Music and the Law

Photo courtesy of UF Law/ Lauren Jannelle

The UF Levin College of Law will show students that the legal world isn’t only suits and depositions when it hosts the 8th annual Music Law Conference Saturday, Feb. 27. The event brings together musicians, lawyers, students and faculty to discuss the legal aspects of the music industry. This year’s theme is “Music Law Conference 2.0: Out of Beta,” focusing on the shift to digital media in the industry. The conference runs from 9am to 6pm in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom. It will include guest speaker Josh Greenberg from Grooveshark. 

After the panel discussion, the event kicks off a live music showcase at Common Grounds, featuring local bands Stevie D and the No Shows, Hoyt and the Hotheads, Boss Lady and the Company, and Orlando-based, reggae rockers Dinger Does It. “They might have had a reception, but there’s really no beating a concert,” says Sal Picataggio, vice president of the conference and second-year law student. “Everyone’s going to have a blast.”

Steven Davis of Stevie D, is excited play his first show at Common Grounds as part of the event. He also plans to attend the conference during the day and is looking forward to learning more about the legal side of the music business. He sees the event as a way to help connect UF students with the local music scene, which is an important part of Gainesville that doesn’t always get as much attention as it should. “We’re excited about doing anything to help bridge the gap between local musicians and the kids that live here,” he said.  “They’re going to college, so they got half a brain and have to have some need for music that either speaks to them or makes them want to move.”

The conference is free for UF students and faculty. Ticket prices are $75 for attorneys, $30 for bands, $20 for non-UF students and faculty and $25 for the general public. Prices are subject to a $10 increase the day of the event. Showcase tickets are sold separately - $6/$8 in advance and $8/$10 at the door. For more information, visit the event's event Web site.

-Morgan Watkins

Grooveshark Celebrates Millionth User

The eternal marketing question—how to get people to show up—was answered last night as people spilled over each other and down the street waiting to get into Sharab Lounge for "Grooveshark's Million User" party last night.

Grooveshark, a locally based, internationally known music streaming site, celebrated the commemoration of hitting one million users with a private party, for which the word "blow-out" is not an exaggeration. The consensus around the bar was that people were there for the free drinks. "Anything free in Gainesville, people flock to," I overhead one girl say. "It's sad, but true." Guess I wasn't the only one wondering where all the people came from.

The doors opened at 10pm; by the time I arrived at 10:30, there was a line outside the door, down to Ti Amo on SW 3rd. About 250 people shuffled into the club throughout the night. Adding to the allure of the night, Grooveshark hosted SoCal hip-hopper Del the Funky Homosapien for an intimate show, during which people crowded the DJ booth, eagerly dancing and singing along. In my more rose-colored viewpoint, although the drinks and free show with Del were beyond expectations, I think we were all happy to celebrate a local company's success and the diffusion of its law suit with EMI records. Kudos to Grooveshark for getting people out of their houses on a Tuesday night, dressed to the nines and dancing wildly rather than just casually swaying on the dance floor.

DJ Thomas and DJ Ernie Hotsauce killed it with their mix of dance and hip hop beats that kept the dance floor packed the whole night through. By 2am, when Sharab had no choice but to close shop, people were hesitant to leave. As the manager had to usher people out, the crowd gathered on the street waiting for the next move. The night was still young and no one was ready to go home. Off to the after-party.

—Stephanie Granada, Photos by Timothy Carswell