Clifford Chance

Urban Lawyers and Clifford Chance launch innovative Legal Education Project to Empower Young Musicians

Urban Lawyers, in collaboration with global law firm Clifford Chance, proudly announces the launch of a first-of-its-kind musical, legal education project. This transformative initiative aims to equip young musicians, particularly drill rappers, with essential legal knowledge to navigate the intricate landscape of music contracts and raise awareness about the urgent need for legal education among young musicians and aspiring artists from often marginalised communities. The application process closes on Thursday 12 October 2023 and the project will begin in Autumn 2023.

The comprehensive programme covers critical legal considerations that directly impact young musicians. From understanding contractual obligations to protecting intellectual property rights, the curriculum equips participants with the necessary legal knowledge to navigate the competitive music landscape. In addition, the programme emphasises the development of vital soft skills such as negotiation, teamwork, and communication, which are essential for success in today's industry.

The final elements of the joint project were developed via a pilot session held earlier this year at Clifford Chance's offices. The session was conducted in collaboration with musicians and cultural changemakers including Fuse ODG, Fekky, Ayo Beatz, Sebastian Thiel (filmmaker) and Femi Oyerian (filmmaker), as well as input from academic experts and community organisations. The project has also received invaluable contributions and support from prominent organisations such as GRM, Link Up TV, Mixtape Madness, Young Music Boss, as well as input from other esteemed musicians.

Tunde Okewale, founder of Urban Lawyers comments: "Young musicians face significant challenges when entering into contracts with record labels. I hope this project will help shed light on the systemic challenges faced by talented individuals, especially the alarming discrepancy in royalty rates between black and white artists. We want to put an end to that gap and empower artists to achieve their full potential by equipping them with the right resources."

David Boyd, UK head of Pro Bono at Clifford Chance adds: "As a firm, we have a responsibility to increase access to justice, both globally and locally in the communities in which we operate. Commercial exploitation of young rappers is widespread, and a serious issue facing young rappers trying to turn their art into a career. We are really proud to partner with Urban Lawyers on this innovative project, particularly within a community of artists who are less likely to have immediate access to legal support."

Young musicians and aspiring artists interested in participating in this empowering initiative are encouraged to apply. Further details, guidance and application instructions will be made available through Urban Lawyers' website www.urbanlawyers.co.uk