Webinar: The Phonorecords III Remand - What does this mean for the copyright holder?
2022-08-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Webinar
Danielle Aguirre, Executive Vice President & General Counsel of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), will present information regarding the Phonorecords II Remand, updates since the July 1 response to the CRB, and the Remand’s potential impacts to the copyright landscape.
About Danielle Aguirre
Danielle oversees all of NMPA’s legal, business and policy objectives. Her role is to protect and enforce the copyrights and intellectual property interests of songwriters and music publishers. Ms. Aguirre has aggressively fought digital piracy and infringement litigating against digital platforms, and she works with the largest companies, digital services and record labels to ensure that publishers and songwriters are being fairly compensated for the use of their songs.

Ms. Aguirre was integrally involved in the negotiation, drafting and passage of the Music Modernization Act, legislation that amended U.S. Copyright law and led to the creation of a new licensing company, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). After co-leading a team that developed the MLC, she currently serves as the statutorily designated non-voting publisher representative on the MLC board. In 2018, Billboard honored her as the Women in Music Co-Executive of the Year for her work on the MMA and MLC.

Prior to joining NMPA, Ms. Aguirre was an attorney at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP. She received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her BA from Georgetown University.
About the NMPA (www.nmpa.org)
Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is the trade association representing all American music publishers and their songwriting partners. The NMPA’s mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and songwriters in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights.
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****This is a private online event for Society members and their registered guests. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Copyright Society of the South, contact us today at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .***

Lunch with Mozaic's Marcus Cobb
2022-09-27 11:30 - 13:00 | BMI, 10 Music Square East, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
About Marcus Cobb
Marcus Cobb is CEO and co-founder of FinTech company Mozaic, fka Jammber (www.mozaic.io). Cobb, Nashville NEXT’s 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year, is a serial entrepreneur, technologist, product designer and dynamic public speaker. His striking journey took him from modest beginnings in El Pasto to technology leader for Fortune 50 companies, amassing a remarkable project portfolio, including Microsoft, Dell, and CitiGroup. Mozaic is an API-first, global split payment platform for enterprise companies and creative professionals where users can automatically send and receive payments with collaborates across the globe. It provides smart contracts that automate split income among creative teams. Mozaic.io was recently selected for the 2022 Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders cohort, and also won the LGBTQ+ category in Visa’s Everywhere initiative pitch competition, which included a strategic partnership with Visa. Marcus is a founding member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council and Berklee’s Open Music Initiative. He also serves on the boards of the Music Business Association and Illinois Technology Foundation.
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****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, contact us today at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .***

October 20, 2022 - NIVA: Saving Local Live Entertainment from the Pandemic & Beyond
2022-10-20 11:30 - 13:00 | Webinar, Members: Please use link provided in email invitation
At this month’s webinar learn more about the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which was formed in March 2020 to fight for pandemic relief for local music and comedy venues, securing more than $16 billion in funding and keeping a vital part of the music industry afloat. Dayna Frank and Tobi Parks will discuss the organization’s mission and successes, their plans for NIVA’s next chapter, and their new program to improve setlist data for performance licensing. You don’t want to miss this online event!

Dayna Franks Tobi Parks
Please note only members in good standing and invited guests will be granted access to the webinar. You must register to attend. For further assistance please contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .

November 15, 2022 - Christian & Gospel Music: The State of the Industry & Beyond
2022-11-15 11:30 - 13:00
According to GMA over 53 million Americans listen to Christian and Gospel Music several times a week. These listeners are diverse and most of the listener base is under the age of 50! After a very successful Gospel Music Week recently held in Nashville, our November event will feature a panel of experts who will discuss the current state of the Christian music industry and what lies ahead. Kent Draughon, Society Board Member and VP/Administration & Operations for Capitol CMG Publishing, will moderate this informative discussion.
Members, join us for lunch and network with fellow members and guests!
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****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 .***

December 8, 2022 – Annual Copyright Review with Stan Soocher
2022-12-08 11:30 - 13:00 | BMI, 10 Music Square East, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Stan Soocher is an award-winning journalist and entertainment attorney, as well as the long-time Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Law & Finance, an ALM publication. In addition, Stan is Professor Emeritus of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where he served as a Music Department Chair.
Soocher has given speeches on entertainment law and related industry issues to bar associations and/or entertainment industry conferences in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Austin, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, Germany, Las Vegas, Miami, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington State, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, North Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado, among other locations.
Stan is a recipient of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment & Sports Law Section’s “Texas Star Award.” The award is given to an individual “who has made a major and noteworthy contribution to the practice of entertainment law.” Also during his career, Stan has received ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in music journalism, including for his music law articles in Rolling Stone, The National Law Journal and Musician Magazine.
Soocher has authored the books Baby You’re a Rich Man: Suing the Beatles for Fun & Profit and They Fought the Law: Rock Music Goes to Court. Stan wrote the chapter “Twenty-First-Century Patronage: The Road to Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden Concert Residency” in the 2020 book We Didn’t Start the Fire: Billy Joel and Popular Music Studies , edited by Joshua S. Duchan and Ryan Raul Bañagale/Lexington Books. Billy Joel wrote the book’s Foreword.
Stan holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Florida and a J.D. from New York Law School. He is also a drummer.
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Members, join us for a delicious holiday buffet and network with fellow members and guests! RSVP is required for admittance to the event.
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****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 .***

March 29, 2023 - On The Shoulders Of Giants
2023-03-29 11:30 - 13:00
Learn how and why the Copyright Society of the South was formed
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How the music industry has changed over the last 40 years
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What industry veterans think about the future of the business
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…and hear some great industry stories from 3 of the original founders of our organization!
Members, join us for an executive boxed lunch and network with fellow members and guests! RSVP is required for admittance to the event.
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****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 .***

