Entertainment income is unlike ordinary income: it arrives irregularly, flows from multiple sources and states, and often spans international borders. Our tax practice helps artists, entertainers, executives, and entertainment businesses plan intelligently, stay compliant, and keep more of what they earn.
We advise on entity selection and structuring for tax efficiency (including loan-out corporations and S corporation elections), multi-state tax issues for touring artists and traveling professionals, withholding on foreign income and international tax treaty questions, deduction planning for creative professionals, royalty and catalog sale tax treatment, and production tax incentives and credits. We also assist with tax controversies, including audits, notices, and negotiations with federal and state tax authorities.
Tax planning in this industry works best when it is integrated with deal-making — the structure of a catalog sale, a backend participation, or a touring year has tax consequences that should be addressed before contracts are signed, not after. Because we handle our clients' deals and their tax planning together, nothing falls through the cracks.