[SMULA] Music Modernization Act

SYNOPSIS

Southeast Asia has recently emerged as a market of interest for firms using music. Shenzhen-based Tencent Entertainment has begun to expand its operations. ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has made substantial inroads into the region, especially in Thailand. Spotify has recently devoted more resources to finding growth in this region. In short, competition is heading up in and around Singapore. Against this dynamic reality, this seminar will discuss the principal intersections between intellectual property rights protection and music with a view to allowing Singapore-based lawyers to proactively identify legal challenges and opportunities in this area.

On the one hand, the music industry has often been a harbinger for (legal) change in other parts of the entertainment industry. For instance, file sharing and music piracy first took hold in the music industry during the mid-1990s. piracy did not affect the movie or television industries until about 10 years later.

On the other hand, recorded music has tremendous economic potential throughout much of Asia, including Singapore. Whereas many other forms of homegrown entertainment run into a range of barriers—financial/economic, political, linguistic—music potentially enjoys relatively broad access to a range of global markets. However, few Asian musicians have so far succeeded in reaching audiences outside of their native countries or regions. It is hence opportune to investigate how lawyers can work with other music professionals to capitalize on opportunities for exploiting the rights associated with music content.

This seminar will be of keen interest to legal professionals who work in the area of IP law writ large, or who aspire to do so, as well as those eager to learn more about trends and opportunities to providing legal services for the entertainment industry.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr Titus Levi received a Ph.D. in economics (UC Irvine) with a focus on the radio industry, media, and policy. His work experience includes extensive involvement in music, as an events producer and promoter with the California Outside Music Association and the Los Angeles Festival, a radio program producer and host with KUSC-FM and KPFK-FM, a writer for Downbeat, LA Weekly, Option (contributing editor), and Keyboard magazine (“Discoveries” new talent column). He has also served as a consultant for Interep, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Durfee Foundation and The Center for Creative Innovation, among others.

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