The entertainment industry is many things, but “predictable” is not a word anyone would use to describe it. Every day is a new adventure, and for long-time entertainment lawyer John Branca, it’s all par for the course.
John Branca on Being a Music Lawyer from John Branca on Vimeo.
John Branca has recently shared some of his industry wisdom in talks at UCLA and Harvard, covering a variety of topics that both fascinated and impress those interested in the legal side of music. John Branca Harvard talk focuses mostly on branding and his unique approach to handling contract negotiations and other such legal matters (he always works to come down on the side of the artist, not the record company or other big organization).
At UCLA, Branca also covered a wide range of subjects, including the fact that law school doesn’t quite prepare a person for the things they will encounter in the industry of entertainment. What’s “usual” doesn’t apply when it comes to the labyrinthine twists and turns commonly found in record contracts. While law school certainly provides a thorough understanding of the law itself, actual experience is the only thing that can teach an entertainment attorney what they need to know.
And John Branca has that experience: he has worked as an entertainment lawyer for some of the industry’s biggest stars since 1975. He has represented huge acts like Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, and the ever-popular Beach Boys. Along with having the vast expertise he has garnered through the years, Branca also has all of the best stories to tell. He’s seen it all, and then some.
High-pressure negotiations and advocating for the artists he represents are all just part of the job for John Branca. He knows better than just about anyone how to interpret and, when necessary, work within the world of law to produce whatever outcome he and his clients require. In the industry, he is well-known, and Branca’s name carries a lot of clout.
But he’s earned it. With more than 40 years of industry experience, one would be hard-pressed to find someone with more knowledge and practical experience than John Branca. And that’s part of the brand he has created for himself as he has written his own story over the past several decades.
John Branca is something of an entertainment industry legend, and he’s worked hard to achieve it. Up and coming entertainment lawyers can learn a lot from John Branca.