Music, Sports, and Entertainment Industry Negotiations

Director: James K. Sebenius

This initiative studies prominent and important negotiations in the music, sports, and entertainment industries to determine best practices as well as common mistakes. Examples thus far include detailed interviews leading to case studies on music industry “super-lawyer” John Branca’s negotiations over the production of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, acquisition of the Beatles catalog, as well as the UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin’s negotiations surrounding attempts to form the European Super League for football (“soccer” in North America). Collaborating with colleagues in the music industry program at Occidental College as well as the Entertainment, Media, and Sports clubs at Harvard’s professional schools, this initiative explores the negotiation and conflict resolution aspects of this culturally and economically important industry.