San Francisco Bay Area based Michael A. Aczon has practiced entertainment law and personally managed select clients since 1983. As a lawyer, he has represented a variety of clients in virtually every musical genre from unsigned local artists to multi-platinum artists and writers to L.A. and Nashville-based companies. Says San Francisco Examiner’s Edie Sellers, Aczon is “bright, funny and supremely knowledgeable. He possesses that too rare ability to distill complicated issues of entertainment law and convey them in a clear, storyteller language we all can understand.” Michael’s book “The Professional Musician’s Legal Companion” published by Thomson/Hal Leonard is quickly becoming a “must-have” for musicians of all levels of experience and success in the Industry. He has been a columnist for Guitar Player Magazine and Electronic Musician Magazine and is a contributing writer to the book “The Independent Working Musician” by Mary Cosola. Michael is a member of the Music and Recording Industry faculties at San Francisco State University and Diablo Valley College. He has served on the National Entertainment Law Initiative Committee for the Recording Academy and is a member of the San Francisco Chapter’s Urban Outreach Committee. He often lectures at various colleges, law schools, and music industry seminars nationwide.
Music Director, Ignition Creative
A music supervisor for over 9 years, Natalie Baartz is Music Director at Ignition Creative where she manages the music department and is in charge of all music for all projects. As well as pitching a huge range of commercial artists, she also works closely with composers, DJs, and remixers to do custom scores (orchestral to dubstep). While at Ignition she has been responsible for such high profile campaigns as Martin Scorsese’s Hugo Cabret, Spielberg’s Tin Tin, 2011 Sundance winner Like Crazy, Super 8, Devil’s Double, Another Earth, 30 Minutes or Less, Fright Night, Transformers 3, Battleship, to name a few, as well as multiple primetime television show campaigns, most recently HBO’s Luck. Prior to Ignition, Natalie worked for four years as a music supervisor at the Ant Farm trailer house, selecting commercial music and working with composers on score for movie campaigns, building a foundation in dealing with the marketing departments of all of the major film studios. She worked on several prominent campaigns including Warner’s Where The Wild Things Are (garnering the Golden Trailer Award for Best Music with Arcade Fire), Sony’s Julie and Julia, and Eat Pray Love, (which set Florence and the Machine on the map with the use of Dog Days Are Over); Universal’s It’s Complicated, Paramount’s Iron Man, Star Trek, Transformers 1 and 2 and The Reader for the Weinstein Company. While at Ant Farm she also supervised numerous video game trailers. Prior to getting into entertainment advertising she spent four years working with independent music supervisor John Bissell where she started as an intern and was eventually promoted to music supervisor. During her time with Bissell, she worked on studio and independent features including Ladder 49, Lord of War, You Kill Me, The Architect, 10th and Wolf, and Junebug. Natalie completed her Bachelors Degree in Film and Media at the College of Cheltenham in England before moving to Hollywood to pursue her music supervision career. Her main passion is Composers and Film Score, and she constantly seeks new, innovative composers for her projects.
Founder, TBG Entertainment Marketing
A native of Detroit, MI, Marilyn Ann Batchelor graduated from one of the city’s premier college-prep high schools, Cass Technical High. She later earned a bachelor of science in magazine journalism and a bachelor of art in English Literature from Syracuse University. She began her career as a newspaper reporter for the Syracuse newspapers, The Detroit News and ultimately The Orange County Register. After transitioning from journalism to the entertainment industry, Marilyn joined the Universal Music Group working her way from director of marketing for Urban music to head of strategic marketing for Interscope/Geffen/A&M. At UMG, she marketed and oversaw strategic marketing for multiple Grammy, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning artists and projects from Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Ashlee Simpson, Keyshia Cole, Blink 182 to Gladys Knight, Avant, Gwen Stefani, a host of soundtracks and corporate projects. She also brokered numerous commercial endorsement deals such as Mary J. Blige and Chevrolet; Dr. Dre’ and the Beats headphones; the Pussycat Dolls and Ballys, Patti LaBelle and AARP to name a few. In 2000, she earned an executive MBA from Harvard University. After departing Universal in 2006, she launched TBG Entertainment Marketing, a music and film marketing and branding company which provides supplemental support for clients who do not have the manpower to sustain their workload. The most recent and successful project has been the reunion launch for inspirational greats BeBe & CeCe Winans, STILL, which debuted #1 on the Gospel and Inspirational charts and #2 on the Billboard R&B chart. They were just selected as a recipient of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011 and the licensing of the CD’s song, “I Found Love” for this year’s “Today Throws a Wedding” theme.
Review & Feature Editor, A&R Columnist, Music Connection
Bernard Baur is an artist crusader and award-winning journalist. For many artists he has been the connection between the streets and the suites. Bernard is credited with over 1200 published articles – almost 600 of them in Music Connection Magazine where he is the Review Editor, Feature Writer and A&R columnist. With over twenty years in the biz, Bernard has worked with national acts, emerging artists, and both indie and major labels as a director of marketing and promotions, director of business affairs, and A&R executive. Bernard is also a partner in BGO Entertainment Network, a development and production company, a former copywriter and marketing consultant for Warner Bros. Entertainment and will be teaching two classes at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood regarding Journalism and the Business of Music
Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, writer, composer and audio engineer best known for his work with Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer. His production style is typically heavy, with heavily saturated guitars, but his work is diverse and wide-ranging as exemplified by bands like No Doubt, System of a Down and indie bands like Thrice and 8mm.
Beavan started his career as a musician and engineer in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He played bass and sang in various local bands, and played fret-less bass with Clevelander Eric Carmen (of The Raspberries) on the song “Hungry Eyes” on the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack. While working as an engineer at The Right Track Studio in downtown Cleveland, Beavan met Trent Reznor who worked as the in-house programmer. Reznor also played keyboards in several local bands that Beavan mixed.
