A record deal turned a million-dollar year into a $40 check—and it made him a lawyer. Ryan Schmidt (entertainment attorney, ex-artist, The Voice S3) breaks down how fine print steals your lunch, why he refuses 100% AI-generated acts, and what’s actually coming with AI lawsuits, deepfakes, and artist protection. We trade war stories, get practical about hiring a lawyer without burning cash, and talk about beating AI by leaning into the human mess—tape, live rooms, and imperfect takes.

We get into:

•The clause that turned 15% royalties into 15% × (30 / 5,000,000)

•How to actually hire an attorney: retainers, flat-fees, and when to put them on the thread

•Timbaland/Suno remix drama & the “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” line

•Why ChatGPT contracts miss killer boilerplate (governing law, venue, conflicts)

•Deepfakes & the law: Tennessee’s Elvis Act, the proposed NO FAKES & TRAIN Acts

•Labels vs. AI: what majors will license, and why indies shouldn’t expect a big payout

•Beating AI with human imperfection: tape machines, live rooms, fewer edits

•Law school mindset shifts, choosing battles, and staying “the neighbor you want a beer with”

•Starter resources: Passman (with caveats), Ari Herstand, Emily White, Schmidt’s Foundation app

Guest: Ryan Schmidt, Esq —

IG: @ryanschmidtesq

Site: https://www.ryanschmidt.esq/

Host: Ryan Poole — @ryanmeetsworld