Speaker strikes a chord with lawyers

The music industry needs its composers, lyricists, musicians, and singers. But it also needs its lawyers.

That was the implied, if not quite stated, message conveyed by Russell Fink, featured speaker at the inaugural meeting of the Cardozo Honor Society, an affinity group for legal professionals sponsored by the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.

About 30 people from both Middlesex and Monmouth counties attended the session, which was held at The Danish Cafe in Red Bank.

Fink, founder of 124 Media Studio in Manhattan, is not an attorney but has years of experience promoting and managing artists and labels. He cited issues such as piracy, copyright protection, and payment practices, all of which involve legal concerns.

“The digital music world is very different from what we all were used to,” Fink said. “Music was at its peak in 1999 when sales totaled $27 billion. By contrast, last year it was just over $15 billion. People are still listening, but the business has changed dramatically.”

But new technologies and delivery services also offer new opportunities.

“Today’s environment provides an opportunity for attorneys and business managers to enrich themselves by supporting the artists,” he said.

Roy H. Tanzman of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., located in Woodbridge, urged fellow attorneys to join the Cardozo Honor Society and support it with a donation of $1,000.

In addition to supporting the work of the federation locally and in Israel, he said, “it’s a nice thing to put on your business card.”

For information about the Cardozo Society, contact Jason Krane at jasonk@jewishheartnj.org.