Music

The Institute has partnered with award-winning composer and producer Joe Escalante. As Music Supervisor, Joe draws from a wealth of experience in servicing The Institute’s clients, as well as it’s content.

Escalante currently hosts the weekly entertainment legal advice show "Barely Legal Radio" on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles, and up until recently, served as the host of Indie’s The Last Of The Famous International Morning shows, a music heavy drive time show from the place Rolling Stone Magazine called the "coolest station in America" in 2004, and then declared the "Best Radio Station in America" in 2008.

Guests on the show included Radiohead, Debbie Harry, Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh, Tool's Maynard James Keenan, Johnette Napolitano, Matt Costa, Iggy Pop, with director David Lynch and actor Timothy Olyphant delivering daily weather and sports reports respectively. Escalante was instrumental in obtaining airplay for such new artists as Matt Costa, Jason Schwartzman, Jubilee, and the Courteeners.

After receiving his J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he specialized in anti-trust litigation, Escalante served as Director of Business Affairs for CBS Network and CBS Productions as a talent buyer supervising hundreds of hours of television production, and putting together series soundtrack albums. Joe's most permanent legacy there was convincing Chuck Norris (and the network) that Chuck Norris could, and should, sing the theme song for Walker Texas Ranger.

In 1996, after 4 years at CBS, Escalante left to tour full time with his band and founded the independent record label, Kung Fu Records. To fund the label, Escalante opened a law practice and gradually built a roster of entertainment clientèle such as Sublime, artist Robert Wiliams, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, and Warped Tour owner Kevin Lyman. Kung Fu Records released over 70 CD and DVD titles during the period from 1996 to 2006, and is known as the home of the first Blink 182 album and the birthplace of The Ataris.

As a performer, Escalante is in his 26th year as a member of The Vandals who have toured globally with Pearl Jam, No Doubt, Blink 182 , the Offspring, and more, including performances in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan for the U.S. troops.

From 2002 to 2005, Escalante produced and/or directed 21 concert DVDs and two independent feature films. Escalante has been the Music Supervisor on three feature films (also the Music Editor on two) and other projects, each time handling all clearance.

As a composer, Escalante has written dozens of songs for The Vandals, including "Oi To The World" which was recorded by No Doubt in 1997 for "A Very Special Christmas 3."

Since 2005, Escalante has hosted "Barely Legal Radio" on Indie 103.1, dispensing legal and professional advice to entertainers on topics ranging from music clearance to the "fair use" doctrine.