As Generative AI models move from novelty to market competitors, the music industry faces an existential crisis regarding the unauthorized ingestion of copyrighted works. This lecture, presented by the leadership of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), explores the “AI Guardrails.”  The discussion will provide a deep dive into the “Four P’s” framework—a legislative and industry standard designed to ensure that the transition to an AI-driven economy does not come at the expense of creators’ intellectual property rights.

Bart Herbison, Guest Speaker

A Paris, Tenn., native, Bart Herbison spent 14 years in commercial radio, worked as a reporter and as a correspondent for The Nashville Banner newspaper before joining the administration of former Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter as Deputy Director of Communications in 1987. Herbison then served as Press Secretary, Campaign Manager and Chief Tennessee Administrative Officer for U.S. Rep. Bob Clement (Nashville) in from 1988-1997 when he left DC’s Capitol Hill for Music Row.

Herbison is Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization and advocacy group. Established in 1967, NSAI’s membership spans the United States and several other countries. With nearly one hundred chapters, they serve aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. NSAI also owns The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee.

Under Herbison’s leadership NSAI gained prominence in the national legislative arena. Accomplishments include:

• Adoption of the “Music Modernization Act” in 2018, the most important copyright law reform for songwriters in decades.
• Creation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) of which he is a board member.
• Led NSAI’s involvement in the 2016 Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) trial that led to a 44% mechanical royalty increase for American songwriters, the largest in history.
• Passage of the landmark “Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act” in 2006.
• Creation of the first-ever Group Copyright Infringement Insurance for songwriters and music publishers in a partnership with Frost Specialty Inc.
• Acquisition of the world-famous “Bluebird Café” in 2008.
• Purchase of the “Music Mill” studios as NSAI headquarters in 2005.

In 2018 Herbison received two prestigious national honors for his songwriter advocacy work — the “Industry Legacy Award” from the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and the “IP Champion’s Award” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Center. In 2020 the Los Angeles Chapter of the Assn. of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) recognized Bart for his advocacy work and in 2021 he received the “Arnold Broido Award” for Copyright
Advocacy from the Music Publishers Assn. (MPA). In 2023 Bart was bestowed the prestigious “Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award” to benefit the Grand Old Opry Trust Fund.

Appearing in his first movie role, Herbison portrayed himself in the 2017 film “Wheeler” starring Stephen Dorff. He is featured in the documentary “The Last Songwriter” released in 2018 and the documentary “It All Begins With a Song” where he served as Assistant Executive Producer Herbison hosts the weekly video/print interview series “Story Behind the Song” appearing in The Tennessean and other Gannett newspapers.

Jennifer Turnbow, Guest Speaker

Jennifer Turnbow is Chief Operating Officer for the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Festival Director for the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and Executive Producer of the Nashville Songwriter Awards. She also serves as financial officer for the Bluebird Cafe. As COO, she is responsible for oversight on all aspects of the organization’s mission and is a legislative advocate for songwriters.

NSAI is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization dedicated to the songwriting profession. Established in 1967, the organization’s membership of nearly 5,000 spans the United States and seven other countries. With over 100 chapters, NSAI is dedicated to protecting songwriters’ rights and serves aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music.

An Aberdeen, Ohio, native, Jennifer is a 2001 graduate of St. Patrick’s High School in Maysville, Kentucky, and a 2005 graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. Jennifer assumed the position of Finance Director with NSAI immediately following graduation from Vanderbilt and has been with the organization since then in various roles to her ultimate position today. She is a Leadership Music alum (Class of 2016) and an active member of SOURCE and Junior Service League of Sumner County. Jennifer and her husband Troy currently reside in Hendersonville with their daughter Kyla and dog Luna.

This is a private event for Society members and their registered guests.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Copyright Society of the South, or if you are an active member and did not receive your email invitation,  contact us at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .