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Bill Hochberg specializes in music and media law with a commitment to excellent results for clients at a reasonable cost. As a recognized thought leader, Bill Hochberg writes regularly in Forbes and other pre-eminent publications, and he speaks at worldwide music and media conferences such as South-by-Southwest.  From recording and publishing deals to copyright disputes to catalog valuations to music licensing, Mr. Hochberg handles many and varied music and media matters with an approach that is both pragmatic and innovative. Music — old and new, near and far, and the businesses and technologies that have popped up around it — is Bill’s jam. He lives with his wife, an elementary bilingual educator, in Los Angeles. And for fun, Bill plays some jazz guitar in the Twilight Tones.

Significant Engagements

  • Represent Curtis Mayfield estate and music entities regarding recording, publishing, copyright, trademark, and international music law matters.
  • Outside counsel to major social media company, negotiating a wide variety of talent, marketing, and content transactions, brand partnerships, media deals and diverse other matters. 
  • Represented the Bob Marley estate and music entities in multiple licensing deals, rights concerns, and regarding international music law issues.
  • Defend top K-Pop writer and producer Hyuk Shin in federal litigation involving his song copyrights and advise on music transactional matters. 
  • Look after Guns N’ Roses longtime member Dizzy Reed.
  • Negotiated book deal for former Guns N’ Roses member Steven Adler — a New York Times best seller. 
  • Handled Henry Mancini estate’s music and media matters, including complex music publishing matters. 
  • Represented Fifth Harmony pop group in various litigation-related matters. 
  • Cleared Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics and music for use in the film “Blinded By The Light” for award-winning director Gurinder Chadha.
  • Oversee music matters for Jeffrey Steele, multiple BMI Songwriter of the Year and one of Nashville’s top songwriters.
  • Defended singer Eddie Money in wrongful termination suit by former drummer, where appeals court found that a band leader has a First Amendment right to hire and fire band members.
  • Represented Brazilian music publisher Fermata do Brasil in matters involving lyric translations and disputes regarding usages of well-known Bossa Nova and other Latin musical works.
  • Conducted litigation for Grammy-winning producers and songwriters the Stereotypes in dispute with former manager and business partner, with resulting positive settlement.
  • Handled songwriter dispute for co-writer of the 50’s “doo-wop” hit song “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)” in federal copyright and contract dispute, obtaining summary judgment confirming client Gaynel Hodge’s co-authorship of the lucrative composition.
  • Defended composer and ad agency in copyright infringement claim by a music publisher claiming it exclusively owned a common “boogie riff” used by the rock band ZZ Top in their hit song “La Grange”. As a result, the clients — a composer, advertising agency and GMAC — were free to continue using the “boogie riff” in a successful nationwide ad campaign.
  • Represented Tom Werman, producer of three smash hit Motley Crüe albums, obtaining pre-judgment writ of attachment against the group in lawsuit for full payment of royalties and revenues.
  • Handled matters for world-renowned film composer Lalo Schifrin (Mission:Impossible), including an international distribution deal for re-records of his original film and TV theme masterpieces.

Featured Articles Bill Has Authored

Articles in Forbes and Other Publications

Media Quotes, Interviews and Insights

Insights