May 23, 2023 - Living with AI, IP & Music in the Better-Best of Times
2023-05-23 11:30 - 13:00
Dr. E. Michael Harrington is a composer, musician, consultant, professor, and course author and professor at Berklee College Online. Harrington served as expert at the U.S. Copyright Office and World Intellectual Property Organization’s symposium Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence at the Library of Congress in February 2020. He created the Coursera/Berklee College of Music Copyright Law In The Music Business class/MOOC which has been taken by students from 169 countries from Afghanistan to Maldives to Zimbabwe, the Berklee Online Music Business Capstone course, and the Berklee Online Graduate Music Business Law class.
Harrington was the Expert Witness responsible for freeing the iconic civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome in 2018. He co-authored two successful amicus briefs for defendants Led Zeppelin and Katy Perry in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2020. (The Led Zeppelin decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2020.) Harrington has served as consultant in hundreds of music copyright & IP matters involving Apple, Amazon, Walt Disney, HBO, Samsung, Blurred Lines, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Tupac, Led Zeppelin, the Chicks, Katy Perry, Steve Perry, Adele, Lady Gaga, Deadmaus, Steven Spielberg, and many more.
Harrington has spoken at more than 400 music conferences, bar associations, law schools and universities including Harvard Law, UNH Law, Penn State Law, BC Law, GWU Law, Cardozo Law, Brooklyn Law, Boston Bar, Beverly Hills Bar, Texas Bar, American Bar Association, NYIPLA, Minnesota Bar, Rotary International and been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Fox, Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, PBS, BBC, CBC and more.
He has created more than 30 courses at several universities including Berklee, Berklee Online, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, William Paterson University and Belmont University.
An avid bicyclist, Harrington has bicycled three times across the United States – twice from Los Angeles to Nashville, and once from Florence, Oregon to Nashville (3,400 miles).

****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 .***

September 11, 2023 - Fall Copyright Symposium
2023-09-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States
Copyright comes to Nashville! Enjoy three awesome sessions with Judge Steve Ruwe and John Riley as they discuss the current landscape of copyright from the front lines. This event will NOT be recorded. Don’t miss it!
Guest Speakers/Panelists:

Judge Steve Ruwe has a broad background in copyright and intellectual property law. Before his appointment to the Copyright Royalty Board, Ruwe served as assistant general counsel in the Copyright Office’s Office of the General Counsel. He began his service in the Copyright Office in 2006, rising from the position of attorney-advisor to assistant general counsel. Ruwe’s work at the Copyright Office ranged over many issues, including statutory licensing, CRB rate determinations, regulations, policy studies, and appellate litigation.
From 2016 to 2018, he held the position of attorney advisor for copyright law and policy with the Patent and Trademark Office’s Office of Policy and International Affairs. With the PTO, Ruwe served on U.S. delegations in international negotiations, including NAFTA/USMCA negotiations and treaty negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights.

John Riley is an Assistant General Counsel at the Copyright Office where he has contributed to the United States Government’s briefs in the Petrella and Aereo Supreme Court cases, the Copyright Small Claims, Copyright and the Music Marketplace, and Unclaimed Royalties: Best Practice Recommendations for the Mechanical Licensing Collective policy reports, and, among other regulatory work, has authored rules implementing the Music Modernization Act, Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (“CASE”) Act of 2020, and the GRAM registration option.
Prior to joining the Copyright Office, John worked as the Senior Manager of Intellectual Property Enforcement at the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center. John earned his LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the George Washington University Law School and his JD from the Dickinson School of Law. He holds BA degrees in Political Science, English, and Communication Arts & Sciences from Penn State University. He has been recognized by the American Intellectual Property Law Association for his distinguished service and contributions in the field of intellectual property law.

****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 .***

The TEC: Opportunities for Creators and IP Stakeholders in Tennessee
2023-10-18 11:30 - 13:00
Learn more about the current landscape, opportunities, and the bright future of our industry by long-time music executive Jimmy Wheeler, Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission’s new Music Office.
The office is part of a new initiative to grow investment and job creation in the music sector. This is a statewide effort focused on economic development, workforce/education, community resources and legislative initiatives that benefit the music industry directly.
Wheeler, a former Sony Music executive, works closely with Tennessee’s Department of Community and Economic Development, the Governor’s Office, and the Department of Tourist Development to bolster the business of music throughout communities in Tennessee.
“We want music businesses and creators to think of Tennessee first when deciding on where they want to work,” says Wheeler. “We have the resources and infrastructure throughout the state that make us an attractive landing spot.”

****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 .***

November 15, 2023 - At Long Last...Phonorecord III Adjustments! What to expect!
2023-11-15 11:30 - 13:00
In April 2023 IP organizations called on the Copyright Royalty Board to accelerate the finalization of the Phonorecords III ruling that it had handed down in July of 2022. Now, the three-judge CRB has officially issued its final determination for the five-year stretch at hand. Notice of the CRB’s long-awaited Phonorecords III decision was just recently published and it’s estimated to release at least $800 million in owed mechanical royalties! Interested in learning more? Our upcoming November luncheon event is for you! Guest speakers Bill Colitre from Music Reports International (MRI) and Rick Marshall from The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) will discuss Phonorecords III and its upcoming impact on songwriters, publishers, and other copyright holders. Don’t miss this event!
Rick Marshall

Bill Colitre

Members, join us for a delicious executive box lunch from Chef’s Market and network with fellow members and guests! RSVP is required for lunch – cutoff date is November 7, 2023.
****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 .***

December 7, 2023 - Annual Copyright Review With Stan Soocher!
2023-12-07 11:30 - 13:00
Honorary Society Member Stan Soocher is an award-winning journalist and entertainment attorney, as well as the long-time Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Law & Finance, an ALM publication. In addition, Stan is Professor Emeritus of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where he served as a Music Department Chair.
Soocher has given speeches on entertainment law and related industry issues to bar associations and/or entertainment industry conferences in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Austin, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, Germany, Las Vegas, Miami, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington State, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, North Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado, among other locations.
Stan is a recipient of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment & Sports Law Section’s “Texas Star Award.” The award is given to an individual “who has made a major and noteworthy contribution to the practice of entertainment law.” Also during his career, Stan has received ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in music journalism, including for his music law articles in Rolling Stone, The National Law Journal and Musician Magazine.
Soocher has authored the books Baby You’re a Rich Man: Suing the Beatles for Fun & Profit and They Fought the Law: Rock Music Goes to Court. Stan wrote the chapter “Twenty-First-Century Patronage: The Road to Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden Concert Residency” in the 2020 book We Didn’t Start the Fire: Billy Joel and Popular Music Studies , edited by Joshua S. Duchan and Ryan Raul Bañagale/Lexington Books. Billy Joel wrote the book’s Foreword.
Stan holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Florida and a J.D. from New York Law School. He is also a drummer.
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Members, join us for a delicious holiday buffet and network with fellow members and guests! RSVP is required for admittance to this event.
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****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 .***