Reznor asked Beavan to mix the demos of what would eventually become Pretty Hate Machine, which had received multiple offers for record deals. Beavan mixed sound during Nine Inch Nails’ live concerts for many years, eventually becoming an unofficial member of the live band, even singing live backup vocals from his place at the mixing console. Reznor invited him to work on The Downward Spiral as well as mix several songs on Marilyn Manson’s debut record Portrait of an American Family. After contributing to several Nine Inch Nails remix releases (including Closer to God), Beavan mixed and co-produced Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar.
In 1996, after 8 years, Beavan left the Nine Inch Nails camp to mix front-of-house for the “Antichrist Superstar” world tour. In late 1997 Beavan and Manson moved into the Hollywood Hills and started production on Mechanical Animals.
Beavan went on to produce and mix records for artists as diverse as Guns N’ Roses, God Lives Underwater, System of a Down, Depeche Mode, No Doubt, Slayer, Kill Hannah, HYDE, P.O.D., Paloalto, Thrice, Unwritten Law, MOTH, Kidneythieves, Tommy Stinson, Tiger Lou, Hypernova, and Chronic Future. He also returned to work with Manson, mixing Eat Me, Drink Me.
Beavan is currently involved in his own band with his wife Juliette Beavan, and Drummer Jon Nicholson, called 8mm. 8mm have released 4 discs, “Opener”, “Songs To Love And Die By”, “On A Silent Night” (Christmas EP) and the current “Love And The Apocalypse”, all of which have attracted critical acclaim worldwide. 8mm are one of the most licensed artists in the industry. In addition to recently being featured on national promos for “Nip/Tuck” and Yamaha, their music has been popular with TV and film, including “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Nikita”, “Kings”, “One Tree Hill”, “Shark”, “Cold Case”, “Moonlight”, and the “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” soundtrack, to name a few. Having supported Sean Lennon on the west coast leg of his North American tour the dynamic Trip hop band are currently regulars in the Los Angeles music scene and have toured the US, Great Britain and South America.
After producing and mixing Denver Colorado favorites Meese for Atlantic Records, Beavan worked in the studio with Marilyn Manson on “The High End Of Low” with Chris Vrenna and Twiggy Ramirez at Sage and Sound in Hollywood, followed by mixing the album at his home studio, The Blue Room. Last March found Sean Beavan mixing fellow Clevelanders THIS IS A SHAKEDOWN!’s debut record on the newly formed Reversed Image Unlimited record label. Produced by multi-platinum producer Michael Seifert and recorded at Michael’s Ante Up Audio in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Sean mixed the record in their new SSL suite. Beavan followed up by mixing four songs for Japanese-American Sony Records artist Kylee produced by Jeff Turzo of God Lives Underwater fame. Later in the year, he produced and mixed Long Island indy faves Envy on the Coast. Maintaining his reputation for brilliance in diversity, he recently mixed albums for the seminal jazz-metal band The Shining, metal legends Forbidden and sonic master-minds The Kidney Thieves.
Alan Beck has revived the R&B Oldies music genre that was forgotten and almost buried ten years ago.
His formula for success can be applied to any niche market. Tune in to NARIP’s special teleseminar to learn how.
Sixteen years ago, disheartened because his favorite acts no longer toured and were ignored by the mainstream, Alan made inquiries and found out that his idols from the 70s would love to be back in the limelight and perform again. So he hooked it up. And the rest is history.
Today, Beck has not only a thriving concert promotion company producing over 40 sold-out shows a year at mid-sized venues and arenas throughout the southwest, he also has a record company (ITP Records), an artist management company (through which he manages rising star Sofia Maria), merchandise company and music publishing arm. He also produces a weekly radio program called The Underground Oldies Show, a 4-hour program based out of Phoenix on Mega 104.4 Arizona’s Old School, heard every Sunday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on the Internet at www.itprecords.com on which many ITP recording artists are featured. Naturally, he also promotes Pacific Concert Group shows.
Formed in 1992, the Pacific Concert Group, booked shows with legendary urban / R&B soul groups and artists who were being ignored by the mainstream. At their shows, Beck saw a clear opportunity to record new material and re-record classics with these artists and formed ITP Records in 1996 to fill this need. Today ITP’s roster includes nationally charted R&B legends such as Bloodstone, GQ, Barbara Lynn, Sly Slick and Wicked, M.C. BLVD, The Superbs, Barbara Lewis, Gene Chandler, Barbara Mason, The Escorts, The Delegation, Carl Carlton, Deniece Williams and others including the talented and rising star Sophia Maria (www.sophiamaria.com) whom Beck manages. ITP has also leased and licensed rare musical tracks by such influential and historic artists as Smokey Robinson, The Manhattans, Billy Stewart, The Whispers, The Temptations, Lenny Williams, War, Eddie Holman and others. Beck has established publishing divisions augmenting his recording endeavors. Hymie Gropo is the BMI publishing company, and an ASCAP affiliation, Harold Clark Music, both a nod to Beck’s favorite TV series, “Get Smart.” He also produces a weekly radio program called The Underground Oldies Show, a 4-hour program based out of Phoenix on Mega 104.4 Arizona’s Old School, heard every Sunday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Founder, Berman Entertainment and Technology Law
Tony Berman is the founder of Berman Entertainment and Technology Law, a law firm focusing on issues implicated by the convergence of technology and the entertainment industry. His primary practice areas involve negotiation of entertainment contracts and advising clients on legal issues involved in the formation of entertainment-related organizations and protection of copyrights and trademarks. His clients include record companies, online content distribution companies, management companies, film and television production companies, presenters of live entertainment, music venues, publishers, multimedia companies, multimedia developers, producers, technologists and industry executives as well as writers, performers and artists.Tony is the editor-in-chief of Multimedia & Entertainment Law Online News (MELON) and a contributing editor to Entertainment Industry Contracts, published by Matthew Bender. He was the chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco from 1998 through 1999. Tony is also an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law where he teaches Negotiating and Drafting Contracts in the Entertainment Business.
