Dina LaPolt

Dina LaPolt is an entertainment lawyer and artist rights advocate based in Los Angeles, California.[1] After an early career in the music industry, she became an entertainment lawyer in 1997. She is the founder and owner of LaPolt Law.[2] LaPolt Law employs nine full-time music attorneys who work together overseeing one of the industry's most diverse client rosters.

Dina LaPolt
NationalityUnited States
OccupationEntertainment attorney
Known forEntertainment Law
Websitelapoltlaw.com

Education and early career

LaPolt became an attorney in 1997[3] after being in the music industry since she was 13. LaPolt was formerly a musician and performed in multiple rock bands on the East Coast in the 1980s and 1990s. LaPolt later became a club promoter and artist manager working for Streetgang Productions.[4] LaPolt eventually obtained a bachelor's degree in music from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

In 1991 she relocated from New York City to the San Francisco Bay Area where she started teaching guitar lessons to children and playing in the all-female band Irresistible Impulse, which became influential in the gay and lesbian club scene. LaPolt often used the stage to advocate for gay rights. In 1993 she enrolled in law school at John F. Kennedy University in Walnut Creek, and moved to Los Angeles in June 1997, shortly after passing the California bar exam.[5]

Career

In 2001, she founded LaPolt Law. LaPolt's early entertainment law clients were various Playboy Playmates including Carrie Stevens and Victoria Silvstedt. From 1998 to 2010, LaPolt was the entertainment attorney for the Tupac Shakur estate and helped in the release of many of his posthumous albums on Amaru/Interscope Records including 2Pac’s Greatest Hits, Better Dayz, and Until the End of Time.[6]

LaPolt co-produced Tupac Resurrection[7] and served on the board of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.[8]

LaPolt also was an associate producer on Becoming Chaz, a documentary released in 2011 discussing the gender transformation of Chaz Bono.[9]

In 2013, LaPolt assisted deadmau5 in settling his trademark dispute with The Walt Disney Company.[10] Disney argued that Zimmerman's signature mau5head headgear and logo resembled their Mickey Mouse cartoon character, thus attempting to block his trademark registration.[11]

In October 2016, LaPolt gave a TED Talk on the importance of standing up for songwriters and her journey to becoming an advocate for creator's rights.[12]

LaPolt spent most of 2017 helping to rebuild girl group Fifth Harmony after the departure of Camila Cabello, not only by renegotiating the girls’ record contract with Epic, but also by helping the girls take control of their brand.[13][14]

In 2018, LaPolt received worldwide attention when she took on The White House and for the second time shut down President Donald Trump for unlicensed use of her client, Steven Tyler's, music during Trump's rallies.[15]

Real Money, a reality series chronicling Eddie Money and his family of seven, was released in April 2018. LaPolt serves as an executive producer of the series on AXS TV.[16]

In February 2019, LaPolt worked diligently on the release of her client, She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (21 Savage) from ICE Detention. On February 12, 2019, 21 Savage was released on bond.[17]

In addition to practicing entertainment law, LaPolt taught "Legal and Practical Aspects of the Music Business” in the Entertainment Studies Department at UCLA Extension from 2002 to 2019.[18] She is the editor of the book, Building Your Artist’s Brand as a Business, published in 2012 by the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers in Cannes, France.[19]

LaPolt is a member of the National Association of Record Industry Professionals, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Bar Associations, Black Women in Entertainment Law, and she is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Advocacy

LaPolt has been involved in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of the music community. In 2013, LaPolt helped author proposed legislation on the right of privacy for celebrities and other public figures in the state of Hawaii along with Senator Kalani English, D-Maui.[20][21] The “Steven Tyler Act” passed through the state Senate with only one opposing vote.[22] Although the measure failed in the House of Representatives two months later, the legislation stays active for two years.[23][24]

She has also submitted comment papers to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and Department of Justice on various legislative issues.[25][26] In October 2015, LaPolt spoke in front of members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee at UCLA as part of their ongoing review of copyright law.[27]

In 2015, LaPolt helped found songwriter advocacy group the Songwriters of North America (SONA) with songwriters Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley. SONA has grown to now include over 600 prominent songwriters including Kara DioGuardi, Siedah Garrett, Justin Tranter, Mozella, Busbee, Priscilla Renea, Diane Warren, Claudia Brant, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Rick Nowels, Darrell Brown, Dave Bassett, and 21 Savage. LaPolt also serves as an attorney advisor to the GRAMMY Creators Alliance, announced during the 2015 GRAMMY Awards broadcast.[28]

In 2016, LaPolt made headline news when she orchestrated the filing of a lawsuit against the Department of Justice on behalf of the Songwriters of North America in connection with the DOJ's mandate requiring 100% licensing by each of the major Performing Rights Organizations.[29][30]

In 2017, LaPolt worked with members of Congress to craft and introduce the Music Modernization Act (MMA), which will transform the way songwriters are paid for use of their works by streaming services.[31] In April 2018, LaPolt was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by the MMA's author, Congressman Doug Collins, R-Ga., for her work spearheading the MMA.[32] In September 2018, thanks in large part to the efforts of LaPolt to bring the music community together, including last minute negotiations between SiriusXM and the major record labels,[33] the Music Modernization Act was unanimously passed in the U.S. Senate.[34] After years of hard work, on October 11, 2018, the President signed the Orrin G. Hatch—Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act into U.S. law.[35]

In March 2020, LaPolt, again through the Songwriters of North America and their Nashville counterpart, NSAI, was instrumental in advocating for independent contractors, sole proprietors, and the self employed to be added to the Federal Government's stimulus bill, the CARES Act, so that they would be eligible for federal relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.[36][37]  The revisions to the bill allowed coverage for songwriters, producers, and music artists, as well as others in the music industry, whose business was disrupted due to the Government's stay-at-home mandates.