January 11, 2024 - Legislative Updates with Bart Herbison
2024-01-11 11:30 - 13:00
GUEST SPEAKER: Bart Herbison
A Paris, Tennessee 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 joined the staff of U.S. Rep. Bob Clement (D-Nashville) in 1988 where he served as the Tennessee Congressman’s Press Secretary, Campaign Manager and Chief Tennessee Administrative Officer before leaving Capitol Hill for Music Row in 1997.
Herbison is Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization and advocacy group dedicated to the songwriting profession. Established in 1967, NSAI’s membership of nearly 5,000 spans the United States and other countries. With nearly one hundred chapters, the association serves aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. They also own 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 of which he is a board member.
Led NSAI’s involvement in the 2016 Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) trial that led to a historic 44% mechanical royalty increase for American songwriters and the subsequent CRB IV.
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. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Mechanical Licensing Collective. In 2020 he was honored by the Assn. of Independent Music Publishers for his advocacy work and in 2021 received the “Arnold Broido Award” for Copyright Advocacy from the Music Publishers Assn. in 2023 Bart and Bluebird Café General Manager Erika Wollam Nichols received the “Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award” to benefit the Grand Ole 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.
Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. Contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com if you have not received your invitation via email.

The ELVIS Act Conversation Continues: Experts Panel with Tom Clees, Senator Jack Johnson, & Denise Stevens - Moderated by Suzanne Kessler
2024-02-29 11:30 - 13:00
Tom Clees, Panelist
Tom Clees is Senior Vice President of Federal Public Policy for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As a lobbyist and political strategist for RIAA, Clees represents the major American record labels’ interests before members of Congress and their staffs. This work has included advocacy on issues including copyright and intellectual property protection, digital trade and content moderation, COVID-19 relief for the music community, and social justice reforms. Prior to RIAA Tom worked as an advisor to Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and then-Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and was a political law attorney in his home state of Arizona.

Senator Jack Johnson, Panelist
Senator Jack Johnson grew up in a small town in Texas, but has proudly called middle Tennessee “home” since graduating from Texas State University with a degree in Education.
Jack and his wife Deanna, the Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District, are raising their three children in Franklin. Jack and Deanna met over 30 years ago at a Young Republican function, sharing the same conservative values and the same dream of a future filled with faith and family.
Senator Johnson was first elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 2006. He was proud to cast his first vote in the Senate for the first Republican Lieutenant Governor in 140 years. After only two years, he was appointed as Chairman of the Government Operations Committee. A year later, he was named Chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee. He served as Commerce Committee Chairman for nine years until December of 2018, when he was elected by his Republican colleagues as the Senate Majority Leader.
Jack Johnson has over 20 years of hands-on experience in the financial industry, beginning his career with Third National Bank (now SunTrust). Over the last few years, Jack worked as the Senior Vice President for Studio Bank in the Cool Springs area. More recently, Jack owns and operates several businesses within Williamson and Davidson Counties.
Senator Johnson proudly represents the 27th District, which includes most of Williamson County. When the day’s work is done, Jack enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and piloting private aircraft.

Denise Stevens, Panelist
Denise Stevens is a Partner with Loeb and Loeb, where her transactional practice focuses on creative properties across multiple platforms, including music, publishing, touring, television and film.
With a depth of experience reflective of her top-tier high-profile clients, including superstar recording artists and multi-hyphenate film and television personalities, Stevens is well-seasoned in all aspects of talent representation and a broad variety of entertainment matters, including the negotiation and renegotiation of exclusive major label recording and entertainment services agreements, establishing an artist’s independent operation for recording and other creative endeavors with venture partners, capitalizing on an artist’s brand value with major retailers and brands through various multi-platform sponsorship, endorsement agreements, philanthropy and other campaigns, creating artist-branded beverage, clothing and merchandise lines, literary agreements, film and television production and appearances, production of major concert tours and residencies, intellectual property protection, and numerous other performing, licensing, publishing, appearance, production and other agreements.
Her talent clients include Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn and her legacy, Chris Tomlin, Anthony Hamilton, Teyana Taylor, Saving Abel, Sixpence None The Richer, and Shaylen. In addition, she represents music publishers, film and TV producers and talent, financial institutions, and cutting edge entertainment tech companies such as Musicnotes, Single Music, and Labelcoin and a to-be-announced user-centric music streaming platform under development. As general counsel to NSAI, she authored the bill that ultimately became the Songwriter’s Capital Gains Tax Equity Act, which has benefitted preeminent songwriters and countless other American songwriters in receiving fair tax treatment upon the ultimate sale of their works.

Suzanne Kessler, Moderator
Suzanne Kessler provides counsel and consulting services to entertainment industry creatives and companies. She previously served as Vice President of Business Development at Universal Music Group Nashville, and Director of Business and Legal Affairs at UMG corporate and A&M Records in Los Angeles. Suzanne began her legal career at an entertainment law firm in Beverly Hills where she represented major studios, music companies, talent, and estates of deceased celebrities.
Suzanne is a long-term Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt Law School, teaching entertainment law and licensing. She is a past Board member of the Nashville Symphony, a current Council member of the W.O. Smith Music School, an alumna of Leadership Music, a member of the Copyright Society of the South, and a Nashville Bar Foundation Fellow. Suzanne graduated from Brown University and Stanford Law School and has a M.A. in Communication/Documentary Film Production from Stanford.
Recent documentary projects on which Suzanne served as a producer include two PBS American Masters films—on Patsy Cline and Charley Pride—and a documentary on the origins of Curious George.

Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. Contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com if you have not received your invitation via email.

