From the arrival of enslaved Africans to the present day, Black music has shaped American culture and influenced global music history. Negro spirituals, born in the fields of slavery, laid the foundation for gospel music, while post-slavery blues gave voice to Black joy, pain, and resilience. The 20th century saw the rise of soul as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, followed by Funk Music’s rhythmic revolution and the birth of Disco and Hip-Hop in 1970s New York. Visionary artists like Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé, and many more didn’t just entertain—they transformed music and culture worldwide.
From an early age, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer to help those in need, initially envisioning a career in criminal law to support young Black youth. But my first year of law school revealed that path wasn’t for me. A summer internship at Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) led to a role as general counsel for an independent record label—an achievement that felt almost impossible. At first, the industry’s glamor, celebrity encounters, and high-energy events were intoxicating. But as I began representing artists in the field, I came face-to-face with the systemic inequities embedded within the music business.
The average person might not realize just how legal the music industry is. Under U.S. copyright law, a musical work is automatically protected the moment it is created. However, the legal framework governing the music industry has long been designed to favor music companies over artists—particularly Black artists. For decades, many Black musicians have signed master recording agreements with record labels and songwriter agreements with publishers in exchange for small royalties, often without fully understanding their long-term implications. These agreements have allowed record labels and publishing companies to make hundreds of millions of dollars while musicians receive little in return.
TLC—one of the biggest Black girl groups of the 1990s, for example—famously filed for bankruptcy in 1995 despite selling nearly 10 million albums. Their financial troubles stemmed from a combination of a bad record deal, industry exploitation, excessive expenses, and manipulation. CrazySexyCool, one of TLC’s biggest albums, reportedly generated around $75 million in revenue, yet their recording agreement with LaFace Records (under Arista) only granted them 7 cents per album sold—split three ways among the group members. LaFace retained the majority of the album’s earnings, profiting from record sales, publishing rights, and merchandise.
Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, struggled financially. Marvin Gaye declared bankruptcy in 1976. Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson are said to have died deep in debt. How is this even possible?
Early in my career as a music lawyer, I started to ask: Why does America generate so much wealth from the creative work of Black artists while leaving them with so little? Is it because many Black musicians lack the resources to afford proper legal representation when negotiating recording and publishing deals? Or is it because record labels and publishing companies intentionally structure their agreements to exploit artists while executives accumulate vast wealth? Whatever the reasons, one truth became evident: Black artists deserve better protection. My favorite artists—George Benson and James Ingram—deserve protection.
This realization led me to dedicate my legal career to advocating for musicians, especially musicians of color, ensuring they understand their rights and avoid predatory contracts. My mission is to help Black artists navigate the complex legal landscape of the music industry, empowering them to retain control over their work and secure financial stability. The fight for fair representation and compensation in the music industry is far from over. But through education, legal advocacy, and unwavering commitment, I am determined to do my part to ensure that Black artists receive the recognition and financial rewards they rightfully deserve.