Music
Hamlins has been at the frontier of protecting clients’ interests in the music and entertainment industry for the more than 50 years and it is an intrinsic element of our rich heritage.
We acutely understand the commercial challenges faced by our clients, alongside the opportunities, and we provide strategic and commercial advice to ensure our clients’ interests and rights are protected.
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“The firm has unrivalled knowledge of sound recording and music publishing copyright as well as immense experience of enforcement by obtaining default judgments for injunctions and enforcing them by committal applications.”
Legal 500 2024 -
“In-depth expertise of IP law.”
Legal 500 2024
Our music team deals with a wide range of music matters including record, publishing and other contracts, intellectual property and copyright issues, distribution, clearance and merchandising agreements and sales of companies and catalogues.
We work with recording artists, songwriters, composers, producers, production companies, agencies, independent record and publishing companies, managers and new start-ups.
Our music clients include chart-topping acts, Mercury Prize, Brit and Ivor Novello award nominees, multi-million selling artists, topflight songwriters and producers as well as many up-and-coming artists.
A significant proportion of our workload is pursuing claims on behalf of the major rights collections agency, working tirelessly to ensure that artists collect royalties from their works. We also act for many artists and musicians in claims to protect their intellectual property and commercial rights and entitlements.
Hamlins is well known as the go-to firm for the UK music collecting societies. We have acted for both PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) and PRS for Music (a British music copyright collective, made up of: the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and the Performing Right Society) for decades. Both societies count on Hamlins as a trusted advisor for all aspects of their contentious music requirements. Clams by these Societies have historically accounted for the largest volume of claims in the Chancery Division of the High Court, positioning Hamlins at the forefront of protecting the rights of musicians and record companies.
We are proud to have seen our work recognised by Music Week having been shortlisted for ‘Law firm of the year’ multiple times.
Our Work
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and PRS For Music
We act for Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and PRS For Music, the UK’s two music collecting societies, in the protection of their copyright in sound recordings and musical works. PPL...
Trademark and Rightsholders against Piracy (TRAP)
Trade mark and Rightsholders against Piracy (TRAP) is the industry trade body for the UK music, film and TV merchandising industry formed of the lead merchandise companies throughout Europe. TRAP members...