Tony received his A.B. from New York University, and his J.D. from New York Law School.
He frequently speaks at entertainment industry conferences including the South By Southwest Music & Media Conference, the Summer Music Conference, the Bandwidth Conference, the Global Entertainment and Media Summit, the Music Law Summit West, the Future of Music Policy Summit, California Lawyers for the Arts Music Business Seminar and the Streaming Media Conference.
Tony has been interviewed by media including CNN, CNET, NBC, KGO Radio, Tech TV, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Wired, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and The San Francisco Chronicle. Previously, he was a partner of the law firm of Idell, Berman & Seitel.
Prior to practicing law, Tony was involved in the entertainment industry as a manager, producer, performer and concert presenter. While in college he was a music journalist and radio deejay. Tony is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the National Association of Recording Industry Professionals. He serves on the AFTRA Advisory Board of Managers and Attorneys.
Tony Berman: tony AT beat-law DOT com
Bridget began her career as a Soundtrack Coordinator for Blue Focus Management, one of the premier Film & Television Music Agencies in Hollywood, contributing to the advancement of many well-known composers. In 2001, Bridget was recruited by DreamWorks Music Publishing to coordinate their then burgeoning Film & Television Music Department. There, Bridget played an essential creative and administrative role working with songwriters and spearheading efforts to exploit the entire DreamWorks catalogue of songs. Bridget remained a key figure in the management of the DreamWorks catalogue for the next eight (8) years, and was promoted to VP of Film & Television at Dimensional Music Publishing in 2005 and continued on in the VP position with S1 Songs America. In January 2009 and after weathering two sales, Bridget left the corporate sector and founded The Cellar Music. TCM continued to represent the DreamWorks catalogue until January of 2009, when their focus shifted towards independent artists and catalogues. The Cellar Music is an independent Music Marketing company specializing in music placement for Film, Television, Advertising and Video Games. Founded and run by 10-year industry veteran Bridget O’Gara Bloom, TCM focuses on connecting the dots between music and media with a strong emphasis on customer service. In addition to its roster of emerging artists, The Cellar Music represents the Morgan Creek Film catalogue which includes titles such as “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”, along with collective catalogues such as the Check Your Pulse catalogue (Flo Rida, Cobra Starship, Sugar Ray) and the Irish music publishing catalogue of Elevate Music (Autamata, Cathy Davey and Alphastates). In addition, TCM reps some of the most promising self-made artists in the business such as The Sounds, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Charlie Mars and Everybody Else. With an International focus, TCM has partners in both France and the UK, which cover the European and United Kingdom Advertising territories. The goal is to expose the music we represent on a global level promoting awareness and an income stream for our songwriters and artists. Key placements include Revlon, Kaiser Permanente, Heineken, Old Navy, British Telecom, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI:Miami, Glee, America Idol, Brothers and Sisters, Breaking Bad, Weeds, United States of Tara, Vampire Diaries, Eli Stone, One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, The Hills, Private Practice, CSI:NY, The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill, Fly Girls, P.S., I Love You, The Bucket List, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Shaggy Dog, Music and Lyrics, Must Love Dogs, and more.
Top Music Producer
NARIP’s series continues on May 18 with top producer Derek Bramble whose career simply put, has been amazing.At age 14, he joined top R&B band Heatwave whose hits consist of “Always and Forever,” “Groove Line” and “Boogie Nights”. Group member Rod Temperton, after hearing some of Bramble’s writings became his mentor.
After leaving Heatwave at age 20, Bramble went on to have a string of Top Twenty hits in England and Europe with various artists and bands. Since moving to Los Angeles a few years ago, he has quietly put up great numbers while showing amazing diversity by working with some of the biggest names from opposite ends of the musical spectrum. David Bowie, Faith Hill, Will Smith and Whitney Houston are just a few of those names, with whom he has created an impressive collage of cuts and hits.
Bramble has an strong knowledge of the music business and a passion for working within any genre of music. His successes speak for themselves as does his ongoing ability to demonstrate true heart and soul in his music.
Michael Brandvold is a freelance music industry consultant based in Northern California. Having launched Michael Brandvold Marketing to leverage his years of experience to provide direction to large and small clients in the areas of online & social marketing as well as e-commerce and customer acquisition and retention. Gene Simmons of KISS first tapped Michael’s skills as a pioneering online marketing strategist to launch and manage all aspects of Kissonline.com’s multi-million dollar enterprise, including their ground-breaking VIP ticket program. Michael has also managed the online efforts for Motley Crüe, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, and Britney Spears to name only a few.