May 8, 2024 - Neighboring Rights 101
2024-05-08 11:30 - 13:00
The Copyright Society of the South is pleased to host a presentation on all things Neighboring Rights. Darcie Molina, from Kollective Neighboring Rights, will join us virtually to provide an overview for both sound recording owners and artists in this complicated area of our industry, along with Ryan Lehning from SoundExchange, who will join us in person to discuss legal issues related to these rights (in particular, how US rights owners are treated). There will be plenty of time for questions, so be ready to learn more about how Neighboring Rights fits into the world of royalty collections and bring any questions you may have for our experts on hand.
Guest Speakers:
Darcie Molina, VP of Client Relations for Kollective Neighbouring Rights, has worked in Neighbouring Rights for 7 years, managing the KNR Client Relations team and helping performers, labels, and their teams understand this complex area of the music business and maximize their earnings. Prior to working in the music industry she managed teams and client relations in the special education sector for 15 years.

Darcie Molina
Ryan Lehning is Assistant General Counsel, International at SoundExchange, responsible for international activities on behalf of the company’s member artists and labels. Prior to joining SoundExchange, Ryan served as counsel with SONY BMG Music Entertainment in New York where he handled copyright, trademark, e-commerce, new media, and other intellectual property matters. Prior to SONY BMG, Ryan was an associate in the law firm of Smith & Metalitz LLP in Washington DC where his practice focused on domestic and international copyright matters for a diverse portfolio of clients in the music, film, television, software, and book publishing industries. In addition, Ryan served as counsel for the Coalition on Online Accountability, a group working to ensure the enforcement of copyright protection in the online world. Ryan is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (2002) and Belmont University (1997).

Ryan Lehning

Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. Contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com if you have not received your invitation via email.

The Top Issues Facing Copyright (That's Not AI!) - Industry Panel - CLE Credit Available!
2024-08-21 11:30 - 13:00
Panelists

Kristina Johnson | Universal Music Publishing Group
Kristina Johnson is the Senior Director of North American Copyright at Universal Music Publishing Group. In this role she oversees the U.S. and Canadian activity for Universal’s iconic catalog of 5 million copyrights as well as the end to end value chain of managing agreements signed out of the U.S. With thirteen years of copyright experience, she is driven to find creative solutions for improving music royalty collections in an ever-changing landscape. Kristina has been a primary stakeholder for building multiple proprietary copyright systems to adapt large scale data sets for modern requirements. A passionate leader and life-long learner, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Mike Molinar | Big Machine Music
Mike Molinar is the President of Big Machine Music (BMM), where he brings over twenty-seven years of experience as a music publisher and advocate for creatives to lead Big Machine Music publishing, the sister company of the Big Machine Label Group. Molinar, who was named one of Billboard’s Country Power Players each of the last five years (‘20-‘24), oversees all aspects of BMM which was named 2021 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville.
In 2023, Molinar was re-elected to a 3rd term on the board of the National Music Publisher Association and in 2019 was appointed a member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) board. He also serves as a board member for the Academy of Country Music, Music Health Alliance and sits the Country Music Hall Of Fame Education Council. Molinar was also named as one of ten Nashville participants in Global Action Platform’s 2021 Leaders Class for Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program.
In 1998, Molinar graduated from Middle Tennessee State University where he was inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment’s Wall of Fame in 2021. He was also named a Rider Scholar while attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. in 1996. Molinar is a graduate of Leadership Music (2015) and a member of the CMA, ACM, AIMP and Recording Academy.

Emily Stephenson | Downtown Music
Emily Stephenson serves as Downtown Music’s President of Publishing. Stephenson oversees all of Downtown’s publishing administration and client acquisition efforts, leading a team of 100+. Prior to her current role, Stephenson served as the division’s Vice President of Business Operations and during her 12+ year tenure at the company has been responsible for various aspects of publishing administration and client services. Downtown’s roster includes songwriter and publishing clients, including Spirit Music Group, Jason Isbell, Big Yellow Dog, and the John Lennon Estate.

Moderator:
Duff Berschback | Concord Music Publishing
Duff Berschback is the EVP of Legal and Business Affairs at Concord Music Publishing, LLC. Duff leads the team of lawyers and non-lawyer legal professionals in a variety of legal and business affairs matters, including contract negotiations, policy initiatives, litigation, and strategic publishing matters. Berschback joined Concord in 2020 and prior to joining Concord he was SVP Business Affairs at Sony Music Publishing in Nashville for 13 years. Duff began his career in entertainment law in 2001, working in private practice representing songwriters, publishers, producers, managers, and artists.

Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. Contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com if you have not received your invitation via email. CLE Credit is available for attending this event.

September Happy Hour Mixer with Craig Wiseman and Derek Crownover
2024-09-12 16:00 - 18:00
Members, you are cordially invited to our September Happy Hour Mixer with Special Guests Craig Wiseman and Derek Crownover! Bring a friend (or 2 or 3) to learn more about membership in the Society! Guests attend free! Beverages and Light Snacks will be available.
Derek will interview Craig about his musical journey – you don’t want to miss this!

Craig Wiseman
Derek Crownover
RSVP is required – cutoff date is September 9, 2024.

****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 .***

Licensing Music to Churches in the Modern Era: A Discussion with CCLI - CLE Credit Available!
2024-10-02 11:30 - 13:00
Lynn Morrow interviews Gary Christiansen, President at Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc. (CCLI), which serves over 250,000 churches globally with music licensing and resources. Come learn what rights are involved in their licensing and what products CCLI provides to churches. Understand how CCLI’s offerings differ from a PRO and how they relate to the rights of music publishers and record labels. Hear specific needs of the global church and how CCLI strives to meet those needs.

Lynn Morrow, Attorney
Adams and Reese
Representing regional, national and international clients, Lynn advises and advocates for businesses and organizations that promote music and other forms of entertainment, and helps artists, authors, songwriters, music publishers and producers negotiate deals. She also works with independent publishing companies, record companies and large non-profit ministries with a music element, helping them to protect their intellectual property and content. Previously a litigator, Lynn brings courtroom and negotiation skills to her practice.
Lynn writes extensively on copyright and entertainment-related subjects, and her article, “The Recording Artist Agreement: Does it Empower or Enslave?” was published by the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment Law and Practice. In addition, Lynn speaks frequently before legal and entertainment industry audiences. Lynn is the past Chair of the Entertainment and Sports Section of the Nashville Bar Association and Tennessee Bar Association. In 2013 and 2018, Lynn was named Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in Entertainment Law in Nashville, and since 2008, she has been ranked among Best Lawyers® in Entertainment Law – Music, Copyright Law and Intellectual Property Law. Lynn assisted in the development of the firm’s Entertainment and New Media Practice Group.

