Entertainment Attorney in Chicago, Illinois
I negotiated Polo G's first recording contract with Sony — a deal valued at over one million dollars. The double platinum Grammy award from one of his certified platinum songs is on the wall in my office. That's the level of major label experience I bring to every entertainment law matter I handle.
Major Label Contract Experience
Polo G / Sony Recording Deal
Double Platinum Grammy Award
Paralegal Support for Entertainment Matters
Entertainment Law at the Major Label Level
Most attorneys who list entertainment law as a practice area have reviewed independent agreements or worked on local performance contracts. Negotiating a major label recording contract with Sony is a different category of work — one that requires understanding how labels structure deals, what terms are standard, which points are negotiable, and where a first-time artist needs protection most.
I've been in that room. If you're an artist, manager, or industry professional with a label opportunity in front of you, the credential that matters is whether your attorney has handled this before at the level you're operating.
Polo G and the
Sony Recording Contract
Polo G — Chicago-native rapper Taurus Bartlett — came up through the south side of Chicago before his music reached a national audience. I negotiated his first major label recording contract with Sony, a deal that exceeded one million dollars and launched a recording career that has since produced multiple platinum-certified projects.
A double platinum Grammy award from one of Polo G's certified platinum recordings is in my office. It's there because the work was real, the deal was real, and the result was real.
That transaction is the foundation of my entertainment law practice. It's also the clearest answer to the question every artist and manager asks before they call an entertainment attorney: have you actually done this?
What a Recording Contract Actually Commits You To
Recording contracts look like opportunities. They are also long-term business arrangements with terms that govern your music, your royalties, your advances, and your creative rights for years beyond the initial deal period. The advance gets attention. The fine print is where careers are made or constrained.
An attorney who has negotiated at the major label level knows which of these points labels typically move on and which they consider fixed. That knowledge is the difference between a contract review and a contract negotiation.
The deal points that matter most in a recording contract include:
Advance structure and recoupment terms:
How the label recoups its investment before you see royalty income, and at what rate
Royalty rates:
The percentage you earn per stream, per sale, and per licensed use — and how those rates vary by format and territory
Term length and album commitments:
How many albums the contract covers and what triggers the label's option periods
Creative control provisions:
Who has approval authority over your recordings, your features, your visual identity, and your release schedule
Ownership of masters:
Whether the label owns your recordings permanently or whether you can reclaim them, and under what conditions
Merchandising and touring rights:
Whether the label participates in revenue streams beyond recorded music
Who This Practice Serves
The entertainment law practice at Skinner Law serves artists, managers, and industry contacts who need experienced legal representation for music contracts and related entertainment matters. Referral relationships with label A&R representatives, managers, and publishers are part of how this practice operates — if you found this page through a referral or by searching Steven's name directly, that's by design.
Paralegal support assists on entertainment matters. Every file is reviewed and handled by Steven directly.
This practice is not limited to Chicago or Illinois. Major label negotiations happen wherever the deal is — location has never been the relevant credential in this space. Experience is.
Testimonials
I can’t thank Steve enough for the work he did on my criminal case. From day one, he was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and straightforward about everything. He responded quickly whenever I had questions and always kept me informed about what was going on. Most importantly, he got my case dismissed.
David Cortez
5 stars across the board! Mr. Skinner was a great help, very professional and knowledgeable. He did what he said he would! I would highly recommend him for all of your legal needs!
Jim Marino
Attorney Skinner handled my daughter’s traffic matter wonderfully! He was very professional and helpful throughout the process.
Keri Moritz
Quick and concise service. Applying for law enforcement, needed to clean up my past ASAP, Mr Skinner ensured the job got done in time for the next hiring cycle. A blessing no doubt!! Knowledgeable and professional, well mannered, I recommended highly.
Steven Quiroz
Entertainment Law Questions Artists and Industry Contacts Ask
What does an entertainment attorney do for an artist signing a recording contract?
An entertainment attorney reviews the full contract, explains the deal points in plain terms, and negotiates on the artist's behalf to improve terms before signing. That includes royalty rates, advance structure and recoupment, term length, creative control provisions, master ownership, and any rights the label seeks beyond recorded music. The goal is to ensure the artist understands what they're committing to and that the terms reflect a fair negotiation — not just what the label's initial draft offered.
Does Steven Skinner have experience negotiating recording contracts with major labels?
Yes. I negotiated Polo G's first recording contract with Sony, a deal valued at over one million dollars. Polo G has since certified multiple platinum recordings. A double platinum Grammy award from one of those recordings is in my office. That's the level of major label experience behind this practice.
What's the difference between a general practice attorney and an entertainment attorney for a recording contract?
A general practice attorney can review a contract for legal compliance. An entertainment attorney who has negotiated at the major label level knows the industry-specific deal points that define a recording contract's value to the artist — royalty rates by format, recoupment structures, option periods, creative control, and master ownership. That knowledge shapes not just what gets flagged but what gets negotiated, and how.
Do I need an entertainment attorney even for an independent label deal?
Yes. Independent label contracts can contain terms just as binding and long-reaching as major label deals, often with less flexibility built into the initial draft. Recording contracts at any level are long-term business commitments. Having an attorney review the terms before you sign protects you from obligations that outlast the excitement of the opportunity.
Can a Chicago entertainment attorney handle deals with labels outside of Illinois?
Yes. Major label negotiations are not geographically limited, and neither is this practice. Entertainment law matters are handled based on the contract and the parties involved, not on where the label or the artist is physically located. I work with artists and industry contacts regardless of where the deal originates.
Steven Skinner is a Chicago entertainment attorney and the negotiating attorney behind Polo G's first recording contract with Sony. He practices entertainment law alongside criminal defense, personal injury, and real estate law from his office in Bridgeview, Illinois. Paralegal support assists on entertainment matters; every file is handled and overseen by Steven directly. His office is located at 7548 West 103rd St, Bridgeview, IL 60455. Learn more about his background and credentials on the About page.
Ready to Discuss Your Entertainment Law Matter?
Whether you have a label offer in front of you or a contract you need reviewed before you sign, the right time to involve an attorney is before the deal closes. Consultations are free and have no time limit.