Download Magazine - Levin College of Law - University of Florida

UP AND COMING
Entertainment Law Up Close
B Y A L I N E B A K E R
When Gerard Kardonsky
entered his first year of law
school, he wasnʼt even sure
he liked lawyers.
As the owner and
manager of the label
Noisepolluter Records in
Dallas, Texas, Kardonsky said he had not always had
pleasant experiences with lawyers and felt the only way
to fix this situation was to go to law school.
“I realized I would be more of an asset for my
record label if I had the insight
of a lawyer when entering a
meeting,” said Kardonsky,
who earned his bachelorʼs
degree at Texas A&M. “You
immediately gain more
respect when someone knows
you have a law degree.”
Now planning to graduate
in May 2008, his uncertainty
about lawyers has changed, primarily because of those
he met through law school events.
Kardonsky said the more he has interacted with
entertainment lawyers, the more he realizes the
“cut-throat” stereotypes of many lawyers is a false
assumption.
“I am more of a laid-back kind of guy,” Kardonsky
joked. “I realized that many entertainment lawyers are
more easygoing sort of people like me.”
As the person responsible for organizing the 2007
Live Music Showcase, the kickoff to the student-run
annual Music Law Conference (chaired by UF Law
student Brian Frankel) and the newly-elected executive
director of next yearʼs conference, Kardonsky said he
appreciates the numerous opportunities law school
has offered him. His involvement with the Music Law
Conference—which connects musicians, lawyers,
students, academics, policy makers and entertainment
executives at the Levin College of Law—has given him
confidence with others in the field as well as real insight
into an industry in which he has already worked for six
years, he said.
Kardonsky, 25, debuted his natural musical abilities
at the age of 4 when he started taking piano lessons. By
the age of 10 he was easily playing the saxophone and
“I realized I would be
more of an asset for my
record label if I had the
insight of a lawyer when
entering a meeting.”
clarinet. Just recently, Kardonsky has started learning to
play the guitar.
After serving as the business manager for his fatherʼs
jazz band in Dallas, Kardonsky started Noisepolluter
Records in 2001 as the next natural step in his passion
for music and business. His label now represents seven
bands from various music genres, some of which are
finding regional and financial success throughout Texas.
Though law school keeps him busy, he is able maintain
his business from home thanks to technology and the
three-hour time difference in California, where the entertainment
industry is located.
As Kardonsky heads into
his last year as a law student,
he said he realizes law school is
just the first of many steps in his
journey toward the success of
his record label.
“As a businessman, I
did not understand the
details about things like
copyrights and contracts until I came to law
school at the University of
Florida,” Kardonsky said.
Because Gainesville has
a large talent pool and easy
access to larger markets,
he plans to build a studio
here after graduation
and watch his company
grow into a record label
that represents all genres
of music.
“I am a lover of
music. Just imagine
life without music. A
scary movie without
music wouldnʼt be very
suspenseful, would
it,” Kardonsky said,
grinning. “I want
to bring music to
all types of
people and
stir their
souls.”
Law student
Kardonsky is
involved in
several areas of
the music field.
KRISTEN HINES
S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 71