My Music Row Story: Buchalter’s Lauren Spahn
Lauren Spahn
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Lauren Spahn is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s Nashville office and a member of the Intellectual Property practice group whose practice operates at the intersection of music, media and technology. She represents the legal and business interests of creators, music and technology companies, including recording artists, songwriters, publishers, executives, record labels, brands, entrepreneurs and other entertainment industry clients. Her practice has a particular emphasis on the live performance industry, where she routinely serves as an outside general counsel to numerous music promoters, talent buyers, venues, events and festivals, as well as advising on international live touring and related vendor deals.
Spahn also handles complex transactional and pre-litigation matters related to copyright, trademark and intellectual property law. She has experience managing international trademark portfolios and advises her clients on branding, sponsorship, marketing and complex licensing matters, as well as infringement claims. In addition, she consults with clients on the development of new businesses and provides advice regarding corporate formation, trademark and intellectual property protection, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, employment agreements and other related corporate documents.
Spahn is a regular in Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers list, has been named to MusicRow’s InCharge list each year since 2021 and was named to The Tennessean’s Nashville 30 Under 30 in 2018. She is a University of Miami Distinguished Alumni (2021) and was named to the Leadership Music Class of 2019 and the Grammy NEXT Class of 2019. Spahn is also a member of the Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Class of 2016-2017 and the 2016 recipient of the Nashville Bar Association President’s Award.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Palm City, Florida, about half an hour north of Palm Beach.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
Were you into music growing up?
Yes. I played classical piano and sang classical voice from elementary school on. Performing, being in choir and taking lessons really developed my love of music. I played piano and sang through college. It was an integral part of my childhood and shaped what I do today.
Did you always know you wanted to work in music?
Actually, I wanted to be a lawyer. When I was seven, I told my dad I wanted to be the first lady president. No political aspirations now, though. He told me presidents often go to law school, so I decided at seven to become a lawyer. That I stayed with me. When I toured colleges, I saw music business programs. It showed me that I could have a career as a lawyer combined with my passion for music. That solidified my path to becoming an entertainment attorney.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
Where did you go to undergrad?
I ended up at Elon University in North Carolina. I was originally a double major in music and political science. I auditioned for the music program and got in, but I quickly realized I didn’t need a music degree to become a lawyer. The workload of being a dual major was overwhelming because the classes didn’t overlap, so I dropped the music major to a minor and focused on the pre-law track.
I had some great internship experiences during undergrad. A key one was with CMT the summer between my junior and senior year, where I interned in music media and licensing business affairs. That really solidified that entertainment law was what I wanted to pursue, and it confirmed that Nashville was where I ultimately wanted to live and work.
How did you come across that internship?
It was hard to find entertainment law experience at the undergraduate level. I’d interned at a law firm and for the Attorney General in DC, but combining law and entertainment was tougher. I focused on cities that had music and positions that combined both things. I did the traditional application for CMT, did the interviews and got the position. It was a great summer that really made me fall in love with Nashville.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
Do you have any special memories from that internship that affirmed your career choice?
Definitely the excitement around the CMT awards and CMA Fest. Being submerged in the country music scene here and seeing how fans connect to the music made Nashville feel like a special place.
What was next? Where did you go to law school?
I applied to law schools all over but ended up at the University of Miami. I had no intentions of coming back to Florida, but they had started a joint degree program where you could get a master’s in music business alongside your law degree. It allowed me to get music business experience while getting my law degree, which was perfect way to be able to jump into an entertainment law career.
What stands out from that chapter?
The real-world experience in the music business program—learning how royalties are calculated and diving into the business side, while also getting my law degree. I had great experiences in Miami—I interned for Warner Music Latina and AEG Live—but my heart was still in Nashville.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
How did you transition to Nashville?
During my third year of law school, I took a trip to New York and then to Nashville, networking and meeting people. My trip to Nashville ended up being very successful and eye-opening. One of the law firms that I met with asked me how soon I could be here.
