You’re a Corporate Client, Not Just Talent (PART I)

"I'm just tryna ball and live,

hunnid mill', I'm callin' dibs

I'm the boss, pay all the bills,

I'm the golden child for real

Go off in this *****, I will,

I been on my grind for years

And I'm out here grindin' still,

I need equity to sign the deal"

- Lil Baby

“In a Minute”

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man”

- Jay-Z

 “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”

Cadet Legal is not an entertainment law firm. We are a corporate transactional firm that deeply understands entertainment and how to build ecosystems. If all you need is a basic NDA or quick sign-off on an independent contractor, appearance, or brand licensing agreement, you can find an entertainment law firm to handle that for you. However, if you are one of those special athletes, musicians, or creators (what we like to call “Entertainment Entrepreneurs”) that "needs equity to sign the deal," who believes in entrepreneurship, owning assets, and building an empire, Cadet Legal might be the perfect team of advisors for you.

We don’t view you as talent, we view you as a corporate client that has a special talent. That difference in our perspective, along with our specific corporate legal tools, can make all the difference in your results.  

The Difference in Perspective 

Labeling entertainment clients as “talent” tends to fixate any discussion of that client on that person’s ability to entertain. Yes, entertainers initially generate revenue and popularity by performing a specific (athletic, musical, creative, etc.) art form for the entertainment of others. But that does not mean that the entertainer’s only value, motivation, mental capacity, or means of engaging with the world is in the performance of their art.

That difference in perspective can mean a difference in treatment - in how your advisor listens to (and understands) your needs. How can an advisor protect your interests and help you achieve your goals if that advisor does not accurately understand them? 

An advisor who looks at a you as “talent” - an entertainer who only knows how to dribble a ball or rhyme words over a beat - may also chalk up your expressing concerns during a negotiation as  “talent being difficult as always.” In contrast, an advisor who views you as Entertainment Entrepreneur would consider what legitimate, rational interest you are seeking to to protect when you voice concerns.

At Cadet Legal, yes, we respect your art, but we also respect your intelligence and agency enough to treat you like the corporation and high net worth individual you are. You are more than just “talent.”

The Difference in Skillset

A different perspective - one which allows us to see and value you holistically - is necessary but not sufficient to meet the needs of the true Entertainment Entrepreneur.  

The real difference between “talent” and a true Entertainment Entrepreneur is ownership and control.

• Ownership of assets, especially your name, image, and likeness (“NIL”). 

• Ownership of the very means of developing and manufacturing the products or media that bear your NIL.

• Ownership of governance - having a real say in the decision making of the business entity that is benefiting from your NIL and/or creative vision. 

You need advisors who not only understand the assignment because they understand you, but who also possess the technical expertise, industry connections, and willpower to close a complex transaction and secure the bag for you.  To secure ownership and control and not trade away your NIL or creative talent too cheaply, you need an advisor that is a technically-sound, corporate legal practitioner. Continue on to Part II to see a simplified case study, based on real deals we have closed, illustrating the Cadet Legal Advantage. If you already can tell that you (or the person you manage) is not just talent, but an Entertainment Entrepreneur, you should talk to advisors that can help you execute the vision.

Disclaimer. The contents of this article should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. Your viewing and/or use of the contents of this article do not create an attorney-client relationship with Cadet Legal. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult with counsel concerning your situation and specific legal questions you may have.