Shows
Music Row DealmakersLegislative HotTake - Pending Congressional Bills Affecting the Music IndustsrySend a textMusic Row Dealmakers Barry Neil Shrum & Dennis Disney discuss the NO FAKES and the American Music Fairness bills that are currently sitting in committees in the Senate and the House. Support the show
2026-02-1348 min
Music Row DealmakersThe Oracle Edition: What the future holds for Music Row Dealmakers PodcastsSend us a textIn this episode, co-host Barry Shrum looks at MRD's future plans for Music Row Dealmaker episodes, new features, and new related podcasts.Support the show
2026-01-3013 min
Music Row DealmakersDeal Making on Music Row, Part 4: Is the Traditional Recording Agreement Unconscionable?Send us a text In this of Music Row Dealmakers, from composing to closing - the first of Season 2 - your hosts Barry Shrum & Dennis Disney discuss whether certain terms of the traditional recording agreement are unconscionable. The doctrine of unconscionability is a contract law doctrine that states that a contract can be considered invalid if it is "shocking or unfair" in its wording or application. They explore the definition of unconscionability and how it applies to recording contracts, particularly in terms of leverage and bargaining power between the artist and the label. They also discuss the op...
2026-01-151h 20
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 8: Mark Roesler: The godfather of the Rights of Publicity (REBROADCAST)Send us a textFor the holidays, Music Row Dealmakers is rebroadcasting one of our most popular episodes on the Godfather of NIL, Mark Roesler, in which Dealmakers Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Disney discuss how Roesler negotiated his way into representing the estate of James Dean & Marilyn. They share their experience with deals involving this lesser-known personal and property right.Support the show
2025-12-311h 26
Music Row DealmakersNEWS UPDATE: Gene Simmons testifies about artist royaltiesSend us a textJudiciary Subcommittees consider New Legislation to Amend Copyright Act called the American Music Fairness Act. Yesterday, December 9, 2025, none other than Kiss’ Gene Simmons testified in support of this legislation at a hearing entitled "Balancing the Interests of Local Radio, Songwriters, and Performers in the Digital Age," conducted on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.Support the show
2025-12-1237 min
Music Row DealmakersDeal Making on Music Row, Part 3: Critical provisions of the Exclusive Recording AgreementSend us a textJoin us for the 12th episode of Music Row Dealmakers, where Barry and Dennis continue their exploration of the “Holy Grail” of the music industry, the exclusive songwriting agreement, examining some of the more controversial provisions of the traditional recording agreement and discussing how the paradigm shifts in the industry have affected their application. Support the show
2025-11-281h 23
Music Row DealmakersDealmaking on Music Row Part 2: The Holy Grail of the Music Industry (Exclusive Recording Agreement)Send us a textIn Episode 11, Mr. Shrum and Mr. Disney discuss how cases like McGraw v. Curb and Williams v. Polygram shape the language of the recording agreement.Support the show
2025-11-141h 06
Music Row DealmakersMusic Row Dealmaking, Part 1: Anatomy of a Personal Management AgreementSend us a textThe dealmakers discuss the importance of the contractual relationship between an artist and their personal manager. Some of these relationships, such as Col. Tom Parker and Elvis Presley, can last longer than most marriages and often involve more complexities. Barry and Dennis explore some of the most critical and impactful provisions of the personal management agreements, including the Key-Person provision and the Sunset Clause. Support the show
2025-10-311h 23
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 8: Mark Roesler: The godfather of the Rights of PublicitySend us a textThe Music Row Dealmakers Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Disney discuss how the godfather of “NIL” - the modern acronym for rights of publicity - negotiated his way into representing the estate of James Dean & Marilyn. They share their experience with deals involving this lesser-known personal and property right.Support the show
2025-10-151h 26
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 7: The Escapades of Frank Sinatra, from Jupiter to Mars.Send us a textIn this episode, the Dealmakers Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Glenn Disney explore The Escapades of Iconic Dealmaker Frank Sinatra, a/k/a “The Chairman of the Board” of Reprise Records. Sinatra garnered the title of "Chairman" when he established Reprise Records, which was later acquired by Warner Bros. Support the show
2025-09-291h 34
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers, Part 6: David Sarnoff, a/k/a "The General" of RCA and the Holy TrinitySend us a textIn the early 20th century, Sarnoff led RCA to the pinnacle of the radio industry, and later laid the technological foundations for the recording and television industries, ultimately forming entertainment icons such as RCA Victor, RKO and NBC. His legal battles against Philo Farnsworth, the inventor the image-dissecting cathode ray tube, are legendary.Support the show
2025-09-151h 30
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 5: The Tin Pan Alley PublishersSend us a textThe Story of New York's Tin Pan Alley and its role in the evolution of music industry. The Tin Pan Alley area of New York housed a collection of music publishers and songwriters located on West 28th Street in New York City, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, It became the birthplace of the modern music industry, where the concept of the song as a marketable product was developed and where many iconic American songs were written and published. Support the show
2025-08-291h 18
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 4: Cash & Carry Pyle and the Bunyon DerbySend us a textDealmakers Barry and Dennis explore CC. Pyles’ famous International Intercontinental Race, a/k/a “The Bunion Derby, and his creation of nationwide “on-the-spot” dealmaking, a precursor to the types of deals made in today's modern and complicated entertainment touring environment.Support the show
2025-08-1551 min
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 3: Cash & Carry Pyle ContinuedSend us a textCharlie "Cash & Carry" Pyle trains his dealmaking skills on the world of professional tennis, entering a deal with 5x French Wimbledon champion Suzanne Lenglen, establishing the precursor to the ATP and WTA Tennis Tours of the 21st Century.Support the show
2025-07-311h 21
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 2: Charlie “Cash & Carry” PyleSend us a textIn his book Cash and Carry: The Spectacular Rise and Hard Fall of C.C. Pyle, America’s First Sports Agent, biographer Jim Reisler described Pyle as a combination of “the talents of P.T. Barnum, Don King, Col. Tom Parker and Oral Roberts.” In this episode of Music Row Dealmakers, from composing to closing, Shrum & Disney discuss Pyle's first successful deal with NFL Hall of Famer Red Grange. Their successful collaboration generated more than $500,000 in endorsement and sponsorship deals, the present day equivalent of over $10M, and kicked off what is now known as...
2025-07-131h 10
Music Row DealmakersIconic Dealmakers Part 1: Frank DileoSend a textOur first iconic dealmaker is Frank Dileo, who was Michael Jackson’s manager through the Thriller and Bay World years and executed some of the most iconic deals in the music business. Support the show
2025-06-2838 min
Music Row DealmakersMusic Row Dealmakers IntroductionSend us a textThis pilot episode answers the question "who are the dealmakers?" In it, your co-hosts, Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Glenn Disney - of Shrum Disney & Associates in Music City - explain the types of deals they’ve done over their 80 collective years in the business, in particular in the deals in the entertainment and music spaces. They talk about their experience and why they wanted to share details of those deals with you, the listener, in this podcast.Support the show
2025-06-0552 min