Matt Buser is the founder of Florida based law office Buser Legal, where he specializes in all areas of entertainment representation. Here, he shares with us his experience in the industry, tidbits of his success, along with some helpful advice for artists looking to make it big.
With 16 members of his client roster nominated for Grammy awards, we caught up with Matt Buser while he was on his way to the 65th Annual Grammy Award show, who gave me a sneak peek into what it means to not be your average lawyer. A University of Miami Law alumnus, Buser’s since dove head-first into the entertainment industry where he’s made a proud name for himself as one of the go-to attorneys for A-list talent and celebrities alike.
With an impressive musical background and a serious knack for guitars, Buser has always possessed a deep understanding of what he’s wanted to spend his life doing. Because of that, he has not only managed to build a thriving and ever-expanding career in entertainment law, but has also become a role model for those inspired by his tenacity and willingness to be different in an industry where it pays to do things by the book.
“I’m asked all the time, ‘how do we get into entertainment law or how do we get this particular client to work with us?’ And my answer is always very similar. It’s my path and you shouldn’t be afraid to take your own unique road to get to where you want to go,” he says.
This mindset – paired with his strong desire to stand out from the crowd – has allowed Buser to create a fiery legal firm that’s risen straight to the top. Buser operates Buser Legal as a solo practitioner, handling trademark, corporate and contracts needs. He works alongside Associate Director of Business Affairs, Jess Awramko, and legal interns, Alonso Villar Pessagno and Alex Barkoff. But that hasn’t stopped him from getting the recognition he deserves.
Buser is the recipient of the January 2023 Lawyer Monthly Award in the US Entertainment category, and is confirmed for other prestigious accolades to be announced later this year. Yet he reveals that nothing in his career so far has been by accident. Instead, his passion has allowed him to work alongside some of the best artists in the game.
But that begs the question – why do artists even need lawyers to begin with?
As he explains it, the music industry is a lot more complicated than you’d think. According to Music Industry How To, there are extensive record deals to be signed, intellectual property to be protected, and trademarks and copyrights to establish. Musicians need lawyers because navigating these areas can be difficult and sometimes even impossible without the right knowledge.
“This industry is built on long-term agreements that affect you and your legacy. With most of these deals, the rights for one’s intellectual properties and services as a talent extend well beyond the term length of the agreement. While you might be in a record deal for five years, some of the rights you grant to the label could continue forever,” he says.
Buser explains that there are plenty of situations where artists have given away assets that they would have otherwise owned, and now those assets are owned by a record label, so their children and their children’s children have no rights to the ownership of what they’ve created.