Gary Christiansen, President, CCLI
A 25-year veteran of the company, Christensen joined the CCLI team after a 20-year career in banking. In his previous role as Chief Intellectual Property Officer, he was responsible for the publishing and rights owner side of CCLI’s enterprise, and was actively engaged in global copyright matters including rights, publisher relations and contract development as well as repertoire and royalty management.

Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. CLE Credit is available for Tennessee attorneys – for more information contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com.

The Future of Music Contracts: Negotiate Smarter, Not Harder
2024-11-14 11:30 - 13:00
Our November event features an awesome panel discussion regarding the latest trends on contract negotiations within the music industry!
Eric Hurt
With more than 20 years’ experience in Nashville’s music industry, Eric Hurt launched EMPIRE’s Nashville division as their VP of A&R, spearheading EMPIRE’s country initiatives and supporting the company’s expansion into genres outside of HipHop and R&B. Hurt’s focus is on building EMPIRE’s label and distribution business as well as growing its publishing roster. In 2020, Hurt signed Shaboozey to EMPIRE’s label division. Shaboozey has risen to be global star with his Billboard #1 “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” This smash has also broken the record as the longest country radio hit in history (7 weeks at #1 on country radio), the longest running Billboard #1 in Canada, the first artist/song in history to go #1 across 4 different radio formats, is quickly approaching tying the record for the longest running #1 on Billboard Hot 100, among many other notable achievements. In 2021 Eric was featured in Billboard’s 2020 Indie Power Players list as well as Billboard’s 2020 Country Power Players list.

Jeanette Porcello
Jeanette Porcello is currently a Senior Manager of A&R at Downtown Artist and Label Services, where she is leading the company’s expansion into the vibrant Nashville market and empowering artists to build lasting careers. She has signed and championed artists such as Judah and the Lion, Abbey Cone, Tiera Kennedy, Mat Kearney, and Fancy Hagood. Passionate about the growing Nashville music scene, Porcello serves on the leadership team of The Other Nashville Society. In addition to her A&R role, she founded Dog Ear Management, representing Nashville-based writers and producers Collin Pastore, Jake Finch, and Taylor Dubray.

Farrah A, Usmani

Farrah A, Usmani, Esq. is a partner at Nixon Peabody, LLP. She advises creative clients across many sectors of the entertainment industry, including music matters, branding and endorsements, visual arts, and live events. Farrah is a native Texan and a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. Outside of her law practice, she is a member of the South Asian Bar Association and serves on the board of Girls Write Nashville, a nonprofit organization that facilitates youth music education in Title I schools across Davidson County, TN.

John P. Strohm

John P. Strohm is a music industry lawyer and a partner in the firm Meitus Gelbert Rose LLP. Strohm is a 35-year veteran of the music industry who began his career as a professional musician and a member of popular alternative rock bands The Lemonheads and Blake Babies. His law practice has focused on representing artists and artist-friendly music companies such a record labels, publishers, and artist management companies. From 2017-2022 Strohm was President of Rounder Records, a Concord label with an artist roster focused on roots and Americana music.

Society members must be in good standing and registered prior to the meeting in order to attend. If you are an active member and did not receive your private invitation please contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com for assistance.
For more information on membership into the Copyright Society of the South please contact us at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .

2024 Copyright Review with Stan Soocher - CLE Credit Available
2024-12-12 11:30 - 13:00
Stan Soocher
Stan Soocher is an award-winning journalist and entertainment attorney, as well as the long-time Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Law & Finance, an ALM publication. In addition, Stan is Professor Emeritus of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where he served as a Music Department Chair.
Stan has authored the books Baby You’re a Rich Man: Suing the Beatles for Fun & Profit and They Fought the Law: Rock Music Goes to Court. Stan wrote the chapter “Twenty-First-Century Patronage: The Road to Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden Concert Residency” in the 2020 book We Didn’t Start the Fire: Billy Joel and Popular Music Studies , edited by Joshua S. Duchan and Ryan Raul Bañagale/Lexington Books. Billy Joel wrote the book’s Foreword.
Stan has given speeches on entertainment law and related industry issues to bar associations and/or entertainment industry conferences in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Austin, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, Germany, Las Vegas, Miami, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington State, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, North Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado, among other locations.
Stan is a recipient of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment & Sports Law Section’s “Texas Star Award.” The award is given to an individual “who has made a major and noteworthy contribution to the practice of entertainment law.” Also during his career, Stan has received ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in music journalism, including for his music law articles in Rolling Stone, The National Law Journal and Musician Magazine.
Among the many media outlets who have interviewed Stan about entertainment industry issues are the Associated Press, National Public Radio, CNN, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, New York Daily News, The New York Post, Miami Herald, Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Salt Lake Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, London Times and BBC-TV.
For many years, Stan covered the federal appeals courts in a weekly section for The National Law Journal. Early in his career, he worked as a reporter and associate editor for the rock music magazine Circus.

In recent years, Stan’s articles also have been published in such media outlets as the cover of the American Bar Association Journal, and in Law.com, The New York Law Journal, Daily Report (Atlanta), American Lawyer, The Recorder (California), Intellectual Property Strategist, Daily Business Review (Florida), Legal Week (UK), Connecticut Law Tribune and Inside Counsel.
Stan holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Florida and a J.D. from New York Law School. He is also a drummer.

Attorneys with a Tennessee Bar Number may register for CLE credit at this event.
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 .

Restoring Trust in the Age of AI, Rights of Publicity and Copyright - February 26, 2025
2025-02-26 11:30 - 13:00
The Copyright Society of the South is pleased to present a panel with industry leaders discussing how to address the verification, use and compensation of video, audio and images that includes an individual’s voice, identity, name, image and likeness via the platform ViNIL. ViNIL’s founders Charles Alexander, Jeremy Brook, and Sada Garba will discuss how to best use the platform to facilitate commercial and creative celebrity engagement with a unique digital certificate and tracking system to assure commercial markets and the public authenticity and authorization of content. McGlinchey Stafford Of Counsel and longtime CSoS member Hillel Frankel joins the panel to discuss how the use of AI in artistic creations as launched major rights questions across the artist spectrum and how creative industries and artists must keep pace to address issues of misappropriation and infringement that threaten artistic control and the integrity of their artistic persona and creations.
CLE Credit is available for Tennessee attorneys at this event. There is a $75.00 fee for non-members. If you would like attend this event as a guest you must pre-register by February 21, 2025. Contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com for more information.

