Ryan William Schmidt

Who Is Ryan Schmidt, Esq.? 

Ryan Schmidt, Esq. is a nationally acclaimed music lawyer and one of the industry’s most trusted voices on artists’ rights in the age of AI. His insights have been featured in The Washington Post, CBS Mornings, the LA Times, and widely cited across major media.

​As an artist turned entertainment attorney specializing in music law, including record deals, catalog sales, publishing agreements, artist advocacy, copyright disputes, Ryan blends firsthand industry experience with elite legal training to protect creatives at every stage of their careers.

​In his music career, Ryan has been featured on NBC’s The Voice and earned honors like “Critics’ Choice” at the Starbucks Music Makers Competition. His firsthand experience with restrictive contracts and industry red tape inspired him to become the kind of lawyer he wished he'd had.

A summa cum laude graduate of Nashville's Belmont University College of Law, Ryan graduated top of his class and served as an Executive Officer of the Belmont Law Review. Before launching his Georgia-based solo practice, he trained under a leading Nashville entertainment law firm representing major artists and rights holders in music, visual arts, and digital media. He later joined boutique Savannah firm The Bowen Law Group and went on to become a named partner at Bowen Schmidt Entertainment Attorneys. In 2024, Ryan left the firm to launch his own national music law practice, which is quickly becoming a go-to legal destination for artists, songwriters, producers, and music tech companies across the country. Today, he represents clients from all major creative hubs like Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami, and beyond.

Whether helping artists sign their first contract or fighting for better terms on their next big deal, Ryan’s mission remains the same: to help creatives protect their art and build sustainable careers on their terms.
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In addition to his legal practice, Ryan is a respected music business educator and content creator, empowering thousands of artists through his online platforms. He also serves as Co-Founder and Head of Learning at Foundation, a first-of-its-kind microlearning app built to teach musicians how to master the business side of their careers.
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If you’re an artist, songwriter, producer, or music executive looking for a trusted music lawyer to review your record deal, negotiate your publishing agreement, help with a catalog sale, or other music business matters such as contract drafting and review, and pre-litigation disputes and demands, Ryan Schmidt, Esq. is here to help.
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Education:
Belmont University College of Law, JD (2018), summa cum laude
Northeastern University, BS in Music Business (2012)
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Bar admissions:
Georgia (state and federal)
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Associations: The Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards), Atlanta Chapter; Georgia Music Partners (Advisor)
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Press & Media Highlights:
Ryan is a nationally recognized expert on music law, copyright, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the creative industries. He is frequently featured by major media outlets and industry conferences for his insights into protecting artist rights and navigating modern deal structures.

July 2025 – Newsroom

"As Big Tech Scrapes Songs, a Fractured Music Industry Turns to a Decade-Old Legal Precedent"
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June 2025 – Digital Music News
"K Fresh and Attorney Pen Open Letter to Timbaland and Suno Over Music Theft Allegations—Timbaland Responds"
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May 2025 – Music Biz Conference guest panelist:
“Pioneers or Stuck in Legacy? The Future of CMOs”

December 2024 – The Washington Post
"He found unreleased Michael Jackson tapes. The world may never hear them”

August 2024 –
“The Essential Guide to Ethical AI in the Music Business”

June 2024 – CBS Mornings
“Two voice actors sue AI company over claims it breached contracts, cloned their voices”

July 2023 – Los Angeles Times
“AI is Hollywood’s ‘Napster 2001 moment,’ entertainment lawyers warn”