About

The Copyright Society of the South was formed in 1988 in Nashville, Tennessee, consisting of music publishers, attorneys, music industry personnel, and academicians interested in the field of copyright law. Its mission is to provide a forum for study and discussion of domestic and international copyright law and other matters pertaining to the entertainment industry. It provides seminars, speakers, presentations, and the opportunity to present various points of view on subjects of interest to the membership. The Society refrains from taking a lobbying role or endorsing or sponsoring political positions or candidates.  

Members are accepted into the organization by board vote. If you are interested in joining the Copyright Society of the South please send an email with your resume/bio/CV to copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .

Events

The Society Board plans and schedules online and in-person events offering speakers, seminars, and informational presentations of interest to the membership.  Events are generally scheduled on a monthly basis with the exception of a hiatus during the summer months.  Recent speakers have included:

  • John Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash, and Rick Rodriguez – The Latin Influence in Music
  • ViNIL –  Restoring Trust in the Age of AI, Rights of Publicity, and Copyright
  • Stan Soocher, Esq. – Copyright Review Lecture (Annual Event)
  • The Songwriter’s Cut: Understanding Publishing Deals in the Streaming Era (Experts Panel)
  • Senator Jack Johnson and Experts Panel on The Ensuring Likeness, Voice and Image Security Act (ELVIS)
  • Sync & Licensing: A 2025 State Of The Union (Experts Panel)
  • E. Michael Harrington – AI Update
  • The Future of Music Contracts: Negotiate Smarter, Not Harder (Experts Panel)
  • CCLI –  Licensing Music to Churches in the Modern Era
  • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
  • Phonorecords III Updates
  • Digital Media Association (DiMA)
  • Kris Ahrend – The MLC (The Mechanical Licensing Collective)
  • Bart Herbison – Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
  • Experts Panel on the Christian Music Industry
  • Copyright Symposium – Belmont University
  • Danielle Aguirre – National Music Publishers Association (NMPA)
  • Marcus Cobb – Mozaic.io
  • Don Schlitz – Award winning songwriter, publisher, and Grand Ole Opry Member
  • Steven Boyd & Neil Jones – International Copyright Enterprise Services Ltd. (ICE)
  • Jeff Price – Word Collections
  • Dayna Frank / Tobi Parks – National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
  • NFTs & Copyright
  • Linda Bloss-Baum – SoundExchange
  • U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn
  • David Israelite – NMPA
  • H. Beecher Hicks III – National Museum of African American Music
  • Experts Panel on NFTs & Copyright
  • Alexa Cabellon & Natalie Echols – Facebook.com
  • Jacqueline Charlesworth – General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights – U.S. Copyright Office
  • Barbershop Harmony Society
  • Mac Davis – Recording Artist
  • Mitch Glazier – RIAA
  • Randy Grimmett – Global Music Rights
  • U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
  • Bob Kohn – Author of On Music Licensing
  • Margaret McGuffin – CMRRA
  • Experts Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Experts Panel on Economics & Copyright
  • Experts Panel on Livestreaming
  • Jan Nordemann & Julian Wablinger – Copyright Directive of the European Union
  • Mary Beth Peters – Copyright Office/Library of Congress
  • Benji Rogers/Allen Bargfrede – Dot Blockchain Media
  • Dan Ruff & Duncan Hearn – Musicnotes, Inc.
  • Colin Rushing – SoundExchange
  • Stacey Schlitz – Attorney, Presentation on Estate Planning
  • Regan Smith – U.S. Copyright Office
  • Jim Vines- Department of Justice

The Society’s 2025 Board of Directors:

  • CHAIRPERSON
    Aaron Hartley | Country Music Association
  • VICE CHAIRMAN
    Brian Buchanan | Concord Music
  • SECRETARY
    Kari Barnhart | Studio Bank
  • TREASURER
    Tim Wipperman | Humanable

 

  • John Barker | Clearbox Rights, LLC
  • Kent Draughon | Capitol CMG Publishing
  • Amanda Hruska | Jonas Group Entertainment
  • Rick Marshall | The Mechanical Licensing Collective
  • Colin Rushing | Digital Media Association (DiMA) 
  • Stacey Schlitz | SchlitzLAW

 

Administrator:  Janice Bane | Barbershop Harmony Society

Mailing Address & Contact Information:

The Copyright Society of the South

Post Office Box 1823

Hendersonville, Tennessee 37077-1823

copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com