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Industry-Spanning Client Roster
We represent clients across the music ecosystem, from major labels, publishers,
trade organizations, and recording artists, to PROs and clearinghouses,
to leading streaming services and major media licensees.
In-depth Music Industry Experience
Our team is rooted in music, including former musicians,
audio engineers, A&R consultants, and label employees.
Covington gets music. Our interdisciplinary team of litigators, transactional and regulatory lawyers, and business advisors has deep industry experience, and includes former musicians, songwriters, audio engineers, A&R consultants, and label employees.
Our lawyers have advised and represented clients spanning the music ecosystem in some of the most significant lawsuits, transactions, and advisory matters of the digital era. This diverse client group includes all of the major record labels and music publishers, trade organizations like the RIAA and NMPA, leading performing rights organizations like BMI and GMR, market-driving services like Pandora and XM Satellite Radio, and countless high-profile music licensees and services across virtually every industry.
Covington’s experience and expertise spans the full range of issues confronting the global music industry, including established and emerging rights owners, licensees, and music-oriented businesses. The firm’s prowess across music litigation, transactions, and counseling has repeatedly been recognized in industry publications like Billboard, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter.
Litigation. Our lawyers have litigated complex cases including class-action royalty disputes, mass infringement lawsuits, mechanical licensing actions, and Copyright Royalty Board proceedings.
Transactions. Covington’s transactional lawyers have regularly advised on deals involving digital media distribution, music business acquisitions, royalty securitization, talent engagements, partnerships and sponsorships, digital marketing and technology, data, and security services.
Advisory / Enforcement. Our counselors advise clients across the globe on music issues, including rights, clearance, licensing, fair use, virtual events, online media integration, new product review, cyber security, data privacy, and legislative and regulatory developments like the DMCA, GDPR, and EU Copyright Directive and digital single market proposals. Covington's Internet Investigations and Enforcement team also design and execute customized anti-piracy and brand protection programs for our clients.
All Major Record Labels and Music Publishers in Copyright-Infringement Litigation Against Internet Service Providers
Representation of all major record labels and music publishers in high-stakes mass copyright infringement litigations against internet service providers Charter Communications and Bright House Networks.
Digital Music Royalty Class Actions
Represented Sony Music in class actions concerning royalties owed in connection with streaming and digital downloads under legacy recording agreements.
ByteDance Ltd., Owner of TikTok, in its Acquisition of Flipagram
Representation of ByteDance Ltd. in the acquisition of Flipagram, Inc., a private company based in Los Angeles, that allows users to create and share photo-video stories with their photos, text, and short video clips set to licensed music.
Pandora Media, Inc. in its acquisition of Next Big Sound, Inc.
Represented Pandora Media, Inc. in its acquisition of Next Big Sound, Inc.,
TikTok in Securing Preliminary Injunction to Avoid Shutdown
Secured preliminary injunction on behalf of TikTok prohibiting the government from implementing an executive order banning the social media platform from U.S. mobile app stores.
Microsoft in Mechanical Rights Lawsuit Over Music Service
Representation of Microsoft in defense of mechanical rights infringement claims brought by beneficiaries of famous Tin Pan Alley composers.
American Airlines in its In-Flight Wi-Fi Partnership
Represented American Airlines in connection with its Wi-Fi entertainment partnership with a major technology company.
American Airlines in its Sponsorship of Jonas Brothers' Tour
Represented American Airlines in connection with its sponsorship of the Jonas Brothers' 2019 Happiness Begins Tour.
License Agreements for Music Performances at U.S. Colleges and Universities
Representation of the National Association of College and University Business Officers in the negotiation of blanket license agreements with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for the public performance of musical compositions by colleges and universities across the United States.
License Agreements for Nondramatic Musical Works at U.S. Colleges and Universities
Representation of the National Association of College and University Business Officers in the negotiation of statutory license fees under Section 118 of the U.S. Copyright Act with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for the performance of nondramatic musical works by noncommercial educational radio broadcast stations licensed to colleges and universities in the United States.
TouchTunes in Acquisition of White Rabbit Game Studio, LLC
Represent TouchTunes, the biggest jukebox manufacturer, in a $9.3 million acquisition of White Rabbit Game Studio, LLC.
XM Satellite Radio Insurance Claim
Advised XM Satellite Radio on an insurance claim arising out of the solar array anomaly in its two Boeing 702 satellites.
Patent, Copyright and Trade Secret Licensing Agreement Negotiations for Microsoft
Representation of Microsoft in negotiation of patent, copyright and trade secret license agreements for the Advanced Access Content System, a copy protection system for Blu-ray Disc and other high definition storage media and licenses for IP related digital output and copy protection technologies for the Xbox 360 game console and Zune music player.