I only had one semester left, so I thought creatively and was able to figure out that I could do a visiting semester at Vanderbilt for my last semester and still graduate from the University of Miami. So, I spent my last semester of law school living in Nashville, going to Vanderbilt and interning for an entertainment law firm. Then I spent the summer studying for the Tennessee Bar exam so I could practice here.
What was next?
I passed the bar the first time but struggled to find an entertainment law position. The jobs were scarce and were never posted, and there weren’t as many Nashville companies that were hiring lawyers. So I did volunteer legal work and then landed a job at an IP firm to gain practical law experience. I kept networking, and eventually, Jim Zumwalt from Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, who I’d met multiple times, called me when an associate gave him their notice.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
I had dinner with him that night. I flew to a Dallas to interview with the firm three days later and got the job a couple days after that. That job was never posted, it was just an opportunity I got through networking and maintaining relationships. Jim took a chance on a young attorney. That was 11 years ago.
I moved from associate to partner in 2019. Our Nashville office left Shackleford and joined Buchalter in May this year, where I’m now a shareholder.
When you first became an associate, was there anyone who helped you learn the ropes?
I’ve been fortunate to have multiple people champion and mentor me. Mark Robinson, who was in-house at Warner Music at the time, was instrumental in helping me meet Jim Zumwalt. Ever since I was a law student, Mark has been someone who I’ve been able to go to for advice. When I started at Shackleford, John Bider was a great technical lawyer, and I could always go to him with questions. His office was right across from mine. Jay Bowen is also a mentor, he’s a brilliant lawyer. I still go to him for advice.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
Do you have a story from early in your career when you realized you were really doing it?
When you’re first starting out as an associate, you do a lot of work for other people, but when you celebrate the success of your own client, it’s special. One that stands out is Ian Munsick. We developed a relationship early on, and I believed in his music from the beginning. He has a very unique brand and is true to who he is—I was a true fan from day one. He made a record that was self-funded, and I helped him and his wife and manager, Caroline Munsick, set up meetings and navigate things. I made the connection with Universal and he ended up getting his first publishing deal. I was subsequently on the team to help facilitate and put together his record deal with Warner Music Nashville. Now he’s having amazing success. It’s been incredible to be part of that journey.
[Another client of mine is] Redferrin. I did his first deal with Tree Vibez and have been a fan of his work from the start. I’m so proud of his success, especially in the past year. Also, Wild Rivers, a Canadian band I’ve worked with for seven or eight years. They’ve gone from playing in front of 20 people to selling out the Ryman, and that’s been amazing to witness.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
What are some of your favorite deals to work on?
I love working on the creative artist side when I have that passion, but I’m selective because music is personal to me. A lot of what I do now is on the company side, representing music tech companies, publishers, labels and live event companies. I have a lot of fun in that capacity because I enjoy helping them put all the pieces together and shape their agreements and company structures. It allows me to be creative while staying true to the business side.
What are you excited about with your new firm?
Buchalter has offices across the U.S. We’re not just entertainment litigators and transactional attorneys, so it’s exciting to have access to 500+ lawyers across many practice areas. If a client of mine is interested in starting a wine label or wants to get into NFTs, we have experts in all those fields. We might be looking at tax issues or visa issues with touring overseas. It’s a great resource for me and my clients.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love my clients. Eight of my top 10 biggest clients have been with me for six or seven years. I’ve been able to grow with them and be part of their success, which I love.
Photo: Courtesy of Spahn
It sounds like you’ve always been a go-getter. What drives you?
Probably my passion for what I do. Music has always been personal for me. I hated performing, but I loved being part of it behind the scenes. Now, I get to be involved in music in a way that suits my personality and strengths—putting the deals together and helping shape how music is consumed.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
To be true to myself. As a lawyer, everyone has different negotiation styles. To be effective, you need to be authentic to who you are and how you do business. Knowing that has been key to my career.
