Rising Star: Meet Van Straten Solicitors' Anthony Orum

Rising Star: Meet Van Straten Solicitors' Anthony Orum

How did you break into the music industry?

I actually wanted to be a criminal lawyer, but once I got into that area of law, I quickly realised it wasn’t for me.

I continuously applied to firms that specialised in music and sport, and a friend saw how keen I was to get into music law and was confident enough to introduce me to a great music lawyer called Roger Edwards.

I met Roger on his return from the US, where he had been working for a number of years, and he was taken aback by my understanding of the business side of music. Within a few days he set up a meeting with Adam Van Straten, and the rest is history.
 

What’s your proudest achievement so far?

My proudest moment was when I received my first plaque for representing a UK Top 10 gold-selling artist, J Hus. Firstly because I am a fan, and secondly, in my opinion, he is culturally very important to the music scene and the youth of today.
 

What’s the biggest misconception about the music industry?


That it will make you a millionaire overnight. The road to having a successful career over a long time takes a lot of resilience, thought about how to position yourself, and the passion to master your craft. It’s a tough industry to break, but you can have a lot of fun whilst trying to do it.
 

What’s you favourite thing about your job?

Making my clients’ [including Wizkid, Sampha, B Young and more] hopes and visions a reality whilst showing them that I don’t just do legal advice, I upgrade business deals.

As a music lover, the live events that come with it are always fun and proud moments. ?


What is the key to good legal practice in the music business?

To care. Care enough to make sure your clients’ goals and aspirations come first. Care enough to do the groundwork to advise them how to manoeuvre effectively throughout their career.

Care enough to risk your relationship and have the less attractive conversations, so that you can actually advise accordingly to get things done.
 

What’s your biggest ambition?

To be renowned for creating gamechanging deals for platinum-selling artists that in turn change the music industry landscape in a positive and culturally impactful way.



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