By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Seeker Music has appointed music and talent industry professional Dan Stuart to the position of general counsel.
“I’ve known Dan for almost 20 years and what I’ve known about Dan since the day I met him is how smart, dedicated, passionate, authentic, and well-respected he is,” said Seeker Music CEO, Evan Bogart. “He is one of the best in the business, and in my view it’s because he’s not just a lawyer, he’s an OG music guy who really cares about music and music creators. I speak for the entire Seeker family when I say there’s no better fit for someone to serve as our general counsel.”
Seeker Music is a creator-led music rights management, publishing, and recording company. Since its launch in 2020, Seeker has amassed a catalog of over 14,000 copyrights and master recordings from various musical artists. The position of general counsel in music rights companies is considered one of the central positions, as the sector has only become more complex with the rise of streaming; wider licensing activities in video gaming, entertainment and advertising; the trend toward major music catalog acquisitions; synchronous licensing; and most recently the issue of generative artificial intelligence.
Brand Central Stirring Up Success in Food and Beverage Licensing
Stuart brings more than 20 years of experience to Seeker as both a legal representative and advocate in the talent and music industries.
Prior to joining Seeker Music, Stuart worked as SVP of business affairs at the AWAL music label. During his time at AWAL, the company’s U.S client base grew significantly and the label was acquired by Sony Music Entertainment.
Stuart also previously worked as a partner at the legal firm King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, and as an attorney at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
“In my role as an attorney, whether my client is an aspiring young musician, or a well-funded music company, my goal has always been to represent them in the true sense of the word,” said Stuart. “I aspire to understand what their goals are, financially, in business, creatively, and in life, so that I can use my skills and resources to help them authentically achieve those goals. I’ve known Evan for many years, and I’ve seen him succeed at many things because he operates the same way. Evan has always been about authenticity, and bringing out the very best in people by learning about their true goals.
“It’s been great to watch Seeker establish itself and grow by following that same ethos. I am absolutely honored to be joining Evan and the entire Seeker team in this next chapter,” Stuart added. “And Seeker’s catalog of sweet 90’s hip-hop classics doesn’t hurt!”
Before his career in law, Dan Stuart worked as a journalist for music-focused magazines and radio shows, while also serving as a DJ-in-residence at a popular Pasadena night club.