Taylor Swift law class at Queen’s University making shock waves
A first of its kind entertainment law course centred on Taylor Swift will be offered this fall at Queen’s University.
Professor of business law at Queen’s University, Mohamed Khimji, will be teaching the course this September. He told CRFA Live on Newstalk 580 CFRA Sunday Swift’s high influence on the public will make the class more relatable to the world we live in.
The idea came “spontaneously” to his mind about a month ago.
“I was just chatting with one of my colleagues (who’s) also a fan and we were just going through her recorded albums and debating which one was better, the Taylor’s version or the original version of that,” he said.
His colleague then asked “why did (she) record her albums?”
To answer that question, the professor started explaining the business and legal reasons associated with Swift’s recordings.
“It made me think, my students would be interested in this as well,” he added.
That was when he started doing research on the singer’s various interactions with the law. In the process, he figured that he can actually structure an entire entertainment law course, consisting entirely of examples from her career to illustrate the business and legal reasoning behind her moves.
Swift for popularity, history, legal business deals
The Kingston, Ont. university’s professor says Swift is worthy of study for being a social phenomenon.
“Taylor Swift is everywhere in NFL, in football and NHL. It’s kind of incredible – her reach in pop culture,” Khimji said.
"She dominates the pop culture to such a degree that we would struggle to find the historical comparison. Right now, the prime ministers of Singapore and Thailand are fighting over which country has the exclusive right to host the Eras Tour around that part of the world. It’s just astonishing."
In addition to the fun Swift law course offers, the business lessons are big in terms of copyrights, trademarks and various legal subjects, he notes.
"It seemed like it was a practice area. It touches on various legal subjects like contracts and the negotiation of record deal, specifically, in her case, (it) touches on copyright, but that’s the legal regime that governs ownership of creative work,” he said.
He adds that that specific example from her career has a practical impact on how business deals are now negotiated, citing her lawyers who negotiate these deals.
“A famous example would be Olivia Rodrigo was negotiating her record deal in 2020 and she insisted that she retains ownership ... and the record company agreed,” he said.
Swift released a 31-track surprise double album called “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday. In one day, it became the most streaming album for Spotify, reportedly exceeding 200 million streams.
Other universities around the world offered a similar course in the past, but the focus was not on entertainment law.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
TD penalties expected to be higher on alleged drug money laundering link: analyst
A banking analyst says TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
DEVELOPING Foreign interference inquiry to report today on alleged meddling in federal elections
A federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference is slated to release a report today on alleged meddling in the last two general elections.
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Western Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
BREAKING Winnipeg man accused of killing four women will be tried by jury
A Winnipeg man accused of killing four Indigenous women will have his case heard by a jury.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'