Awards and honors
  • 2011 Best in Biz Awards: Best Music Business Attorney National Association of Record Industry Professionals[38]
  • 2014 Tom Bradley Mishpoche Award, Awarded by the Jewish Labor Committee Western Region
  • 2015 Hollywood Reporter's Power Lawyers Top Music Business Attorneys[39]
  • 2015 Billboard's Top Music Lawyers[40]
  • 2015 Association of Independent Music Publishers Individual Award for support of Songwriters and Publishers[41]
  • 2016 Hollywood Reporter's Power Lawyers Top Music Business Attorneys[42]
  • 2016 Billboard's Top Music Lawyers[43]
  • 2016 Variety's Dealmakers Impact Report[44]
  • 2016 Billboard's Women in Music[45]
  • 2017 Hollywood Reporter's Power Lawyers Top Music Business Attorneys[46]
  • 2017 Billboard's Top Music Lawyers[47]
  • 2017 Billboard's Women In Music[48]
  • 2017 Variety's Women's Impact Report[49]
  • 2018 Billboard's Power 100[50]
  • 2018 Variety's Legal Impact Report[51]
  • 2018 Hollywood Reporter's Power Lawyers Top Music Business Attorneys[52]
  • 2018 MIDEM's Top Lawyer Award
  • 2018 Billboard's Women in Music: Executives of the Year[53]
  • 2019 Billboard's Power 100[54]
  • 2019 Recording Academy: Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award[55]
  • 2019 Variety's Legal Impact Report[56]
  • 2019 Hollywood Reporter's Power Lawyers Top Music Business Attorneys[57]
  • 2019 Billboard's Women In Music[58]
  • 2020 Billboard's Power 100 [59]
  • 2020 Hollywood Reporter's Top Music Attorneys[60]

Publications
  • Matthew Bender Entertainment Industry Contracts; Negotiating and Drafting Guides, Matthew Bender (1986) ISBN 978-0820515564
  • Multiple Rights Deals in the Music Industry, Five Eight/FRUKT IAEL (2009) ISBN 978-0955227639
  • Building Your Artist’s Brand as a Business, FRUKT Source (2012) ISBN 978-0423513134
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References
  1. "Deadmau5 settles trademark dispute with Disney over mouse head logo". BBC. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. Laura Dunn (28 January 2015). "Women in Business Q&A: Dina LaPolt, Esq., Attorney, LaPolt Law, P.C." The Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2015. Dina LaPolt, Esq. is an attorney at LaPolt Law, P.C., a boutique transactional entertainment law firm in West Hollywood, California that specializes in representing creators, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, musicians, authors, writers, photographers, actors, and others.
  3. "Dina Marie LaPolt - #188062". The State Bar of California. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. "Dina LaPolt". Jigsaw Magazine. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. "Donald Trump says he and Steven Tyler 'worked out' issue over 'Dream On'". FOX News. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. Laura Dunn (29 January 2015). "Women in Business Q&A: Dina LaPolt, Esq., Attorney, LaPolt Law, P.C." The Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  7. Rap News Network (27 February 2005). "Dina LaPolt on Tupac : Resurrection". Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. Allison Kugel (25 February 2005). "Dina LaPolt and Afeni Shakur Keep Tupac Shakur's Indelible Legacy Alive". PR.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  9. Barker, Andrew (2011-02-09). "Becoming Chaz". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  10. Ed Brackett (4 September 2014). "Disney takes on DJ deadmau5 over mouse-ears garb". USA Today. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  11. Eriq Gardner (22 June 2015). "Deadmau5, Disney Settle Dispute Over "Mouse Head" Logo". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  12. TEDx Talks (2016-12-21), Standing Up For Songwriters: A Journey Through Recovery | Dina LaPolt | TEDxOlympicBlvdWomen, retrieved 2017-08-09
  13. "How Fifth Harmony Moved On and Took Control of Their Music: 'The Fans Are Our Fifth Member'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  14. "After a rocky year, Fifth Harmony is in control — and tighter than ever". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  15. Anapol, Avery (2018-08-22). "Steven Tyler demands Trump stop playing Aerosmith at rallies". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  16. "AXS TV gets ready to rock with Eddie Money and his family in upcoming new reality series 'Real Money'". AXS. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  17. Nick Valencia and Eric Levenson. "Rapper 21 Savage released from ICE detention but could still be deported". CNN. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
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  28. "Allianc".
  29. "Songwriting Group Sues Department of Justice Over Licensing Mandate". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
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  31. Parisi, Paula (2018-01-22). "Grammy Chief Neil Portnow to Testify Before House Judiciary Committee About Music Legislation". Variety. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
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  36. Aswad, Jem (2020-03-26). "Songwriters, Self-Employed Music Workers Eligible for Relief in Federal Stimulus Bill". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  37. "Coronavirus Relief Package: How It Helps Out-of-Work Music Professionals". Billboard. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
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  41. "BMI's LA Office Hosts AIMP Holiday Mixer".
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  55. "21st Annual Entertainment Law Initiative® Event & Scholarship". GRAMMY.com. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
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