Charles Alexander
Jeremy Brook
Sada Garba
Hillel Frankel

Sync & Licensing: A 2025 State of the Union - March 25, 2025
2025-03-25 11:30 - 13:00
Join us for a critical analysis of the 2025 state of synchronization licensing in Film, TV, and Advertising. This panel, featuring key Nashville industry players, will delve into the complex legal and contractual issues surrounding music placement. Gain crucial insights into emerging trends, evolving rights management, and the challenges facing songwriters, music publishers, and supervisors. For attorneys specializing in copyright and entertainment law, this session offers invaluable perspectives on protecting and maximizing the value of intellectual property in a dynamic media environment.
Presenters:
BRANDON SCHOTT
BRANDON SCHOTT | Vice President, Licensing | Concord Music Group – Brandon Schott is an experienced songwriter & music licensing expert with a 20+ year history working in the entertainment industry. Schott’s specialties include synchronization licensing, negotiation, creative services, executive leadership, songwriting, & production. Brandon holds a degree in Songwriting/Music Business from Berklee College Of Music.
JOSH LIEB
JOSHUA (JOSH) LIEB | Manager, Music Licensing | Mayflower Entertainment – Josh Lieb handles music clearance/supervision needs for video games, brands, and advertisers at Mayflower Entertainment. Previously Josh worked at Bank Robber Music and The Royalty Network, pitching music and clearing synchronization requests on behalf of independent labels and publishing clients for the past five years. A recent Nashville transplant from New York City, Josh got his start in the music industry booking shows at a DIY venue in his basement to support touring and local bands. Lieb holds a degree in Music Industry from Drexel University.

JENNIFER FALCO
JENNIFER FALCO | Senior Vice President, Licensing | Hipgnosis Songs Group – Jennifer Falco has over fifteen years of experience in music clearance and licensing. Formerly with Words & Music and Big Deal Music, Jennifer is based in Nashville where she oversees the licensing of Hipgnosis’ repertoire in all media types, including mechanical, digital, print, karaoke and synch, and administers the company’s YouTube CMS and Facebook’s Rights Management systems. Jennifer specializes in negotiations for films, trailers and advertisements, and manages all of HSG’s blanket licenses with various digital, fitness and new media partners. Jennifer holds a degree in Music Business from Belmont University.

STEVE NALBERT
STEVE NALBERT | Vice President, Synchronization & Digital Licensing & Digital | Round Hill Music) – Steve Nalbert has been working in sync for 15+ years and has had the pleasure of representing a wide variety of artists, writers and catalogs. In his day to day role, he works in sync (both creative and licensing), while leading the company’s strategy in the digital space. Steve comes from a musical upbringing and has been playing in bands, writing and producing music ever since. Nalbert holds a degree in Music Industry from SUNY Oneonta University.

****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 would like additional information, contact us at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .***

The Songwriter’s Cut: Understanding Publishing Deals in the Streaming Era - April 30, 2025 (Date Change)
2025-04-30 11:30
This panel will provide a critical analysis of the evolving landscape of songwriter agreements, equipping practitioners with the tools to effectively represent clients in today’s dynamic music publishing market. We will delve into the legal ramifications of shifting revenue streams, digital rights management, and streaming royalties, examining how these changes impact contract terms, including advances, recoupment, and ownership rights. Attendees will gain strategic insights into negotiating favorable agreements for songwriters, maximizing their earnings and safeguarding their creative control in an increasingly complex industry.
A CLE Credit of 1.0 hour is available to Tennessee attorneys who attend this event. If you are not a Society attorney member and would like to attend this event for CLE credit you are welcome! A $75 guest fee will apply and must be paid at the door. Please contact copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com to register before April 20, 2025.

Moderator
Lauren Spahn | Shareholder, Buchalter
As Shareholder in the Nashville office of Buchalter and Co-Chair of Buchalter’s Entertainment Industry Group. Lauren Spahn represents the legal and business interests of artists, songwriters, publishers, talent buyers, executives, record labels, technology companies, and other entertainment industry clients. Lauren has been recognized by Billboard as one of the “Top Music Lawyers” for the past 3 years and is regularly featured in MusicRow Magazine’s “In Charge” in the entertainment business. She is a member of the Leadership Music Class of 2019 and currently serves as Legal Counsel for the Women in Music Business Association. Lauren holds a Masters in Music Business and Entertainment Industries and Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami.

Don Glista | VP/Business Affairs & Creative Affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group
Don Glista’s music career began in 2010 after completing a master’s degree in London. He started working with the Music Publishers Association, XL Talent/Reverb Music Publishing (a London based independent producer/writer management/publishing company), and assisting UK Music with relevant legal issues affecting the British music industry. He was hired into UMPG’s London’s office in 2011 and then relocated to UMPG’s Nashville office in 2020. As VP in the Business Affairs department, he works closely with the London, LA, and NY offices, while also overseeing all of the Nashville signings. Additionally, he works with UMPG Classics & Screens which administers and publishes UMPG’s classical and film composers. In addition to his role in Business Affairs, he also has a passion for going to live shows and helps find new talent as part of his creative role at UMPG.

Joshua Hefner | Partner, Mark Music & Media Law, P.C.
Joshua Hefner’s practice focuses on contractual issues surrounding all facets of the music industry. Prior to Mark MML, Joshua worked for nearly six years at Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP, honing his skills on negotiation and transactional matters and advising on both high-profile and new artist projects. As a former major label recording artist and touring musician himself, Joshua has an understanding and appreciation of the issues faced by artists in today’s music industry. His unique perspective allows him to play an active and important role in the growth of his clients’ careers. Joshua graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law in 2016 with an emphasis on intellectual property, technology, and entrepreneurship. He lives in Nashville, TN and is a member of both the Louisiana Bar and the Tennessee Bar.

