Craig Barker

Attorney at Law

Law Practice

1991 – present

Entertainment Law:

Practice has primarily concentrated in entertainment industry transactional matters; negotiated agreements and other matters in many genres with major and independent record labels, publishing companies, booking agencies, managers, producers, including, but not limited to:

CLIENTS:  for a list of some of the clients for whom I have provided entertainment law services over the years.

Entertainment/IP/Business Disputes/Litigation:

Recent cases include:  IT company client in healthcare industry in shareholder and intellectual property litigation; music publisher client litigation over award-winning song and catalogue; artist client’s lawsuit for disgorgement of label’s profits, rescission of contract and return of ownership of master recordings.

University Teaching Experience

2005-2007

                St. Edward’s University, Adjunct Instructor, Executive Seminar Series Speaker

                     DMBA, Undergraduate Digital Media, and MBA

• Curricular Design:  Principles of Digital Media and Entertainment Management

• Conducted Executive Seminar: “Music, Money, and Copyrights”

• Courses taught: Cyber Law, Business Law (on-line, MBA, 7-week DMBA), Sports Management, and Principles of Digital Media and Entertainment Management

2001-2002; 2005-2006     

                Austin Community College, Adjunct Instructor

1. • Courses taught: Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Industry, Survey of the Music Business.
   

Recent Continuing Legal Education Panel Participation

2002         

                Recording Academy (The Grammies organization) Professional Education Seminar

                  • Indie Label In a Box (elements of DIY and small label releases) (moderator)

2003         

                Entertainment Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas: 

                  • Record Distribution for the Indie Label (moderator)

2008        

                Entertainment Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas:

1. • “She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft” – When Copyright Collides with Community Property Rights, What Gives? (moderator)
   

1. • Doing It Yourself:  Opportunities for Bands in the Digital Era
   

2009         

                Entertainment Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas: 

                  

                   • “No I Won’t Back Down”:  Protecting Artist’s Rights in Record Label Bankruptcies (moderator)

2003-2009

1. • Entertainment Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas:  Planning Committee
   

Boards and Organizational Affiliations

2008-2009       

                         Immediate Past Chair of Entertainment and Sports Law Council, State Bar of Texas;

                         Chair 2007-2008; Chair-Elect 2006-2007; Secretary 2005-2006; Council 2003-2005

2005-present   

                         Co-founder and VP of Texas Attorneys for Texas Music, a non-profit that stages The Music

                         Law Sessions (seminars on the legal aspects of the music industry for non-lawyer

                         professionals in the music industry such as musicians, producers, managers, booking agents,

                         label personnel

2001-present  

                        Advisory Board of Center for Texas Music History

2000-2004      

                        Board of Governors for Texas Chapter of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

                        (2 terms)

1990-1993      

                        Board of Directors for La Pena Cultural Arts Organization (Austin’s oldest Latino Arts

                        organization)

Non-Law Music Industry Experience

Thirty years experience in a variety of positions, including personal manager, musician, and road manager, on national and international levels. 

1981-1997  

                    Managed all aspects of Tish Hinojosa’s music career, overseeing the national and international releases and supporting tours for nine albums and several videos and singles for labels such as Warner Bros. Records, A&M Records, Curb Records, and Rounder Records. 

Managed Hinojosa’s publishing relationships at Maverick Music (Madonna’s Warner-Chappell co-venture) and Almo-Irving (Rondor) Music.

Acted as executive producer or co-producer on Hinojosa’s nine albums through 1997.

Played bass for Hinojosa for eight years.

Served as Hinojosa’s road manager and sound engineer on several national and European tours. 

1982-1984

                    Based in Nashville, working with a number of nationally recognized producers, songwriters, musicians, and other music industry personnel. 

1979-1981

                    Bass player and road manager for Bill & Bonnie Hearne, whose albums have been released by Virgin/Back Porch Records and Warner Western Records. 

Education

1990

                     J.D., University of Texas School of Law

1979

                    Bachelor of Arts, Texas Tech University

   

back to top