Donald S. Passman Interview
Donald S. Passman practices law in Los Angeles, California, and has specialized in the music business for over 40 years. The Harvard Law grad is the author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business. The book’s latest edition (the 11th!) is out tomorrow.
How did you get to where you are today, professionally?
I got into the music business on purpose. I've always loved music, both listening and playing, ever since I was a little kid. Also, I was around the music business in my teens because my stepfather was a disc jockey. But I didn't know there was such a thing as entertainment law until I got to law school, planning to be a tax lawyer. Then I saw a job posting for an entertainment law firm and got truly excited. However, I started with a tax firm that said they wanted to go into entertainment, thinking I could do both. But when I got there, they put me in mergers and acquisitions and I was less than thrilled.
About that time, I took a class on the music business at USC Law School and realized I could be doing what I really love full-time. So I changed firms and have been in the entertainment business ever since. I still love what I do and get excited every day because things keep changing so rapidly, and also because I love figuring out creative new ways to get things done.