Can musicians still protect their creative work and get paid for it in today's streaming and AI-driven world?

On this episode of You Dig?, Steve Wiest welcomes music copyright attorney, songwriter, author, and educator Jim Jesse for an entertaining and illuminating journey through the sometimes bewildering world of music copyright law.

Jim is Of Counsel at Hovey Williams and founder of Rock-n-Roll Law, a continuing legal education program that uses the stories and music of legendary artists to teach the principles of intellectual property law.

Together, Steve and Jim explore the essential things every musician and creative artist should know, including:

• The two separate copyrights involved in recorded music
• Understanding ASCAP, BMI, and music publishing
• The Mechanical Licensing Collective and uncollected streaming royalties
• Copyrighting songs, lyrics, arrangements, and recordings
• Cover songs, jazz contrafacts, and derivative works
• Fair use, educational exemptions, and YouTube copyright claims
• Artificial intelligence and the future of the music business
• The challenges of being an independent recording artist

Jim also shares stories from his own songwriting career, his Chicago upbringing, his family, and his Rock-n-Roll Law educational programs.

Then it's time for the Dig You Inquisition, where we discover Jim's favorite superhero, music, sports teams, ice cream, and even his philosophy on the meaning of life!

A fascinating, funny, and genuinely useful conversation for musicians, songwriters, composers, arrangers, educators, and music lovers everywhere.

Explore Jim Jesse's work:

Rock-n-Roll Law: https://www.rocknrolllaw.com/

The Mechanical Licensing Collective: https://www.themlc.com/

Jim's books: The Musician's Guide to Music Copyright Law and The Music Copyright Manual.

Hosted by three-time Grammy-nominated composer, arranger, and trombonist Steve Wiest.

You Dig? — Conversations with extraordinary creative people.

This week on You Dig?, Steve Wiest welcomes one of Britain's most celebrated music journalists and authors, Paul Du Noyer, for an extraordinary conversation about the people, places, and music that shaped generations.

From growing up in Liverpool to working at NME, Q, and co-founding MOJO, Paul has spent a remarkable career chronicling popular music and interviewing its greatest figures.

We travel through Liverpool's musical history, from the Cavern Club to Eric's and Cream, explore the influence of Chicago blues on British rock, and discover what it was like to sit across from Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, and other musical legends.

Paul recalls hearing the Beatles' Abbey Road for the first time while hospitalized as a teenager, shares his insights into the extraordinary songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney, and reflects on Peter Jackson's Get Back documentary.

Then things get wonderfully personal in the Dig You Inquisition! We discover why David Bowie is Paul's superhero, how Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" became forever connected to his first visit to America, and why Mendelssohn is currently filling the halls of Castle Du Noyer.

Finally, Paul shares invaluable advice on the art of interviewing: preparation, patience, listening, and the beautiful Italian concept of sprezzatura—the appearance of effortless mastery born from tremendous work.

An episode for music lovers, writers, musicians, Beatles enthusiasts, and anyone who treasures a great story.

Pull up a chair on the front porch. You're going to dig this one!

You Dig? with Steve Wiest Conversations with creative people about the art of making art.

_________________

Paul's official website, books, articles, and interview archive:

https://www.pauldu­noyer.com

Books discussed:

• Conversations with McCartney

• Liverpool: Wondrous Place

• The Complete John Lennon Songs

• In the City: A Celebration of London Music

Buy these books and more online: https://www.pauldunoyer.com/books/

Composer, arranger, drummer, pianist and master educator Richard DeRosa joins Steve for an unusually deep—and frequently ridiculous—episode of You Dig?

Rich shares stories about his father Clem DeRosa, Neil Slater, Gary Smulyan, Dick Oatts, Mel Lewis, the Village Vanguard and his years at the University of North Texas, while taking us inside the creative thinking behind pieces including “Sno Peas,” “Perseverance,” “Mixed Emotions” and “Fugue for Thought.”

Along the way, Rich and Steve dig into composition, storytelling, teaching, perseverance, musical humor, Gary McFarland, the 1969 Mets, terrible impressions, affogato—and Rich’s beautifully simple philosophy of life:

Find what you’re good at, cultivate it, and make yourself useful.

_________________

Links from today's episode:

https://richderosa.com/

'Sno Peas • "Sno Peas" The One O'Clock Lab Band

Mel Lewis "Alone Together" • Alone Together (Live at the Village Vanguard)

Mel Lewis: "Dearly Beloved" • Dearly Beloved (Live at the Village Vanguard)

Fugue for Thought • Fugue for Thought

Perseverance • Perseverance

Mixed emotions • Mixed Emotions

Gary McFarland's "America The Beautiful" • On This Site Shall Be Erected…