Music Director, Big Picture Entertainment
Marcy Bulkeley graduated Emerson College with a degree in Audio/Radio Production and directed her studies towards film and television music. Her education continued in Los Angeles at UCLA with extended studies in music supervision, publishing, and music copyright & law. Currently she is music director at Big Picture Entertainment, an entertainment marketing and advertising company, working on major motion picture campaigns as well as broadcast sports marketing campaigns. She is responsible for the music in the campaigns for Contagion, Inception, Due Date, The Town, Sherlock Holmes, Hubble 3D, Just Wright, Harry Potter 6 & 7, LOST, Modern Family, Cougar Town, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (seasons 5 & 6), along with many others. Marcy continues to take on music supervision and has consulted for for Kathy Nelson (previously VP of film music for Universal Pictures), music supervised with G Marq Roswell at 35Sound, and consulted for Deutsch Advertising, among others. Her involvement in music placement goes beyond the screen: Marcy provides background music services for retail and restaurant businesses in Los Angeles. Her growing list of clientele is a result of her experience and education in this field as well as her maintenance of professional relationships that allow her to bring in the best results, both creatively and in business dealings, for the client.
PRINCIPAL FOUNDER, SYLVA LAW FIRM
Jennifer Burke-Sylva is a music and convergence attorney in private practice who works in the area of entertainment and technology. Sylva represents authors, musicians, visual and recording artists, producers, record companies, as well as technology companies from the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Prior to founding the firm, Sylva served as head lawyer and executive with Sony Connect Inc., Sony’s online digital distribution venture, where her duties included obtaining rights from major and independent record labels, motion picture studios and production companies, television networks, recording artists, publishers and other rights holders. She has drafted and negotiated numerous music and video content, software and technology license agreements, prepared policies, services and online agreements for Web sites and in support of e-commerce, and provided legal advice to multiple business units within the company in the US, Europe and Japan.
Prior to Sony Connect, Sylva worked as General Corporate Counsel for Redwood City-based Liquid Audio, Inc. and was also employed in private practice. Sylva was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz and was a scholarship recipient of and attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law. While in law school, Sylva served as an articles editor for, and was published in the High Technology Law Journal, earned the Pro Bono Award for her work with California Lawyers for the Arts, and earned the High Technology Law Certificate. Sylva was awarded the First Place Nathan Burkan Memorial Writing Award by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for her article about digital distribution and content delivery. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Sylva was employed by Virgin Records in the U.K. and in Ireland.
Sylva publishes articles periodically and speaks on panels where she helps to educate others about music, copyright, and other intellectual property issues. Sylva is a member of the State Bar of California, a panel attorney for California Lawyers for the Arts, and the Chapter/Committee Relations Sub Committee Chair of the national Intellectual Property Committee of the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Greenberg Traurig
A shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Media and Entertainment Practice Group, Ken Burry, Esq. represents both established and emerging artists in all aspects of the music and entertainment industry as well as institutional clients. His work cuts across the industry and involves music within television, motion picture and video games. Established artist clients include Katy Perry, Josh Groban, Baz Luhrmann, Sofia Coppola, Sheryl Crow and the Rolling Stones. Ken navigates the changing and dynamic marketplace as media platforms and attendant deal structures evolve more rapidly than ever. This includes reclaiming copyrights, renegotiating of recording contracts, dealing with record label personalities and capturing new revenue streams in areas such as electronic gaming. Emerging artist clients with new deals, or those searching out their first opportunity turn to Ken’s experience to guide them through increasingly difficult terrain as they tackle intimidating 360º deals and work to build and leverage a credible presence on the Internet. Institutional clients face their own challenges. Yamaha, for example, has turned to Ken to help guide them through complex copyright issues relating to its electronic musical instrument-based product line. Motion picture studios regularly look to Ken to handle their film music work, soundtrack album deals and music publishing catalogue sales. Viacom hired Ken in connection with the sale of its Famous Music catalogue to Sony ATV and its film studio, Paramount Pictures, relied on him to handle all music aspects of the 50 Cent movie, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin.” Ken was the entertainment specialist in connection with Robert F. X. Sillerman’s acquisition of the Elvis Presley estate assets. He also handled the sale by V2 of its U.S. record label. KCRW, a southern California public radio station, has turned to Ken in evaluating copyright regulations as it takes its programming online. Ken also has developed a unique practice and expertise in global media events. He quarterbacked the legal work for the Live Earth world wide concerts supported by Al Gore to promote awareness of global climate change, and the Live 8 and NetAid events championed by Bono before that.
Christopher Buttner’s agency, PRThatRocks.com, boasts a diversified client list consisting of leading Bay Area entertainment institutions, including San Jose’s #1 FM morning radio personality and 80s rocker Greg Kihn, The National Liberty Ship Memorial S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, Paul Nathan’s Dark Kabaret, and the legendary Perry Mann’s Exotic Erotic Ball. Founded in 1994, PRThatRocks.com has “pimped” some of the biggest names in the entertainment technology industry, such as musical instrument and recording equipment giants Peavey Electronics and Mackie Designs. PRThatRocks.com has also worked with members of, or represented, the biggest bands in the world, including Kid Rock, Rush, Van Halen, Sting, Matchbox 20, Dream Theater, and Orgy, to name just a few. In July 2007, PRThatRocks.com was featured in PRWeek Magazine, the publicity industry’s leading trade publication, in July 2007 for its innovative campaign strategies. Christopher Buttner is a popular guest lecturer to San Francisco State University’s Music Industry Program guest lecturing on Publicity.
Manager of Business Development, IODA Alliance
Since joining IODA in 2006, Humberto has spearheaded IODA’s business endeavors in Latin America. In addition to signing key Mexican label clients such as Noiselab and Nuevos Ricos, he has negotiated and executed deals with dozens of IODA’s retail partners, notably with top regional providers like Telefonica and iMusica. A native of Mexico City, Humberto is also a founding partner in the label Arts&Crafts Mexico, and manager of the bands Chikita Violenta, Rey Pila and Bam Bam.
