Ryan Schmidt

Ryan Schmidt is a Partner at Bowen Schmidt Entertainment Attorneys. A lawyer passionate about protecting the rights of creatives and business owners, Ryan’s entertainment law practice focuses on music business law, online influencers, copyright, music royalties, ethical generative AI, and contract disputes. 

Ryan, who toured extensively as a singer/songwriter prior to law school has been featured on the NBC’s “The Voice” and Apple iTunes’ “New Music Page” and was named “Critics’ Choice” at the Starbucks Music Makers Competition. As a professional musician, he experienced firsthand the cutthroat nature of the business and the restrictive contracts creatives are too often asked to sign. Answering the call to be a fighter for his fellow artists, Ryan knew he needed to pursue a career in law. And so, Ryan attended Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, where he graduated at the top of his class, summa cum laude, after serving as an Executive Officer for Belmont’s Law Review.

Before joining the Georgia Bar, Ryan clerked for a Nashville-based law firm representing clients in the music industry, fine arts, and digital media. Since then, he has represented countless clients across the country in various business and music industry matters including complex copyright litigation involving a certified Multi-Platinum global hit and an unprecedented catalog sale for a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. His experience as an artist and legal acumen as a music lawyer make Ryan uniquely qualified to review, redline, and negotiate your music industry contracts including: record deal, distribution deal, management deal, and publishing deal. 

For Ryan, being an advocate for entertainment professionals is not only his duty but also his privilege. To him, becoming the first entertainment law firm to receive the National ELITE Firm of the Year at the Game Changer’s Summit, is “a milestone that reflects our relentless pursuit of justice for our creative clients.”