John Ozier | Executive Vice President/Creative, Reservoir Music Group
John Ozier heads the company’s Nashville office, which he helped launch in 2019. Under his leadership, the location has become a thriving music office, with a team of six, plus several writing rooms on site utilized by the Reservoir roster and others. Ozier serves on the senior management team of Reservoir, which celebrated its third year as a publicly traded company in 2024. His reputation has helped Reservoir solidify deals with some of country music’s most legendary names, while his keen ear has identified and fostered the growth of its up-and-coming songwriters. In addition, Ozier has established himself as a key player in the industry, having previously served as the National Chair of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) for two years, and as the Nashville Chapter Head and President for eight years. Ozier continues to serve on the Board of the Nashville Chapter. Over the last 18 months Ozier’s signings contributed to seven Hot 100 tracks and 20 Billboard 200 Albums, including 12 #1s across all Billboard charts. Chart positions are just one metric demonstrating Ozier’s tastemaker status. His signings across the last year and a half have also garnered impressive industry recognition, with countless nominations and award wins across several industry ceremonies.

**** If you are interested in becoming a member of the Copyright Society of the South, or would like additional information, contact us at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .***

The Latino Influence in Music - May 21, 2025
2025-05-21 11:30
Sharpen your expertise in the dynamic realm of the Latin Music Industry! Join us for a conversation featuring the insights of award-winning singer-songwriter Ana Cristina Cash and leading music business authorities John Carter Cash and Ricardo Rodriguez.
Delve into the specific copyright considerations within the Latin music landscape, exploring publishing intricacies, licensing nuances, and emerging legal trends. Discover the unique landscape of the Latin music industry, from its rich cultural heritage to its global influence. You don’t want to miss this event!

Ana Cristina Cash is a Nashville-based American singer-songwriter who was originally raised in Miami, Florida by her Cuban parents who moved to the United States in the early 1960s during the onset of the revolution. Growing up listening to a multitude of genres, Cash’s sound was influenced by an eclectic array of inspiration from Country, Pop, improvisational Jazz and Latin music. Writing directly from the heart, the singer-songwriter’s recordings exhibit a broad vocal range, spanning from an expressive and resonating contralto to a soaring coloratura soprano, otherwise known as the “whistle register.” Ana earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida International University and her master’s degree in creative writing and literature from Harvard University.
The bilingual artist started her professional music career debuting her talents at age 6 on the Spanish-language variety show “Sabado Gigante,” where she continued to film regularly until the age of 14.

JOHN CARTER CASH
Musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and author John Carter Cash has been involved with music his entire life. Growing up, John Carter spent nearly as much time on the road with his parents as at home with them in Hendersonville. He learned to play from true masters of the craft, including at the knee of his grandmother, world-renowned guitarist Maybelle Carter, and has released three critically-acclaimed solo albums since the early 2000s – Bitter Harvest, The Family Secret, and We Must Believe In Magic.
Cash is perhaps best known, however, as an accomplished record producer, work he began on his mother June Carter Cash’s LP, Press On, which won the 2000 GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. He then worked with Rick Rubin as Associate Producer on his father Johnny Cash’s American III: Solitary Man (2000) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002). The former won the GRAMMY Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance; the latter won CMA Awards for Album of the Year, Single of the Year (“Hurt”), and Music Video of the Year (“Hurt”), GRAMMYs for Best Male Vocal Performance (“Give My Love to Rose”) and Best Short Form Video (“Hurt”), and has been certified 1.5x platinum. Since then, John Carter has produced hundreds of recordings for dozens of artists, including Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, and Vince Gill.
John Carter Cash has had success as a film actor and producer, as well, and as an author – including three childrens’ books, a novel, a cookbook of family recipes, a biography of his mother, and a memoir of his relationship with his father.

RICK RODRIGUEZ
Rick Rodriguez has been in the Nashville music business for over 20 years and is the founder of La Cara Productions, an entity that handles management, artist development, consultation, and production. Through La Cara Productions he has launched the Music Industry Mixers initiative, a series of panels focused on bringing professional music industry insight to Latino creators, providing a space where they can expand their network and discover new avenues that will support and inspire them as they navigate the music industry. He also serves as VP Operations for Mono Mundo B, a record label founded by Raul Malo, lead singer for the Grammy Award winning band The Mavericks.
Rick is a change creator that serves as a bridge between LatAm music, culture and lifestyle and the rest of the world. By creating innovative partnerships and staying constantly engaged with the Latino community, he will bring Latin American artists to the forefront of the Country and Americana markets. Rick is a graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry Program.

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 .

The Society is currently on hiatus until August - Have a great summer!
2025-05-22 08:00 - 2025-07-31 17:00

August Mixer!
2025-08-27 17:00 - 18:30
Members, unwind and connect at our August Mixer! Bring a colleague to learn more about membership in the Society! Beverages and Light Bites will be available.
RSVP is required – cutoff date is August 25, 2025.

****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 .**

How Citrin Cooperman Conducts Its Music Valuation Cases - September 18, 2025 - CLE Credit Available
2025-09-18 11:30 - 13:00
Join us for an exclusive, in-depth discussion and opportunity to gain a competitive edge by understanding the intricacies of music catalogue valuation directly from the experts at Citrin Cooperman. Don’t miss this chance to fine-tune your expertise and master the complex dynamics of music valuation. This is a CLE approved event for Tennessee attorneys. RSVP today to secure your spot!
$75 CLE guest fee | $35 Non-CLE guest fee | Active Society members attend free
Barry Massarsky
Barry Massarsky is a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Music Economics and Valuation Services Practice. He has over 30 years of experience acting as a key advisor in the music industry serving the valuation interests of music publishing and recording label firms. He provides strategic counsel to owners of music copyrights, as well as valuation, litigation economics, and performance income review. Barry is known for his high value relationships with performance rights organizations, music publishers, record companies, music industry trade organizations, and music litigation firms.
Barry has pioneered the field of music copyright economics serving revenue-related interests within the U.S. music industry, facilitating strategic opportunities for advancing royalty income, and inspiring new license regimes. His experience also extends to the music production library marketplace where he has led many performing rights initiatives on behalf of both its trade organization and individual market leaders. Barry has worked with commercial lenders, private equity, and other financial investors who are acquiring music asset rights. Previously, Barry was the founder of Massarsky Consulting, a leading copyright economics consultancy, which joined Citrin Cooperman in 2022. Prior to founding Massarsky Consulting, Barry was a Senior Economist at American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Elon Altman