THE AGENCY GROUP
Corrie Christopher began working in the music business in 1995 at the Tahoe Agency, a small boutique agency that represented acts such as Sublime, Blink 182, and Less Than Jake. She formed her own agency, Fierce Talent, in 1999 where she developed acts such as Rise Against, Yellowcard, Lucero and many more. After 6 successful years on her own she took her roster to The Agency Group in early 2005. She continues to work out of The Agency Group Los Angeles office specializing in developing acts from small clubs to arenas.
Founder and CEO / Chief Creative Officer of DMI Music & Media Solutions
Clark has bridged music and marketing throughout her career. She composed songs for commercial campaigns such as McDonald’s (“Have You Had Your Break Today”). Her commercial work has developed her as a thought leader on the power and importance of music branding. Her film and television credits include My Best Friend’s Wedding, Where The Heart Is, Hope Floats, French Kiss, Twins, CBS This Morning and Entertainment Tonight show and others.
Most recently, Clark’s music is heard in the original song she composed for the Desperate Housewives soundtrack, recorded by LeAnn Rimes. She also produced Dionne Warwick’s first holiday CD, “My Favorite Time of the Year,” as well as “Church: Songs of Soul & Inspiration” featuring Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and top African-American female artists such as Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan. Clark wrote the single “Way Up There” recorded by Patti LaBelle for the “Church” CD, and was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award.
Clark works closely with DMI’s team of best-in-class professionals from brand marketing, the music industry, advertising agencies, television networks and technology companies. DMI, a privately held company, also houses the award-winning divisions Private Label Radio, Five Alarm Music, DMI Records, Disc Marketing and Firehouse Recording Studios. Founded in 1997, DMI is headquartered in Pasadena, California with satellite offices in Chicago, New York, and Detroit.
Principal of A.B.C. Publicity & Founder of Queens Never Quit
Indigenous to the Yakima Tribe, Dee Dee M. Cocheta is a 20+ year veteran in the entertainment industry who lives by her hometown NIKE’S motto “Just do it!” In Dee Dee’s world, she is a free spirit who goes with the flow while trying to maintain balance in her life between her seven children, 2 grand twins, husband of 21 years, a Doula and as an entrepreneur operating A.B.C. Publicity based in Atlanta, GA with an office in N.Y. The first in her family to earn a degree from Clark Atlanta University, honed her marketing skills in radio before launching her company A.B.C. Publicity in 1999. Since then, Dee Dee has consulted, coordinated publicity efforts for music events, conducted media training and developed marketing and PR strategies for hundreds of independent artists in addition to Chaka Khan, KRS One, Killer Mike, Tony Terry, DJ Benny D, music producer Isaac “Ike Dirty” Hayes, III, Rudy Currence, Arrested Development & Cherish. Her company has done media/public relations and consulting for: BET Hip-Hop Awards, Turner South, Hosea Feed The Hungry, Chef Ashley, Chuck D’s Slamjamz Label, Playwright Nedra Simone, National Black Arts Festival, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Foundation, Konsole Kingz, Ryan Cameron Foundation, Fashion Stylist/Author Kim Maxwell, Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, Fitness Expert & Trainer – Brandi A. Ray and UniverSoul Circus. Dee Dee also serves as a PTA VP & President, baseball/football team mom and as a board or advisory member to The SE Network of NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment), SOFRAS (Society of Future Recording Artists & Songwriters), the Atlanta Hip-Hop Film Festival and founding board member of Black Music Month Foundation. Her passions include speaking to upcoming music artists, empowering youth and women about how to overcome challenge and get out of difficult situations, goal-setting – life’s plans and purpose, leadership roles and entrepreneurial direction along with sharing her stories to help and inspire others. Last year, while pushing herself and looking for inspiration, out of her subconscious soul came the words Queens Never Quit which became her new motto. While tweeting and FB posting, her words inspired other women, which led Dee Dee to create Queens Never Quit.
Greenberg Traurig’s Entertainment Practice Group
Todd Cooper, Esq. is Of Counsel with Greenberg Traurig’s Entertainment Practice Group. His practice focuses on music industry, multimedia and intellectual property issues. He is experienced in a wide range of music and multi-media transactions and has represented individuals and companies on intellectual property matters including recording artists, songwriters, producers, personal managers, event producers, models and record executive employment agreements. Mr. Cooper has negotiated recording, distribution, and various other agreements with both major and independent record labels as well as negotiated co-publishing, sub-publishing and songwriter agreements with music publishers and has experience in complex acquisitions and sales of entertainment catalogs.
Previously, Mr. Cooper worked as a recording engineer for a major Los Angeles recording studio, as a road and production manager for various touring artists as well as a personal manager for a prominent Los Angeles-based company. Todd earned his J.D. at Loyola Law School and holds a B.A. in History from UCLA. He is admitted to practice in California.
Chief Operating Office / Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Wind-Up Entertainment
Jim Cooperman, Chief Operating Officer / Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Wind-up Entertainment has been instrumental in designing and implementing the strategic path of the company over the last several years. He was formerly the EVP, Business and Legal Affairs prior to becoming the COO for Wind-up Entertainment. In addition to overseeing Business and Legal Affairs, Cooperman oversees A&R Administration, Human Resources, Operations, International, Publishing, Licensing and Pronto, the company’s merchandising concern.
Prior to joining Wind-up, Cooperman was the Co-General Counsel and SVP, Legal and Business Affairs at BMG. In this position, he was actively involved in devising and actualizing online and wireless opportunities, handled business affairs for BMG Distribution and BMG Strategic Marketing Group, and spearheaded new royalty initiatives. He also contributed to pan-label transactions such as on-line catalog licenses, and multi-label joint ventures. Prior, Cooperman headed up business and legal affairs for RED Distribution and its sister labels Relativity Records, LOUD Records, and Edel North America, in addition to positions early in his legal career at RCA Records and the law firm of Kaye, Scholer.
