Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, as well as key members of the Big Loud Records team. Big Loud Texas is home to singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett (in partnership with Mercury Records) and neo-traditionalist Jake Worthington. Previously serving as Director of the Texas Music Office, the agency within the Office of the Governor which oversees policy related to the Texas commercial music industry, he helped music industry partners navigate their entry into the market. Anthony was instrumental in the creation of BMI Texas (2019) and the Texas Music Incubator rebate program which supports music venues in Texas. Before his tenure with the Texas Music Office, Anthony served as Head of E-Commerce and Artist Relations for ONELIVE Media, a direct-to-fan e-commerce partner for global brands, managing relationships with artists like Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Mötley Crue, and more. Additionally, Anthony is a longtime touring and recording musician who understands firsthand the deep connection between Texas and Nashville.
Denise Shackelford – Entertainment Attorney, Associate Professor at MTSU, Founder of the Primacy Firm
Denise Shackelford has been a solo practitioner in entertainment law for 15 years in the Nashville music community and also serves as an Associate Professor in the Recording Industry Department of the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to joining MTSU, Denise worked for over two decades in the Nashville music community, first with Arista Records and later with the artist management firm led by respected artist manager Clarence Spalding (Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean). Returning to academia in the early 2000’s, Denise earned her JD from Nashville School of Law and, in 2010, launched the Primacy Firm, a boutique transactional entertainment law firm focusing on the needs of creative individuals and businesses.
Denise currently serves as legal counsel for the Country Radio Broadcaster and has previously served on the board of the Association of Independent Music Publishers Board and SOURCE Nashville (a networking organization for women executives in the music industry). She is an alumna of the Leadership Music program and a member of ABC/VLPA.
Graham Williams – CEO/Executive of Talent Buying at Resound
On Jan 15th, 1978, Johnny Rotten quit the Sex Pistols after their ill-fated performance in San Francisco the night before. Many felt that punk died that night. But how is that possible if Graham Williams was born the very same day in Austin, TX? Graham got started in music young, going to shows, playing in bands, touring, releasing records and putting on shows. While he didn’t go to college, all of that experience equates to an honorary degree in Music Skillz by the School of Mosh. He worked at the original Emo’s on Red River as the in house talent buyer and manager, then started Fun Fun Fun Fest, and shortly after launched Transmission Events. Almost a decade went by until the booking, marketing and creative branches of those companies left to found Margin Walker Presents, which operated as the largest independent promoter in Texas until the pandemic forced them to close up shop. All of these events led up to Resound. So, like Gandalf, we are reborn anew, with this new thing that’s doing something similar to the old thing, but also with some new things. For Resound, Graham books shows, creative events and brand activations in Central Texas for Levitation and Austin Psych Fest as well as for Mohawk, 29th St Ballroom, Central Machine Works, Paper Tiger and many more.