NMPA President & CEO David Israelite will give his forecast for the major battles ahead including the Copyright Royalty Board proceedings which will determine streaming rates for 2028-2032, the fight to end Spotify’s flawed bundling scheme, and the challenge of ensuring songwriters are fairly compensated in the Age of AI.
Israelite is the President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA). Since taking the helm of the NMPA in 2005, he has overseen groundbreaking victories on behalf of publishers and songwriters, including the largest Copyright Royalty Board rate increase in history, landmark royalty agreements with streaming platforms, and the passage of the Music Modernization Act, which created the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). Named multiple times to Billboard’s Power 100, Israelite also serves on the boards of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Special Olympics DC, and previously served on the board of the Country Music Association (CMA). In addition, he is President of the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation, which supports emerging songwriters through scholarships and direct services.
Follow the life of a song from creation to full registration in this practical, step-by-step session. We’ll walk through the real-world process of registering songs for publishing, performance, and mechanical royalties, covering both manual and electronic methods (including CWR). Topics include split sheets, metadata collection, title matching, and the role of key organizations involved in the registration process.
Learn how to avoid common errors (misspellings, missing writers, duplicate registrations), and gain insights into metadata management, song exploitation, and royalty tracking. Whether you are a publisher, administrator, or songwriter, this is your practical guide to getting registrations right and getting paid.
Kick off our Summer School series with a look at the essential types of music publishing deals every songwriter and independent music publisher should understand. This session will break down the key components and distinctions between common deal structures – from co-publishing to administration agreements – including regional variations often seen in Nashville and the UK. We will cover what rights are typically granted, how income is divided, and a few key clauses to watch for. Whether you are negotiating your first deal or reviewing your current catalog setup, this session will provide a clear, practical foundation.
Keynote with Hitmaker Sam Hollander.
From Capitol Hill to industry boardrooms, evolving laws and regulations are transforming the U.S. music landscape. How will these changes impact music publishers, rights holders, and the broader ecosystem?
Join our panel of experts as they break down the latest legislative and regulatory updates—what they mean for music rights, royalties, and industry practices, and how stakeholders can navigate this shifting legal landscape.
Featuring Jeff Pachman, Jeff Waye, Vinny Kumar & Joanne Kelsey. Moderated by Marc Emert-Hutner.
Let’s dive into the important collaboration between a music publisher’s Sync and A&R departments and how these teams collaborate for success.
Independent music publishers play a vital role in shaping the global music industry, fostering creativity, championing songwriters, and ensuring fair compensation for their work. This panel discussion, centered around the IMPF Global Market View Report, offers an exclusive look at the latest trends —from emerging markets to evolving revenue streams.
Following the report presentation, we will explore “The Benefits of Building a Network of Like-Minded Partners Around the World.” In today’s fast-changing landscape, independent publishers thrive when they collaborate across borders, sharing resources, expertise, and opportunities. From strengthening licensing agreements to navigating new digital platforms, strategic partnerships empower independent music publishers to amplify their impact and gain a competitive edge in a globalised market. Our panelists will provide firsthand insights.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry—transforming everything from creation to licensing and revenue streams. But how does this evolution impact music publishers, rights holders, and the broader ecosystem? Join John Phelan of ICMP and Frank Handy of Peermusic for a compelling conversation on AI’s implications for music rights and intellectual property. As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, what protections, challenges, and opportunities lie ahead for the industry? This session will explore the future of rights management, ethical concerns, and how stakeholders can navigate this rapidly shifting landscape. Following the discussion, John Phelan will deliver a presentation highlighting key regulations and areas of interest shaping AI and music rights globally.
Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of music publishing royalty tracking, exploring cutting-edge tools, technologies, and best practices. Hear from industry experts as they share valuable insights on optimizing royalty collections and ensuring you’re maximizing revenue.
Get ready to dive into the electrifying world of live performance royalties! This crucial income stream is often a mystery to songwriters and music publishers. Are you maximizing your earnings? Are your songwriters getting the royalties they deserve? Fear not! Our panel of industry rockstars is here to shed light on all you need to know. Whether you’re looking to maximize your earnings, ensure your songwriters get their due, or simply understand the ins and outs of this revenue stream, this session is for you. Don’t miss out on this dynamic and informative session!
The discussion will cover musical theater opportunities beyond Broadway, including regional venues, touring productions, stock and amateur theater, and even cruise ships.