Sales, Marketing & Distribution Executive, Prime Time Entertainment
Ric Curtice has worked in the music business his entire career. He began working for the Marketing Department at MCA Records, and here is where he contributed to the development of successful careers for Fine Young Cannibals, Tom Petty, Bobby Brown, Coolio, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Vince Gill and others. MCA’s parent company then bought Geffen Records, and Ric entered the Product Development Department for the company, where they had a successful string of multi-platinum sellers including Beck, Weezer, Guns n Roses, Nirvana, Hole, Counting Crows, Jackyl and others. As the industry continued its merging ways, Interscope Records was acquired by Universal where Ric continued successful campaigns to help define the careers of No Doubt, Marilyn Manson, NIN, Dr. Dre Bush and others. A stint at Independent label TVT Records continued his success at developing the careers of Sevendust, Andy Partridge, Pit Bull, Lil John, and others. Ric currently runs a successful independent music marketing and sales consulting business in the San Francisco Bay Area which includes clients Rocket Science Inc., Burnside Distribution Corporation, Booklines inc., Sumthing Distribution, Madacy Corporation, Prime Time Entertainment, and Red Hot Promotions, as well as others working with Heritage, New and Developing artists including Celldweller, Blind Pilot, Sugar Minott, Insolance, Chumbawamba, Karla Bonoff, Irma Thomas, Y & T, Sir Mixx a lot, Nile Rodgers, Ivan Neville, Sherri Austin, Steve Forbert, Dr.Dog, Radio Head, Cold War Kids, King Khan, Mathew Sweet among many others. In addition, Ric has recently been managing the careers of Zakiya Hooker, Michael Lee Firkins, Megan Slankard and George Komsky.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLC
Mr. Custer’s practice which focuses on all aspects of the music industry, including the negotiation of a wide variety of music related contracts and advising clients as to intellectual property rights in the context of the music business.
Mr. Custer has provided these services for bands, recording artists, producers, songwriters, record companies, music publishing companies, film production companies, performing rights societies, music industry trade organizations and various Internet and new media companies.
President & CEO, Rock River Music
Eric de Fontenay has spent his career steeped in what has been called the “digital revolution”. In the 90’s, he worked on a variety of policy issues surrounding the communication & broadband sectors for telecommunication carriers and regulators across the world. With the emergence of the Internet, Eric established MusicDish (formerly Tag It) in 1997 as a new media firm utilizing emerging technologies and models to produce, package and distribute original web-based content. Making an early bet on the music sector, Eric launched what has grown into some of the leading voices in the growing debates challenging and shaping the industry through its trade e-publications MusicDish and Mi2N. Under his leadership, MusicDish expanded into artist development through saturated marketing and online branding, using innovative strategies such as syndicated and relationship marketing, online street teams and p2p viral distribution. Eric continues to be a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide and today manages Toronto-based ‘kaiso’ band Kobo Town.
Associate Director of Music Supervision, CBS Television
An industry professional for over 18 years, Samuel worked as in-house music supervisor for Frasier, JAG, the Star Trek TV franchise and many other productions while at Paramount Television. Now with CBS Television Studios, he is the in-house music supervisor for NCIS, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Common Law, NYC 22 and other productions. In the 2011-2012 television season, NCIS is the #1 scripted show in the US while in the 2010-2011 season The Good Wife received an Emmy nomination for Best TV Series-Drama and a Golden Globe nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. The shows he oversees have a total weekly viewership of over 50 million people in the US. He also handles production work for other CBS and CW shows, works on numerous Paramount Television and CBS DVD and streaming projects and takes part in the selection of composers for new shows.
Executive Producer of Music and Creative Content, Young & Rubicam
Based out of Y&R’s flagship New York office, Dierauer is responsible for everything related to music — from licensing tracks and hiring composers, to creating new opportunities for Y&R’s clients throughout the entertainment industry. She previously served as executive content producer for Y&R New York where for the past two years she has produced and executed integrated campaigns, Web sites, new media applications and events for clients like LG, Office Depot and Malaria No More.
Abrams Garfinkel Margolis and Bergson, LLP
David M. Ehrlich, Esq. is a member of the entertainment practice at the law firm of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis and Bergson, LLP, where he is Of Counsel. He is also a principal in DME Management, a personal management company that represents artists and producers. David is involved in all facets of the entertainment industry and is particularly involved in the area of music as it relates to “new media.” David re-established his law practice after serving as VP/General Manager East Coast for Priority Records, label in the EMI Music Group. Before joining Priority, David was an attorney and personal manager where he represented Grammy winning artists and producers such as Nickelback, Dilated Peoples, Bob Power, Prince Paul, and Dale Penner, as well as Gravediggaz (Gee Street/Island), RZA (Gee Street/Island), and Holly McNarland (Universal). David is also the founder and president of the music publishing company Infamous Beats Music, which was established as a joint venture with Famous Music Publishing, a division of Viacom Entertainment. David serves as an independent talent scout, and most notably discovered and shopped the multi-platinum recording artists Nickelback, whom he signed to then independent Roadrunner Records.
Prior to establishing his own practice David was an associate at the entertainment law firm of Myman, Abell, Fineman, Greenspan & Light in Los Angeles. He also worked as an attorney in the Business Affairs department of EMI Records in New York and as an associate at the firm of Epstein Becker and Green, P.C. David earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1986, and his Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University in 1982. He is admitted to the bar in New York and Connecticut. Other career achievements include producing the soundtrack for the Oscar-winning film “Training Day” starring Denzel Washington. David consults with clients on a number of issues in the video gaming industry as well as the development of content and intellectual property rights for mobile distribution. Current clients of David and his firm include Katharine McPhee, Jennifer Hudson, Nate “Danja” Hills, Bob Power, Victor Wooten, the Wayan Brothers, Ana Gasteyer, and John Tesh. Corporate clients include TVT Records and Music Nation.
