Ryan Schmidt
Ryan Schmidt Music Lawyer | Ethical AI Advocate | Music Business Thought Leader
WHO IS RYAN SCHMIDT, ESQ.?
Ryan Schmidt, Esq. is an American music lawyer who represents artists, songwriters, and producers in high-stakes record deals, publishing agreements, and catalog transactions. His work and insights have been featured in Billboard, CBS Mornings, and the Los Angeles Times.
An artist turned lawyer, Ryan blends firsthand industry experience with legal training to protect creatives at pivotal moments in their careers. In his music career, Ryan has been featured on NBC’s The Voice and earned honors like “Critics’ Choice” at the Starbucks Music Makers Competition. His firsthand experience with restrictive contracts and industry red tape inspired him to become the kind of lawyer he wished he'd had.
A summa cum laude graduate of Nashville's Belmont University College of Law, Ryan graduated in the top 2% of his class and served as an Executive Officer of the Belmont Law Review. Before launching his Georgia-based principal-led solo practice, he trained under a leading Nashville entertainment law firm representing major artists and rights holders in music, visual arts, and digital media. He later practiced at boutique firms where he helped build and lead their entertainment law practices, before launching his own principal-led national music law practice in 2024. Today, he represents clients from all major creative hubs including Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Atlanta, and Miami.
Whether helping artists sign their first contract or fighting for better terms on their next big deal, Ryan’s mission remains the same: to help creatives protect their art and build sustainable careers on their terms. In addition to his legal practice, Ryan is a respected music business educator and content creator, empowering thousands of artists through his online platforms.
- Entertainment & Sports Law
- Entertainment Law
- Music Law
- Georgia
- State Bar of Georgia
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- English
- Founder; Partner
- Law Office of Ryan Schmidt, Esq.
- Ryan Schmidt, Esq. is a music lawyer and entertainment attorney who helps artists, songwriters, producers, and music startups nationwide negotiate label and publishing deals, close high-value catalog sales, draft and review contracts, and protect their music rights. Press & Media Highlights: Ryan is a nationally recognized expert on music law, copyright, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the creative industries. He is frequently featured by major media outlets and industry conferences for his insights into protecting artist rights and navigating modern deal structures.
- Partner
- Bowen Schmidt Entertainment Attorneys
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- Attorney
- The Bowen Law Group
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- Belmont University College of Law
- J.D. (2018) | Law
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- Honors: Summa Cum Laude Dean's List (All Semesters)
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- Northeastern University
- B.S. (2012) | Music Business
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- National ELITE Firm of The Year
- Crisp
- The Recording Academy
- Professional Member (Atlanta Chapter)
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- Georgia Music Partners
- Advisor
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- State Bar of Georgia # 114091
- Attorney
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- As Big Tech Scrapes Songs, a Fractured Music Industry Turns to a Decade-Old Legal Precedent
- Music.AI Newsroom
- K Fresh and Attorney Pen Open Letter to Timbaland and Suno Over Music Theft Allegations—Timbaland Responds
- Digital Music News
- He found unreleased Michael Jackson tapes. The world may never hear them
- The Washington Post
- AI is Hollywood’s ‘Napster 2001 moment,’ entertainment lawyers warn
- The Los Angeles Times
- “Pioneers or Stuck in Legacy? The Future of CMOs”, Music Biz 2025, Atlanta
- Is this the death of traditional Collective Management Organisations? CMOs play a crucial role in the fair distribution of royalties and the protection of intellectual property, serving as a backbone to the creative economy. The CMO’s of the future hinge on the ability to drive innovation, integrate new technological solutions and yet preserve trust among members, while expanding their role from financial intermediaries to strategic partners for music creators and their careers.
- Website
- Nationally Recognized Music Lawyer | Ryan Schmidt, Esq. | Entertainment Attorney for Artists, Songwriters & Music Tech | Based in Georgia, Representing Clients Nationwide | Official Website
Music Lawyer Charges $0 for 75 Minutes of Game ft. Ryan Schmidt #208
- Q. Will trademark approval for my artist name allow me to claim it on DSPs despite its current usage?
- A: If your trademark is approved, it can give you strong rights to control the use of your artist name in connection with music and entertainment. You may be able to claim the name on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, especially if others using it haven’t established consistent or commercial use.
Trademark rights are based on first use in commerce, not just registration. So if someone used the name before you in a meaningful, continuous way, they might have common law rights and could potentially challenge your claim.
That said, owning the registered trademark will likely help you take control of the name on DSPs. The teams handling these requests are often not trained legal professionals ... Read More
- Q. My landlord emailed me my lease on 10/15/20 but there is not dates on the lease. it states it’s a 12 month lease. valid?
- A: Generally speaking, if both parties signed it and there is other evidence available of when it was signed and returned (emails, metadata, etc.) it is likely valid for 12 months from the date of signing. Alternatively, if there is a date block on the signature line, that date may be used. Lease and contract issues however are very fact-specific and it is recommended that you have this lease reviewed by a licensed attorney.
- Q. I write and produce songs. One of the songs contains dialogue from a movie, but I speak. Is that a copyright violation ?
- A: Generally speaking, any time copyrighted material is incorporated into a new work you will need permission from the original author. This may be obtained by getting a license to create a derivative work. Copyright issues are complex and each matter is different. It is recommended that you consult a lawyer to help with your specific situation.
