AI is showing up everywhere in the music industry — writing emails, summarizing deals, generating marketing plans… and now, drafting contracts.

But just because AI can help with music law, doesn’t mean it should.

---- Presented by LANDR - http://landr.com/otherrecordlabels ----

In this episode, I sit down with Cassandra Spangler, a New York–based music and entertainment attorney, to talk honestly about the growing trend of artists and indie labels using AI tools like ChatGPT for legal work — and why that can quietly put your catalog, your money, and your artists at serious risk.

We dig into:

• Why AI-generated contracts often sound legit — even when they’re wrong

• The hidden dangers of missing clauses, loopholes, and jurisdiction issues

• Why “I didn’t understand the contract” isn’t a legal defense

• The lack of accountability, confidentiality, and attorney-client privilege with AI

• How artists and labels are using AI the right way — as a starting point, not a replacement

This isn’t an anti-AI episode. I openly talk about how I use AI daily — including for this podcast. But when it comes to contracts, rights, royalties, and long-term careers, this conversation draws a clear line between helpful tools and costly shortcuts.

**Get in Touch with Cassandra Spangler: https://www.cspanglermusiclaw.com/

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit

Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels

Starting a record label is exciting—but sticking with it is where the real work begins.

In Episode 8 of How to Start a Record Label This Year, Scott focuses on one of the most important (and underrated) qualities of successful labels: consistency. Not hustle. Not volume. Not chasing trends—but showing up in a sustainable, repeatable way over time.

This episode explores:

• Why consistency matters more than frequency

• Choosing a release cadence you can actually maintain

• The difference between full-length releases, singles, and supplemental content

• How the pipeline supports consistency and prevents burnout

• Why a label’s greatest asset is its catalog, not any single release

• How labels act as a bridge between artists and music fans

Scott reframes the role of a record label as a long-term conduit—balancing the infinite appetite of music fans with the creative rhythms of artists—and explains how thoughtful consistency builds trust, momentum, and sustainability for everyone involved.

You should download my free TOOLKIT for new record labels... http://otherrecordlabels.com/toolkit

Thanks to LANDR for sponsoring this episode. landr.com/otherrecordlabels

Contracts and royalties are where a lot of people get stuck—and for good reason. Record labels have a long history of bad deals, broken trust, and artists getting the short end of the stick. In Episode 7 of How to Start a Record Label This Year, Scott tackles this head-on and explains how modern independent labels can do things differently.

This episode walks through the fundamentals of contracts and royalties from a practical, empathetic perspective—without legal jargon and without pretending there’s a one-size-fits-all solution.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why you do need contracts—and why they protect artists as much as labels

• When to involve a music attorney (and why templates and AI contracts fall short)

• Common contract terms artists actually care about (term length, exclusivity, territory)

• How licensing master recordings works for indie labels

• Why 50/50 profit sharing has become a modern standard

• How to structure fair splits while keeping the label sustainable

• The importance of having these conversations before any music is released

Scott emphasizes that the most important part of any contract isn’t the paperwork—it’s the conversation. Clear expectations, honest communication, and transparency from day one are what turn contracts from something scary into something empowering.