Music & Digital Media Attorney, Bullivant Houser & Bailey PC
Eric Ferraro, Esq. is a capital shareholder in the corporate and intellectual property practice groups of Bullivant, Houser & Bailey PC. He concentrates his practice on the representation of private and public emerging and growth companies in the technology and digital media sectors, and the investors and financial services firms that focus on those industries. With over 16 years of practical legal and business experience in private practice, as in-house counsel, and as a technology company founder and investor, Eric brings an integrated counseling approach to his clients, balancing legal protection and corporate best practices with business, technical, investment and strategic considerations.
As a founder of IRIS Distribution, a digital media services company, Eric has particular expertise in digital media law and is the Chair of the firm’s Social Media and Gaming practice. His media and technology clients include enterprise software and mobile developers, social media and gaming companies, Internet businesses, music and entertainment companies, and digital creative agencies. Eric advises his digital media clients on data security, online privacy, SaaS issues, content licensing, publishing and syndication, copyright and royalty administration, and regulatory issues relating to e-commerce, online advertising and Internet law under the DMCA, FTC Act and CAN-SPAM.
Eric counsels his clients in connection with entity formation and founder arrangements, corporate governance, seed and venture capital financing, employment and equity compensation matters, intellectual property protection, technology licensing and product distribution, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and SEC reporting and compliance. Eric also has significant experience in executive compensation transactions, often representing CEOs and executive teams in connection with high-value M&A transactions.
In Digital Media, Internet and Entertainment, Eric has represented a leading digital media distributor in content licensing deals with Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Sony, Rhapsody, Verizon, T-Mobile and other global media companies; advised a video game developer in publishing and development agreements with MTV Networks, Atari and other top entertainment brands; represented digital marketing agency in consumer marketing campaigns for Scion, PG&E and Electrolux; and represented record label in sync licensing agreement with HBO for Entourage, among others.
Eric has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer on multiple occasions by Law & Politics magazine. He is also an advisor to Founders Space. A strong supporter of the arts, Eric is actively involved in the community and with various charitable organizations. He serves as general counsel and sits on the board of directors of Artists for Literacy and is a panel attorney for California Lawyers for the Arts.
Music Producer, Saatchi & Saatchi
As one of Saatchi & Saatchi’s most seasoned and gifted music producers, Ryan Fitch has spent the last 7 years integrating music into TV, radio and interactive campaigns for top global brands like Procter & Gamble, JCPenney, Miller, General Mills and Cadbury among others. Conservatory-trained and an avid fan of all music genres, Ryan has both the unique ability for finding that “perfect song” for his clients and the business savvy to close deals, whether it’s with a major work, such as John Lennon’s “Real Love” or music from an obscure indie artist. A lifelong musician with more than 16 years of experience in the music industry and an extensive background in audio engineering and digital audio workstations, Ryan understands the creation of music in today’s landscape on every fundamental level. During his tenure, Saatchi New York has earned several distinguished awards, including the prestigious Cannes award for Agency of the Year. Ryan was also named one of the “Top Music Ad Agency Executives” by the National Assn. of Record Industry Professionals.
Music Supervisor, Velvet Ears
Liz started her career as a Music Researcher and Associate Producer for a number of UK-based TV companies. She then created Liz Gallacher Music Supervision in 1996 and quickly established herself as one of the most experienced and creatively diverse music supervisors in film and television today. Her work on projects such as The Full Monty (winner of a Brit Award for Best Soundtrack) and Resident Evil (Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance) has garnered praise from producers, directors and the press. 24 Hour Party People was short-listed for Film Music at the 2003 NME Awards. Liz’s film credits also include the Oscar-Award winning documentary One Day In September, Golden Globe winner The Gathering Storm and feature films such as Layer Cake, Calendar Girls and Bend It Like Beckham. Other recent film credits include Best British film winner Fishtank, and the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove. Liz moved to Los Angeles in 2008 and created Velvet Ears in 2010. Named after her dog’s silky-soft ears and impeccable music taste, Velvet Ears specializes in all things music. From Music Supervision to their newest Music Library venture, Velvet Ears has the film and TV music industry covered.
Nu Universal Entertainment Agency
David Gordoni is a freelance booking agent for Nu Universal Entertainment Agency (NUEA pronounced New Way), a boutique talent agency founded by Jesse Kirshbaum in 2003. NUE Agency is creating a plan to help record labels and artists sell more music, promote merchandise, generate significant income from touring worldwide and develop corporate partnerships. As a talent agent, David has worked with a broad spectrum of artists crafting deals for Yung Berg, Swizz Beatz, Rich Boy, Hurricane Chris, MIMS, The Gray Kid, Team Facelift and John West among many others. David received a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and went to work at William Morris Agency. He soon began assisting in the booking of numerous international and domestic tours under such WMA agents as Brian Edelman, Cara Lewis, Tony Goldring and Marc Geiger. In 2005, David joined the WMA Agent Trainee Program. He is known as the curator of the “Show List,” distributed weekly to over 1,000 industry colleagues. The “Show List” is a compilation of all the relevant Los Angeles area concerts coming up over the next 3-6 months. What was originally created to organize and schedule his personal life quickly became a popular and reliable way for the music industry to track upcoming concerts in the Los Angeles area.
