This Business of Urban Music: A Practical Guide to Achieving Success in the Industry, from Gospel to Funk to R&B to Hip-Hop

The first reference book all about the business side of gospel and urban music. Hip-hop and R&B hold 25 percent of the consumer music market. Another 20 percent is held by religious (gospel and Christian) music, soul, disco, dance, and jazz. Here€™s the first reference book to offer sound business and legal advice specifically tailored to these areas of the music industry. Securing a record deal, starting a label, publishing music, marketing and promoting€”this is the information that today€™s musicians need. With insightful examples, quotes, and anecdotes from dozens of top artists and executives, This Business of Urban Music is entertaining as well as informative. Author James J. Walker, Jr., is a leading entertainment lawyer, representing such well-known clients as Cole, Jamie Foxx, DMX, and many others. Now he brings his years of professional expertise in litigation, business, intellectual property, and corporate law to This Business of Urban Music€”at

James L. Walker, Jr. started his first business, Stillwater Productions, a concert promotion and artist management company, over 12 years ago.  After gaining legal experience, he built up a small team and started Walker and Associates, LLP - a leading entertainment law firm in New England where he now serves as a managing partner, working with a wide range of clients, including many celebritites. Walker holds a law degree from Howard University; he teaches entertainment law at the University Of Hartford’s Hart School of Music, and at the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is also a guest commentator for Court TV's Prime Time Justice, CBS NEWS, BET’s Nightly News, and CNN. Walker and his wife have four children, and reside in the New England area.