Peter M. Thall, Esq.
Peter M. Thall is a veteran of 50 years of practicing law.
A graduate of Columbia University and The National Law Center of The George Washington University School of Law, Mr. Thall has represented the interests of many of the world’s greatest artists - - from Graham Nash to Simon & Garfunkel. Barry Manilow, The Average White Band, ABBA, Ric Ocasek and The Cars, Hall & Oates, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Miles Davis, The Irish Tenors, to the world-renowned Soprano, Anna Moffo, Violinist Hilary Hahn and multiple classical music composer legends such as Gian Carlo Menotti and the late Julius Eastman who is credited with “inventing” minimalism.
Mr. Thall consults several public corporations which are facing music rights issues for the first time. He also consults several leading Internet companies that are discovering new and profitable ways of providing music to consumers.
The third edition of his book What They’ll Never Tell You About The Music Business: the Myths, the Secrets, the Lies (& A Few Truths) was published in August, 2016, by Watson-Guptill, an imprint of Random House.
Mr. Thall is a frequent contributor to the print and visual media, is often quoted in the international press and has appeared innumerable times on television news programs as an expert on such issues as the responsibilities, dangers and legal consequences of using pyrotecnics in live performances, celebrity endorsements, copyright law, the music business and its formidable challenges in the digital era, and the First Amendment.
During his career, Mr. Thall and his professional associates have specialized in all areas of entertainment law and intangible rights - - with particular emphasis in music, film, theater, television, book publishing, merchandising and endorsements, fashion, design and photography. His clientele has always encompassed a wide variety of artists at the top of their professions, including directors, producers, authors, actors, both popular and classical music songwriters, performers and recording artists, music publishers, fashion models, photographers, designers, dancers, choreographers, and theatrical composers and writers.
Among his areas of expertise are: Copyright Law; Executive Employment and Compensation agreements; and all transactions generated in the domestic and international music publishing and recording fields, including the sale and purchase of major music publishing catalogues.