Elon Altman is a Director of Music & Entertainment Valuation Services with 20 years of experience in performance income review and forecasting, music copyright litigation economics, music licensing, production music libraries, and valuations of music publishing and recorded music catalogs. He works closely with a wide range of the major and independent music publishers, music industry trade organizations, and private equity firms investing in music.
A particular focus in Elon’s work is on the forecasting of PRO income for individual songs and catalogs, based around his detailed modeling of PRO radio and streaming rates and bonuses. Elon also has extensive knowledge in the space of music for film and television. Working with production library clients, he has conducted operational audits of payments for the music used within television programs and advised on the best network opportunities for high value music placements. Elon has also conducted many valuations of TV and Film music catalogs.
Outside of music, Elon is the lead of the new Film & TV Valuation division of the Music & Entertainment Valuation Services group at Citrin Cooperman. Film & TV Valuation focuses on “participation rights” — essentially the share of net profits that high-end talent receives from their film & TV projects. Similar to music catalogs, there is a market of funds that buy these rights. Elon’s experience in the music industry began in 2005, where he spent 17 years at Massarsky Consulting as Senior Economist before joining Citrin Cooperman in 2022.

****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 .***

The Art and Science of Public Performance Music Licensing: A Discussion with U.S. PROs - CLE Credit Available
2025-10-01 11:30 - 13:00
Our October luncheon event will feature a comprehensive discussion on the complex and evolving world of public performance copyright licensing.
Featured Speakers
Gain direct insight from leaders from the following U.S. performing rights organizations (PROs):

Alex Grout (Senior Vice President, Membership and Business & Legal Affairs, ASCAP)
David Schneider (Vice President, Distribution and Administration Services, BMI)
Reid Alan Waltz (Senior Vice President & Counsel, Legal & Business Affairs, SESAC)
Moderator: Kent Draughon (SVP of Publishing Administration and Operations, Capitol CMG Publishing)

Alex Grout
David Schneider
Reid Alan Waltz
Kent Draughon
A wide range of critical topics are scheduled to be discussed, including:

PRO Operations and Data Management: Learn about the intricate process of matching musical compositions to sound recordings, the growing role of ISRCs, and how co-publisher works are managed.
Global Rights and Reciprocity: Understand the crucial reciprocal agreements that ensure U.S. creators are paid for performances abroad and how PROs navigate a global licensing landscape.
Market Trends and Genres: Explore the commercial dynamics of musical genres, including which are the most profitable, which present unique challenges, and how digital streaming is changing genre popularity.

This is a unique opportunity to directly engage with experts at the forefront of the public performance music licensing industry. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your understanding of rights management, data tracking, and global copyright frameworks.

****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 .***

What Litigators Wish Publishers Knew: Ethical Issues Involving the Law of Music Publishing - CLE Credit Available
2025-11-12 11:30 - 13:00
Guest Speakers: Tim Warnock and Megan Pekar
Loeb & Loeb, LLP

1.0 CLE Credit Hours will be available (Dual) – Tennessee Bar Number required.
In the dynamic world of music and intellectual property, staying ahead of complex ethical dilemmas and cutting-edge litigation is essential. This specialized CLE will provide attorneys with actionable insights into the most pressing legal and ethical challenges facing litigators, advisors, advocates, and negotiators in music publishing today.
Gain a sophisticated understanding of the ethical and practical issues underpinning music publishing litigation, including:
-The Advisor Role
-The Advocate’s Challenge: AI and Copyright Infringement
-The Negotiator’s Ethical Tightrope: Conflicts of Interest
-The Evaluator and AI Authorship
Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your strategy, mitigate risk, and competently advise your clients on the most critical ethical and legal developments in music and technology.
RSVP Today to secure your spot and gain an essential edge in your practice.

****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 .***

The Annual Copyright Review With Stan Soocher
2025-12-11 11:30 - 13:00
Stan Soocher is an award-winning journalist and entertainment attorney, as well as the long-time Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Law & Finance, an ALM publication. In addition, Stan is Professor Emeritus of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where he served as a Music Department Chair.
Stan has authored the books Baby You’re a Rich Man: Suing the Beatles for Fun & Profit and They Fought the Law: Rock Music Goes to Court. Stan wrote the chapter “Twenty-First-Century Patronage: The Road to Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden Concert Residency” in the 2020 book We Didn’t Start the Fire: Billy Joel and Popular Music Studies , edited by Joshua S. Duchan and Ryan Raul Bañagale/Lexington Books. Billy Joel wrote the book’s Foreword.
Stan has given speeches on entertainment law and related industry issues to bar associations and/or entertainment industry conferences in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Austin, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, Germany, Las Vegas, Miami, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington State, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, North Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado, among other locations.
Stan is a recipient of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment & Sports Law Section’s “Texas Star Award.” The award is given to an individual “who has made a major and noteworthy contribution to the practice of entertainment law.” Also during his career, Stan has received ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in music journalism, including for his music law articles in Rolling Stone, The National Law Journal and Musician Magazine.
Among the many media outlets who have interviewed Stan about entertainment industry issues are the Associated Press, National Public Radio, CNN, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, New York Daily News, The New York Post, Miami Herald, Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Salt Lake Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, London Times and BBC-TV.
For many years, Stan covered the federal appeals courts in a weekly section for The National Law Journal. Early in his career, he worked as a reporter and associate editor for the rock music magazine Circus.
In recent years, Stan’s articles also have been published in such media outlets as the cover of the American Bar Association Journal, and in Law.com, The New York Law Journal, Daily Report (Atlanta), American Lawyer, The Recorder (California), Intellectual Property Strategist, Daily Business Review (Florida), Legal Week (UK), Connecticut Law Tribune and Inside Counsel.
Stan holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Florida and a J.D. from New York Law School. He is also a drummer.

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 .

AI Guardrails and the "Four P's"
2026-02-04 11:30 - 13:00
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.

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