Protect Athens music events aim to guide local musicians

Monday, February 6, 2012 Writer: Heidi Murphy, 706/583-5487, hmurphy@uga.edu Contact: Jessi Samford, 770/856-1294, trin1013@uga.edu Athens, Ga. - The University of Georgia School of Law\u27s Sports and Entertainment Law Society has joined forces with UGA\u27s Music Business Program and Nuçi\u27s Space to host a conference on current music industry business and legal issues. Open to the public, the conference will be held Feb. 23 from 3 - 6 p.m. at the Melting Point in downtown Athens. In addition, a free legal clinic for local musicians will be held Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Nuçi\u27s Space, near downtown. Conference discussion sessions will address topics such as booking, contracts and copyright issues, and panelists will include legal and business music professionals such as David Barbe, UGA Music Business Program director; David Claassen, BMI director; Bertis Downs, R.E.M. manager; Steve Lopez, Widespread Panic tour manager; Nikki Marshall, Red Clay Clearances owner; Lisa Moore, Georgia Lawyers for the Arts director; Scott Orvold, Georgia Theatre talent buyer; David Prasse, Slushfund Recordings owner; David Shipley, Georgia Law professor; and Velena Vego, 40 Watt Club talent buyer. The clinic will be staffed by experienced entertainment law attorneys and will provide musicians with one-on-one consultations. It is best for those seeking legal advice to pre-schedule their appointment by sending an email to protectathensmusic@gmail.com. For more information regarding the conference or the clinic, contact protectathensmusic@gmail.com. ## Conference program is linked below