Marc H. Greenberg is a veteran intellectual property and business attorney who joined the Golden Gate faculty in 2000 as the first Director of the Law School’s Intellectual Property Program. Professor Greenberg teaches Internet and Online Law, Entertainment Law, Survey of Intellectual Property Law, Content Licensing Law, Film & Television Law, and a required course in Corporations Law. He is a frequent lecturer, with presentations to the ABA Section on IP Law, MCLE programs, and to a wide array of community IP and arts groups. He is the author of the article, A Return to Liliput: The Licra v. Yahoo! Case and the Regulation of Online Content in the World Market in 18 Berkeley Technology Law Journal 4 (Fall 2003) 1191, and The Baby and the Bathwater Too: A Critique of ALA v. U.S., published in the October 2005 online issue of Syracuse University Law School’s Science and Technology Law Journal. His most recent work, Reason or Madness: A Defense of Copyright’s Growing Pains, an article regarding the conflict between Copyright and First Amendment jurisprudence, is circulating for publication.
Before joining the full-time faculty, Professor Greenberg was an adjunct professor for eight years, teaching Internet and Online Law, Multimedia Law and Entertainment law. As a founding partner of San Francisco boutique firm Nelsen, Greenberg & Cohen, he spent twenty-five years in private practice focused on advising new technology companies and transactional work and litigation in website development, e-commerce, licensing, copyright, trademark, and entertainment law. Professor Greenberg continues to practice law on a limited basis for a select group of clients, handling mostly transactional matters. He also serves as an expert witness and consultant on intellectual property law issues. He is a member of the ABA Section on Intellectual Property Law, The California Bar Section on Intellectual Property Law, and a past co-chair of the Copyright Section of the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association.
Music Supervisor, Toy Box Entertainment
Maura Duval Griffin is the music supervisor at Toy Box Entertainment, specializing in film trailers, advertising, publicity and creative content pieces, as well as a recently-launched long-form production unit. Toy Box creates successful marketing campaigns for Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Disney and others, including Alvin & The Chipmunks 1-3, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Arthur Christmas, Pirates! A Band of Misfits, Dr. Suess’ The Lorax, The Smurfs, and many others. With over 20 years in the music industry, including time served in college radio, record retail, sales and distribution, and marketing, Maura brings a broad perspective and a deep appreciation for the process of putting music to picture.
Music Supervisor, Trailer Park
Bobby Gumm is a Music Supervisor at Trailer Park, a large multi-faceted ad agency that specializes in movie trailers. Prior to Trailer Park he began his career at Intralink Film and then spent several years with Flyer Entertainment. With almost a decade of music supervision experience, Gumm has supervised well over one hundred trailers including Batman Begins, Up, Avatar, J Edgar and Batman: Arkham City.
President, KBH Entertainment
KBH Founder, Brent Harvey produced his first music event at age fifteen. “The Second Annual People’s Festival” took place in downtown Anchorage, AK featuring twelve bands in twelve hours on two flatbed trucks and was featured on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News. At 17, he joined a band and toured for two years throughout Canada and the Western U.S. When the group disbanded, he was hired by one of the most successful and profitable club chains in southern California. The Red Onion Company became his “home” for the next fifteen years fulfilling multiple roles as DJ, entertainment manager, trainer, music programmer, talent buyer and ultimately, Entertainment Director. Brent started KBH Entertainment in 1993 as a small, live event production endeavor, booking live acts and promoting special nights in local area clubs. In 1995, Brent was asked to co-produce the 6th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards at The Roxy Theater. After the overnight success of this event, he was asked to continue producing the LAMAs, which he did until the year 2000, leaving a string of success stories that he brought to the regional awards such as Save Ferris, Zebrahead and Alien Ant Farm. In 1998, KBH began booking headline entertainment for national organizations, such as The Muscular Dystrophy Association, which still retains KBH for their marquee bookings. “The KBH Showcase Series” was started in 2004 as a proprietary affair to review artists seeking management. Now in its fourth year, this monthly showcase series has become a means for artists to be chosen for the Temecula International Film & Music Festival and be offered other opportunities, including label and publishing deals. Select industry professionals attend every KBH Showcase. In addition to booking services, Brent has been listed as one of the top ten artist managers in Los Angeles by Music Connection Magazine and was honored twice as “Manager of the Year” by the LA Music Awards in 1994 and 2003. Brent is also an experienced publicist, event producer and entertainment consultant to artists and various entities including film festivals, award shows and record labels.
Sloss Eckouse Brennan LLP
Jaime Herman, Esq. is an attorney at Sloss Eckhouse Brennan LLP and has been specializing in providing counsel in the music and film industry since 2005. She provides representation to a variety of industry talent, including musicians, songwriters and managers. Ms. Herman also provides counsel to institutional clients, including media companies. Notable clients of the firm are World Wrestling Entertanment, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Fountains of Wayne, Adam Schlesinger, James Iha, The B-52s, Elvis Costello and Robert Randolph, among many others. Ms. Herman is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Brooklyn Law School.
Music Supervisor, Nurse Jackie
Michael Hill supervises the music for the Showtime series Nurse Jackie and did all three seasons of the HBO series Bored To Death. He recently completed Todd Solondz’s Dark Horse and has begun work on writer-director Ramin Bahrani’s new, as-yet-untitled film. Previous projects include John Cameron Mitchell’s Short Bus and Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman. Michael is also program director for the non-profit Musicians On Call, which brings live music to healthcare facilities throughout New York City. Michael began a career in music supervision after 15 years in A&R at Warner Bros. Records, where he worked with such artists as the Replacements, Luka Bloom and Soul Coughing. He also writes about music, most recently contributing liner notes to a boxed set of Tindersticks’ scores for the films of Claire Denis and for the 40th Anniversary Edition of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.