BEFORE WORKING working as an independent, Andrew Atkins

“NEWS photo Neil Lucente

was director of business affairs for S.L. Feldman & Associates.

y EST VANCOUVER entertainment

@ lawyer Andrew Atkins is one of the many music industry insiders scheduled to share informa- tion at the Swatch Music West Festival.

In addition to 200 bands playing Vancouver venues May 6 to 9, the festival includes a conference and exhibition at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.

‘Before working as an indepen- dent, Atkins was director of business affairs for S.L. Feldman & Associates. He also practised with the law firm Russell & DuMoulin.

Atkins lectures for the Continu- ing Legal Education Program and is an adjunct professor at the UBC Law School, where he teaches a course in media and communica- tions,

Recently he spoke with Music Now.

Music Now: You are scheduled to join a panel discussion May 8 titled Money (That’s What § Want). Who will get the most out of the conference segment you are part of?

Atkins: ‘I think generally speaking it’s for anybody who is a musician and is interested in knowing more about how the business is conducted, How do you raise money, for example. If you get a record deal, what does it mean? How is that relationship with the record company from a financial perspective going to evolve?"

Music Now: Do all musicians ‘need lawyers when it comes to making deals?

Atkins: “The way the business is structured, | don’t think you can function without a lawyer. Everybody is represented. There is no way you can look at a record

Entertainment lawyer Andrew Atkins

Michael Becker RECORD REVIEW

contract the first time around and understand what it is all about. The contracts are always long and always complicated.”

Music Now: Is entertainment law a large field locally?

Atkins: “There are always a few people who do part (enter- tainment law), but there are only two or three of us who do this pretty much full time locally.’ Music Now: Do you have a large roster of clients?

Atkins: “Il have probably about 60 to 80 music clients. A lot of the bands | act for are independent ar- lists signing to independent labels. It’s a sign of the industry that probably about 5% of the bands t act for have bubbled up to the point where there is enough public recognition that they are really going somewhere.

“Over the years I've dene work for Skinny Puppy, a new band called Salvador Dream, Sue Medley. t’ve done work for Trooper, Shari Ulrich, Doug and the Slugs.”

Music Now: Bands coming up prubably don’t have money to spend on fawyers, so how do you end up getting paid? Do you gel a percentage of the deal?

Atkins: ‘I haven't tried fora percentage of the deal before and I try not to because | think it en- See Band page 38

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