Deborah R. Kidd

Deborah R. Kidd serves as an Associate Professor in the Music Business/Management department at Berklee College of Music, bringing extensive industry experience as an entertainment attorney and executive to her teaching role. With over two decades of legal practice and over a decade of direct involvement in the music, entertainment, and media industries, she provides students with practical insights into the legal aspects of the music industry, copyrights, and contract negotiations.

Education:

• J.D. from Cumberland School of Law (1999)
• LL.M. in entertainment and media law from Southwestern Law School (2015)
• M.A. in music business from Berklee College of Music
• B.S. in business administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville

Research Interests:

Kidd's academic focus lies at the intersection of law and music business, with particular emphasis on entertainment law, music industry law, copyright law, and legal frameworks governing the entertainment sector. Her teaching philosophy centers on equipping students with practical skills to protect their intellectual property and navigate the legal landscape of the music industry, with the aim of unlocking their full potential for success.

Professional Experience:

She has founded and led Kidd Legal LLC, providing comprehensive legal services to artists and businesses in the entertainment industry. Her practice covered transactional and litigation matters across music, television, film, and social media platforms. She has also served as chief executive officer of PopDaze Entertainment LLC and worked at Virago Artist Management and Virago TV, where she pioneered livestreamed music and entertainment experiences during the pandemic.

Professional Affiliations:

• Past board member of the Veterans Empowerment Organization
• Professional member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
• United States Air Force JAG Corps veteran