M. William Krasilovsky, Esq.
M. William Krasilovsky is co-author of the books, "THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC" and "MORE ABOUT THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC," published by Billboard, the leading trade paper of the music industry. Both books have been recognized as leading reference texts by the American Library Association and ASCAP, as well as being sometimes referred to as the "bible" of the music business by working musicians and others involved in the industry.
Mr. Krasilovsky is an attorney specializing in music and entertainment matters. In addition to the estates of Lorenz Hart, Rachmaninoff, Duke Ellington, Buddy De Sylva, Ray Henderson and Fats Waller he also represents or has represented classic industry figures such as Johnny Cash, Crystal Gale, Chuck Berry, Billy Taylor, Gian Carlo Menotti, Harry Connick Jr., Barry Eastmond and Dick Hyman as well as numerous composers, publishers, recording artists, producers, studios and record companies. Mr. Krasilovsky has represented Warner Brothers publishing companies and the American Guild of Authors and Composers (now Songwriter's Guild of America), and has served as officer and/or director of a number of music publishing companies. Mr. Krasilovsky enjoys constant involvement in the negotiation and review of financial matters of such companies and their dealings with ASCAP and BMI, and was special counsel to the United Nations/UNICEF on a music industry "Gift of Music" concert.
Highly specialized as to copyright law, Mr. Krasilovsky has been published on this subject by Columbia Teacher's college, the Copyright Society, and the Performing Arts Review and has lectured at the Practicing Law Institute, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Miami, New York University, Cornell University, and Brigham Young University. His course "Pennies From Heaven" was a 15-week offering of SUNY at Purchase N.Y.
Within recent years, Mr. Krasilovsky has been engaged as an expert witness and specialist in entertainment law for a number of litigations involving the music industry including the Jimi Hendrix Estate, the Stravinsky Estate and the RIAA. As such, he was presented by the Record Industry Association of America and was quoted favorably on appeal.
A graduate of Cornell University in 1947 and Cornell Law School in 1949 Mr. Krasilovsky has been Adjunct Professor at New York University during recent years, teaching a course on Ethics in the Entertainment Business.
