Media liability insurance isn’t just for rockstars. Whether you’re producing beats in your bedroom or earning money touring the world, making music means putting yourself (and your work) out into the world; at gigs, on streaming platforms, in promo videos, TikToks, your own website...you name it.
The reality is, when you share your work, legal risks can pop up everywhere, and they’re not just for the big names. Our music and entertainment industry experts explain these risks and how media liability insurance can protect artists.
Enter Stage Right: Media Liability Insurance
Media liability insurance is a specialised form of professional indemnity (PI) insurance designed to protect businesses and individuals working in media, communications, advertising, and publishing sectors from legal risks associated with their content. It’s designed for anyone creating or sharing content. Here’s why it matters for musicians, bands, and performers:
Contracts aren’t just paperwork
Most gigs, festivals, and collabs (plus sync and licensing deals) involve contracts. If you - accidentally or otherwise - don’t hold up your end, someone could come after you for damages. PI insurance helps cover you for claims that you’ve breached a contract, missed a deliverable, or slipped up on an agreement.
IP and copyright are minefields
Recorded a cover? Posted a clip using someone else’s track or artwork? Or what if someone reckons your song copies theirs? Media Liability covers claims of accidental copyright infringement, plagiarism, and similar IP headaches.
Defamation can sneak up on anyone
Crack a joke on stage, post a spicy Insta story, or get caught up in the heated end of a public feud? Someone might claim you’ve damaged their reputation. Legal claims for defamation aren’t just for media companies and A-listers, they can hit small acts and indie artists too.
Other exposures: privacy, errors, reputation
New privacy rules, “misleading and deceptive conduct” claims, and even disputes over social posts—these are all realities of being in the creative industry today.
Real Talk: Why Bother With Media Liability Insurance?
You don't have to be the next ARIA winner to get caught up in a messy claim. Legal costs and damages can stop your career in its tracks, even if the claim is baseless. Media Liability with PI means you’ve got backup if the worst happens, letting you do what you do best: create and perform.
What does media liability insurance usually cover?
- Accidental breach of contract
- Copyright/trademark infringement
- Defamation (libel and slander)
- Breach of confidentiality or privacy
- Unintentional errors, omissions, or misleading conduct
Talk to an Insurance Broker about Media Liability
Worried about the cost of media liability insurance? It’s probably not as much as you’d think, and for what it covers, it’s a smart investment. If you’re an artist or manager with questions about what’s right for your career, brand, or media work, contact BlueRock's business insurance team via the form below for a no-obligation chat about your work.
