We’re pleased to share the latest episode of the AFEM Industry Insider Podcast, featuring a live recording from the AFEM Legal Summit, now available publicly for the first time.

Originally hosted as a members-only webinar, this session brings together leading legal specialists and industry professionals to explore what fair, transparent and future-facing deals look like in today’s music industry. The conversation offers practical insight from those working at the coalface of deal-making, and directly informs AFEM’s ongoing legal and policy workstreams.

Moderated by Finlay Johnson (AFEM), the panel features experts from the AFEM membership:

• Bindu De Knock, Crosslink Legal (Netherlands)

• Justin Jacobson, Justin Jacobson Law (United States)

• Sean Brosnan, Material Music (United Kingdom)

Together, they examine the realities of modern contracts across labels, publishing, management, brand deals and emerging technologies, offering grounded perspectives from multiple territories.

Key themes and takeaways

Fair deals start with education

A recurring theme across the discussion is the importance of artists and creators understanding their rights, particularly around copyright, neighbouring rights and collaboration agreements. Many conflicts arise not from bad intent, but from unclear expectations and a lack of agreements put in place early on.

AI, copyright and uncertainty

The panel addresses the fast-evolving legal landscape around AI-generated content. With global frameworks still developing — and notable differences between EU and US approaches — the speakers emphasise caution, self-protection and the need for human authorship when it comes to copyright protection.

Future-proofing agreements

From aggressive long-term contracts to short-term flexibility, the session explores how artists can better assess what they are giving up versus what they are gaining. The consensus: every deal should be weighed not just for immediate benefit, but for its long-term impact on an artist’s career and rights.

Changing deal structures

The discussion highlights shifts away from traditional long-term album deals towards more flexible arrangements, label services models and shorter-term partnerships, reflecting the speed at which careers and platforms now evolve.

Brand deals and authenticity

Brand partnerships are no longer seen as a guaranteed “pot of gold”. Instead, the panel stresses the importance of alignment, authenticity and realistic expectations, with social reach, live activations and audience trust all playing a role in negotiations.

Why this matters to AFEM

The insights shared in this session go beyond theory. They directly inform AFEM’s ongoing work across legal advocacy, education and policy development, helping us identify common challenges and opportunities for collective action across the electronic music ecosystem.

By opening up this conversation to the wider community, we aim to support greater transparency, stronger negotiation positions and more sustainable careers for artists and professionals alike.

Stay tuned for further AFEM discussions and resources as we continue to explore how the industry can evolve towards fairer, more balanced and future-ready practices.

Stream the full AFEM Industry Insider Podcast episode at the link below.