We had the pleasure of interviewing Paula Sánchez Manzanero, head of legal affairs and music business at Sympathy For The Lawyer. Paula is a young lawyer from Madrid who managed to work with both her passions: music and law. After studying law, she decided to specialize in copyright law motivated by her love for books, literature, cinema, music, and culture. In this interview Paula shares her valuable experience and her vision of working in the music and creative sector in Spain offering us a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by this dynamic field.
Let's start with your studies: you graduated in law. Why did you decide to specialize in copyright law and work in the music industry?
Everything related to culture has always fascinated me since I was a child. Music is very important to me, especially thanks to the influence of my father. Even during my teenage years it played a crucial role in my life. I've always been surrounded by it and have always attended various concerts. Even at home, although none of us is a musician, we all love music. Subsequently, after graduating in law, I did a master's degree in industrial and intellectual property (in Spain industrial property is related to trademarks and patent, and intellectual property includes copyright). I chose it precisely because I wanted to find a way to combine my interest in the legal world with my passion for music.
What was your first practical experience in the music sector?
After graduating as a lawyer I did an internship at a law firm specializing in music. Although I don't really like to say that music is very important to me since it is important for many people, I love dedicating myself to it because I believe that it is something very positive that unites (almost) all human beings. With my master's and the internship I fell even more in love with the music sector, with everything behind a song or a concert. Now I work at Sympathy for the Lawyer, one of the most important companies in Spain in the music industry and I deal with legal, economic, fiscal, management, and booking issues.
How would you describe the Spanish music industry?
I feel that Spanish music has had a great surge in recent years, especially thanks to artists like Rosalía who have brought aspects of our culture to other countries with completely different cultures. Spanish music is in full growth. However, I also see a challenge in maintaining certain genres that are popular outside of Spain. I believe it will depend on how we take care of our artists internally to be able to continue promoting them.
Have you noticed any differences as a woman in the sector?
It's true that I don't have a very extensive experience but since I entered the secto I've seen many women both in the legal part and in production, management, agencies, and promoters. However, when I work with big clients or older lawyers who are usually men, I feel like I have to try twice as hard for them to respect my work and trust me, both for being a woman and for being young. This is more common in my role as a lawyer than as a worker in the music industry.
In many interviews we conduct it has come up that there are few women in sound production. Have you noticed this too?
Yes, I've seen many women working in agencies, management, as promoters, and as lawyers. However, in technical roles like producers or sound engineers it is rare to find them. I talk to producers almost every day and I can only think of one woman.
Do you think that working in the music indsutry and in general in creative sectors is more difficult in our Mediterranean countries since our markets are not very large?
For me I must admit that it hasn't been so difficult but I recognize that I've been lucky. It's a smaller niche and therefore it's harder to get in. In my case a divorce lawyer, for example, will have many more opportunities than a lawyer specialized in music. However, if you specialize a lot, you can find your place because being something so specific, there is always a need for people. It's not easy to find highly specialized professionals in music, whether in legal, marketing, or other areas.
Do you have any favorite singer who inspired you to work in this industry?
I can't say that a particular singer inspired me to work in this industry, it's music in general that has been my inspiration. One singer who has been with me since my adolescence and whom I still listen to is Taylor Swift. I not only like her music but also how she has managed her career and the intellectual property issues related to the re-recording of her albums. I think she is an example. I also have other favorite Spanish bands but they are not very well known outside of Spain.
What advice would you give to girls who want to do your job?
I would suggest them to study law and specialize in something related to music such as cultural management or intellectual property. In Spain there are many masters and postgraduate courses related to music and I suppose there are also many outside of Spain as well. You should specialize and be very eager. Now my feminist side will come out: it's important not to let yourself be intimidated or pushed around. My experience is that women understand each other better and work well together. However, my main advice is to specialize.
Can you recommend a Spanish song?
My favorite band that is now also being listened to a lot in Latin America is Carolina Durante. If I had to recommend a song, I would say No Tan Jóvenes.
You can follow Paula here