Marcus Thomas

Education

JD, Georgia State University College of Law

MFA, Full Sail University

MA, University of Georgia

BA, Georgia State University

AA, University of Florida

Marcus Thomas is an educator and entertainment attorney who is also trained as a screenwriter and publicist. During his 25-year career, he has maintained a boutique entertainment law practice and held several in-house positions with entertainment companies including a major record label, major-affiliated music publisher and the nation's largest education music print publisher.

Thomas headed business affairs for Alfred Publishing where he negotiated digital distribution, print, and sync license agreements for a catalog of over 40,000 titles, including the entire former Warner Bros. Publications catalog.

Thomas also served as a publishing administrator for Dallas Austin Recording Projects and previously worked as an attorney for LaFace Records where he prepared and negotiated agreements for the label’s roster that included Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, Donell Jones, Goodie Mob, and Pink.

In addition to his administrative roles, Thomas also works as a creative semi-professional. He produces and engineers for independent recording artist Inobe. He was an assistant recording engineer at Doppler Studios and an on-air personality for Country 95.5FM WNGC. Thomas mixed sound for NBC Sports’ Take A Seat: Egypt and Take A Seat Alberta. He has song placements in indie films Dead Tone (2007), The Open Door (2008), and Jesus’ Secretary (2009).

Thomas co-authored “The Commercial Music Industry in Atlanta and the State of Georgia – An Economic Impact Study.” His study served as support for passing the Georgia Entertainment Industry Act of 2005. Thomas holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University, a Master of Fine Arts from Full Sail University, and a Master of Mass Communication from the University of Georgia.

Thomas serves as Associate Professor, Chair of Music Industry at The Hartt School, University of Hartford. He previously served as Associate Director of The Los Angeles Film School’s Entertainment Business program, where he was an instructor and faculty training developer for five and a half years. Thomas also served five years as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Georgia State University’s Music Management program.

Thomas contributed as a Governor for the Recording Academy’s Atlanta chapter and on the Atlantis Music Conference’s Urban Advisory Board. He has also been a participating member of the Georgia Music Industry Association, the National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music, MusiCares, the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association, and NAMM Generation Next.