Four Loeb Partners Honored in Billboard's 2022 Top Music Lawyers List

Loeb & Loeb is pleased to announce that John Frankenheimer, chair of Loeb's Music Industry practice; Debbie White, vice chair of the Music Industry practice; and Derek Crownover and Tiffany Dunn, Nashville co-office administrative partners, were included in Billboard's 2022 Top Music Lawyers list. Lawyers chosen to the list are considered to be the "savviest legal counselors” and are called upon to not only advise on familiar contracts and a surging tide of catalog sales but also IPOs, NFTs, Web3 and new ventures in the metaverse.

In an accompanying profile, the quartet is highlighted for representing leading artists, publishers and music organizations, including South Korean boy band BTS, Carrie Underwood, Diana Ross, Luke Combs, The Who, Sony Music Publishing and the Academy of Country Music. In particular, Billboard calls out the firm’s recent representation of Warner Music Group in its acquisition of the David Bowie estate’s music publishing assets and BTS’ label, HYBE, in its joint venture and distribution deal with Universal Music, as well as BTS’ McDonald’s campaign.

“It’s extremely rewarding that the real value of music industry [intellectual property], the artist and the artist’s brand, is finally being realized,” said John in the profile. “But here’s a responsibility to make sure that the midlevel, young and emerging artists are sharing in that as well.”

In addition, Debbie noted in the profile that steering the live music business back from its pandemic vacuum has represented another critical issue the past year. “COVID-19-related cancellations were not expressly covered in many agreements, so promoters and vendors suffered tremendously and are now pushing to have the artists assume this liability,” Debbie said. “We need to establish the new economic models that balance the risk allocation for all parties.”

For more information, please visit Billboard's website.