For over fifteen years, I've been one of those guys who lives and breathes music. I started out in small-town basements and VFWs, but wound up on tour, giving showcases, "shopping" demos, and one day, suddenly it seems, in law school. While commuting regularly between classes in St. Louis, practices and recording sessions in Chicago, and shows out on the road, I realized I could convert musical inclinations into legal expertise. The one thing I felt I needed - an expansive database of cases involving legal issues working musicians face - seemed so simple but didn't yet exist. As far as I could tell, there were no reasons why not. So I decided to make it. I knew how to do it. I knew there was an audience. And I kind of wanted to read all these cases anyway.

Loren S. Wells graduated cum laude from Washington University School of Law, where he was Articles Editor on the Wash. U. Law Review. He is now a music attorney, based in Chicago, where he lives with his wife, artist Maya Escobar, and their young son, Adan.

Professor Charles McManis was the first person to initially see the potential in Loren's "pet project." This was when it was still a spreadsheet which Loren compiled on weekend nights and between studying for law school classes. If it wasn't for Professor McManis's insight into this particular student and his belief and support for collaborative initiatives, The Discography may have never taken its next step.

Andrew Martin is the director of the Center for Empirical Research in the Law (CERL) and is the person with whom Professor McManis suggested Loren speak regarding his data. Loren's first meeting with Professor Martin was scheduled for thirty minutes. It lasted two hours. After that meeting Professor Martin offered Loren a commitment of time, resources, and expertise, and making his data collection something that could be seen and used by the world. During the development process, Professor Martin served as an academic advisor to Loren in regard to the intellectual leanings of the initiative.

Troy DeArmitt is the research technologist of the Center for Empirical Research in the Law and was charged with converting the source data, a flat Excel spreadsheet, into a robust, online, and searchable relational database. While Loren envisioned the full site design, Troy webified his vision into the site you're using today.


Research Assistants
In addition to the professional services Loren received from his professors and advisors, a number of people have who worked on the more granular facets of the site. Without the talents and support of these individuals, the comprehensive collection you find here today would not have been possible. NOTE: Research Assistants have gathered data since April 2011 which has not been added to the database. If you are a law student and would like to offer assistance, please email me. (There is much to be done!)