Becker Named to 2025 Billboard Magazine's Top Music Lawyers List
Billboard Magazine named Jeffrey S. Becker, Partner and Chair of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP's Entertainment and Media Law Practice Group, to its 2025 Top Music Lawyers list. This prestigious list honors prominent music and entertainment attorneys handling the industry's most significant legal battles and deals nationwide.
Billboard recognized Becker for his continued work representing the estates of music legends, including Aretha Franklin and Frankie Knuckles, as well as rising stars such as Natalie Jane and WesGhost. Other recent highlights include helping sign Ax and the Hatchetmen to Arista Records while representing frontman Axel Ellis in his deal to star in the Amazon Prime musical teen drama The Runarounds.
Becker spent much of the past year collaborating with lawmakers to strengthen the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. Illinois is now one of the few states in the country to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to replicate an artist's voice or image for use in sound recordings and videos without their prior consent.
Becker founded the firm's Entertainment and Media Law Practice Group in 2012. He is also a member of the firm's Intellectual Property and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. His clients include Grammy Award-winning musicians, producers and songwriters, publishers and record labels, professional athletes and other creative individuals, and entertainment-related businesses. Becker is a sitting member of the Board of Governors for the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy and co-chair of its Legislative Advocacy Committee.
Jeff also places great emphasis on family and philanthropy, recognizing their integral role in both his personal life and career. As a dedicated advocate for giving back to the community, Jeff’s commitment extends to organizations like Lawyers for the Creative Arts, where he volunteers his time, providing invaluable legal support to artists in need. His philanthropic endeavors go beyond traditional avenues, as evidenced by his creation of "Sound of Summer," an annual musical event with a charitable purpose. Sound of Summer has raised thousands of dollars to support a variety of music-related nonprofits, including Musically Fed, She Is the Music, Soundgirls, and this year, Save the Music Foundation. This initiative not only showcases Jeff’s passion for music but also underscores his belief in using his talents to uplift others and foster positive change in the world.Learn more about Jeff and his practice here.
