John Beiter Announces Retirement

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John Beiter

Entertainment and intellectual property attorney John Beiter is retiring after nearly 35 years.

Beiter most recently practiced at his own Beiter Law Firm, PLLC, and has represented a diverse group of entertainment industry clients including artists, producers, labels, publishers, filmmakers, and authors. His institutional clients included SESAC, the Americana Music Association, and the International Entertainment Buyers Association.

“I hope I’ll be able to personally thank every one of the many people in the business who gave me an opportunity or helped me along on this adventure,” Beiter shares with MusicRow about his transition. “Off the top of my head, I think of Roger Cook and the late Ralph Murphy, who let me in the door to write at their legendary publishing company, Picalic, soon after I fell off the turnip truck on Music Row; Pat Collins, who took a chance on a newbie music lawyer and engaged me to represent SESAC for many years; Jed Hilly and the Americana Music Association, which I represented from early days; and Pam Matthews at IEBA. I’m going to pass it on.”

Before attending Vanderbilt Law School—where he was Managing Editor of the Law Review—Beiter was a newspaper reporter and then wrote songs for a Nashville-based music publisher. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Honorable John T. Nixon, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.

He is a former Chairman and current member of the Nashville Bar Association’s Entertainment Law Committee and a former Board member and alumnus of Leadership Music. He also is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries and the Tennessee Bar Association’s Entertainment and Sports Law Section.

Beiter was selected to be included in the Best Lawyers in America in the category of Entertainment-Music and in MusicRow Magazine’s annual InCharge edition for many years. He has represented clients regarding copyright-related legislation such as the Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act. He also has been a moderator and panelist at various music industry conferences and governmental roundtable discussions regarding copyright and related industry topics.

When asked what he will miss in retirement, Beiter speaks of the community. “I’ll miss the camaraderie: finding, listening to and discussing music with like-minded clients and colleagues. I got to make a great living doing what I would have been doing anyway with my Hoosier homeboys! I moved to Nashville 45 years ago to break into the music business and I got to be a legal cog in the machine that brings music and a bit of happiness and comfort to the world.”

Beiter and his wife Diane plan to relocate to the 30A area of Florida. He plans to get back into musicianship and to use his legal experience in community service.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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