Digital Music Antitrust Class Action
Represented Bertelsmann, Inc. in multi-district antitrust class action litigation alleging price-fixing and other violations of antitrust laws with respect to digital music.
Representation of American Airlines
We represented the company in connection with a series of cloud, digital merchandising, e-commerce, music and content licensing, marketing and distribution transactions with companies such as Google, Sojern, ADARA, Oracle, Ebay, and Twitter.
Advise Large Software Company on Copyright Issues for Live-Streaming and Video Games
Representation of a large software company on copyright issues related to live-streaming and video gaming issues.
Major Record Labels in Litigation Over Streaming Royalties
Represented several major record labels in litigation over streaming royalties due to session musicians and background vocalists.
Digital Music Service Start Up Companies in China
Advise start-ups such as producers of original Web content and digital music services.
European Music Antitrust Compliance
Representation of a group consisting of (European) direct licensors and local society representatives, ensuring compliance with antitrust laws.
Major Streaming Content Provider in Global Diligence Projects
Conducted global diligence projects for major streaming content provider, including in respect of music licensing requirements and associated collecting society issues.
Alliance for Lifetime Income in its Sponsorship of the Rolling Stones Tours
Advised the Alliance for Lifetime Income in its agreements to become the sole sponsor of the Rolling Stones' No Filter US Tour 2019 and No Filter US and Canada Tour 2020.
Sony Music Entertainment in Royalty Dispute Between Quincy Jones and the Estate of Michael Jackson
Represented Sony Music in a lawsuit brought by Quincy Jones over royalties from the Estate of Michael Jackson. Covington successfully removed Sony as a liability defendant in the case, and eliminated its exposure to damages.
April 5, 2021
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES—Billboard has named Adrian Perry, Neema Sahni, and Jonathan Sperling among its “2021 Top Music Lawyers.” This annual list recognizes the music industry’s leading lawyers in fields that include talent representation, music publishing, streaming, and litigation. Mr. Perry is a partner in the technology and IP transactions group and co-chair of ...
March 25, 2021, Billboard
The Hollywood Reporter Names Adrian Perry Among New York’s Top 20 Entertainment Lawyers
December 9, 2020
NEW YORK—The Hollywood Reporter has named Adrian Perry to its New York Power Lawyers 2020 list, a recognition spotlighting New York’s top 20 entertainment lawyers. Mr. Perry is a partner in Covington’s New York office and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Music Industry practice group. Representing sports leagues and teams, record companies, television ...
July 29, 2020
NEW YORK—Billboard has named Adrian Perry and Jonathan Sperling among its “2020 Top Music Lawyers.” This annual list recognizes the music industry’s leading lawyers in fields that include talent representation, music publishing, streaming, and litigation. Mr. Sperling, a trial lawyer with twenty-five years of experience, co-chairs the firm’s Music Industry ...
July 14, 2020
LOS ANGELES—Variety has named Covington partners Matthew DelNero, Mitch Kamin, Robyn Polashuk, and Neema Sahni to its 2020 Legal Impact Report. Variety notes that “these legal eagles made massive deals and litigated thorny disputes for entertainment industry clients, studios and networks.” In its feature, Variety notes Covington as a “go-to for TV programmers,” ...
March 27, 2020
LOS ANGELES—The Hollywood Reporter has named Mitch Kamin to its “Power Lawyers 2020,” a list of the top 100 lawyers in Hollywood. Each year, THR's editors extensively research the attorneys who are negotiating the industry's biggest deals and navigating its most impactful litigation to select 100 individuals for the Power Lawyers list. Mr. Kamin is a trial ...
- Billboard, Adrian Perry, Neema Sahni, and Jonathan Sperling "2021 Top Music Lawyers"
- Los Angeles Business Journal, Neema Sahni, "Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys" (2020-2021)
- Billboard, Adrian Perry and Jonathan Sperling "Top Music Lawyers" (2020)
- The Hollywood Reporter, Adrian Perry "New York's Top 20 Entertainment Lawyers" (2020)
- Variety, Stuart Irvin and Adrian Perry, "2020 Dealmakers Impact Report"
- Variety, Mitch Kamin, Robyn Polashuk, and Neema Sahni "2020 Legal Impact Report"
- The Hollywood Reporter, Mitch Kamin "Power Lawyers" (2020)
- Billboard, Jonathan Sperling "Top Music Lawyer" (2019)
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