Thursday, September 17, 2026 · 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET
Essex House NYC
124 Rivington street · New York, NY 10002
In-Person + Virtual | Registration Required | Capacity Limited
Summer break is over and the New York music publishing community is back in session! Join fellow AIMP NY members and industry professionals for an evening of networking, reconnecting, and kicking off the season ahead.
This is an in person event.
RSVP required, capacity limited.
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Inside AIMP 2026: Glen Ballard and U.S. Copyright Office Leaders Debate A.I., Ownership, and the Future of Music Publishing
The future of music publishing is rarely discussed quietly, but at the 2026 AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit in New York City, it was especially loud—in the most intellectual, policy-heavy, and occasionally philosophical sense of the word.
Hosted by the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), the June 9 gathering at Fordham University’s McNally Amphitheatre brought together a cross-section of the global publishing ecosystem: songwriters, attorneys, rights organizations, tech companies, sync executives, and creative leaders all circling the same set of urgent questions—what happens to music rights, ownership, and creativity in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapidly shifting technology?
What does it actually take to get signed? What are A&R executives at independent publishers paying attention to right now, and what makes a songwriter stand out in the current NYC landscape?
Next Thursday, AIMP NY brings together four of New York’s leading indie publishing A&R executives for a candid conversation about what’s shaping the field. They’ll talk about how they find and develop emerging writers, how they support and build rosters, and what they’re seeing across the NYC songwriter community in real time. A grounded, honest look at how A&R is evolving in independent publishing and what it means for the creative ecosystem here in New York. This is the last in-person AIMP NY panel before the Global Music Publishing Summit on June 9 and our summer break. Don’t miss it.
Thursday, May 21st, 6-8pm ET
Citrin Cooperman
50 Rockefeller Plaza, 4th Floor
In-Person + Virtual | Registration Required | Capacity Limited
Moderator:
David Hoffman, Reservoir
Speakers:
Cabrea Case, Downtown Music Publishing
Lau Frías, Secretly Group
Zack Weinstein, Sunset Songs
Carlos Lopez Jr., Domino Records & Publishing
This is a hybrid event, attendees may register for a virtual option.
Registration is free to AIMP members, $20 for non members.
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Laura “Lau” Frías is an A&R Director at Secretly Group (Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records and Secretly Canadian), bringing her experience championing artists and paving new paths for underrepresented sounds, spaces and music scenes around the world. Having moved from Lima, Perú to Los Angeles in 2012, she’s been a fundamental voice for the Latinx music community (Omar Apollo, Cuco and more). Frías first worked at Kobalt Music Group for six years, where she worked on global initiatives across Synch Licensing, Publishing A&R, and Records A&R at then-sister company AWAL. Lau has a natural gift for world building and creative direction, which landed her a job at Secretly Group. Now in New York and at Secretly, she’s amplifying some of the most exciting new voices in the indie space, including Chanel Beads, Wednesday, Cassandra Jenkins and more.
Cabrea Casey is an established A&R Director based in New York, with over a decade of experience working in Music Publishing. Cabrea has proudly signed publishing deals with Ani DiFranco, Momma, Annie DiRusso, Pom Pom Squad, Nation of Language, and Phony Ppl to name a few. In parallel to her career in Publishing, Cabrea regularly DJ’s around New York City and Brooklyn; as a DJ, she has performed at Soho House, National Sawdust, Baby’s All Right, Nicky’s Unisex, Knitting Factory and more.
The 2026 AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit lineup keeps growing. New panels and speakers confirmed for June 9 at Fordham University Lincoln Center in New York City.
Moderated by Tom DeSavia, Concord
One of music’s most celebrated songwriters and producers in conversation about creativity, the craft, and the business.
Moderated by Michael Simon, HFA
Chris Barkley, NMPA · Linda Bloss-Baum, SONA · Graham Davies, DIMA · Morna Willens, RIAA
The essential annual conversation on where music publishing stands — policy, legislation, and what publishers need to know heading into the rest of 2026.
Moderated by Amber Charania, YouTube
Danny Abowd, The Royalty Network · Delphine Dalquie-Dickson, 22D Music Group · Heather Johnson, Sub Pop Records · Jennifer Newman-Sharpe, Exceleration Music
What does it really take to run an independent publishing operation today? Candid perspectives from the people doing it.
Moderated by Adam Parness, Adam Parness Music Consulting
Thando Makhunga, Downtown Music Publishing Africa · Spek, PopArabia · Jashima Wadehra, ODE Consulting
Latin, MENA, Africa, and South Asia are no longer waiting their turn. A candid conversation about the markets, deals, and opportunities reshaping global publishing.
Moderated by Brooke Primont, Concord Music Publishing
Mamie Coleman, Fox Entertainment · Kara Foley, PULSE Music Group · Melissa Somosky, Independent Music Consultant
An interactive panel driven entirely by audience questions. An open and honest conversation between music supervisors and the people pitching to them.
Moderated by Chris McMurtry
Ali Lieberman, Symphonic Distribution · Larry Mills, Vobile · Liz Moody, Granderson Des Rochers
Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how music publishers work. A practical, grounded conversation about how AI is being put to work in publishing today, from fraud detection to licensing frameworks
Agenda Coming Soon. Stay tuned.
Early Bird and hotel group rates expire today (May 9).
| Ticket Type | Price (as of May 10) |
| AIMP Member | $275 |
| Non-Member | $400 |
| Group Rate — AIMP Member (5 or more attendees) | $220 / ticket |
| Group Rate — Non-Member (5 or more attendees) | $320 / ticket |
Bonus for Non-Members: Register for the Summit and receive one year of AIMP National membership included with your ticket.
Your Ticket Includes:
– Access to the June 8 Kick-Off Mixer
– Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments on June 9
– A full day of expert panels and industry insights
Group rate inquiries: Contact nyadmin@aimp.org
Planning to stay in New York? We have secured group rates at two hotels near Fordham University Lincoln Center. These discounted rates are available through May 9.
| The Empire Hotel | Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Central Park |
| 44 W 63rd St, New York, NY 10023 | 538 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019 |
| Book online: bit.ly/gmps2026-empire | Book online: bit.ly/gmps2026-fairfield |
Interested in volunteering? Sign up to volunteer!
Sponsorship opportunities: Unlock additional visibility for your business and services by sponsoring the Summit. For details, contact Melanie Santa Rosa at melanie@aimp.org.
Kickoff Mixer — Summit Welcome Event
📍 High Bar NYC
346 W 40th Street, New York, NY 10018
⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Hosted by the AIMP NY Chapter’s YPC in partnership with Music Publishers Canada’s NXTGEN
Sponsored by YouTube
Kick off Summit Week right. Reconnect with colleagues, meet new faces, and set the tone for an inspiring day ahead.
AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit
📍 McNally Amphitheatre at Fordham University, Lincoln Center
140 W 62nd St, New York, NY 10023
⏰ 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
A full day of bold conversations on the issues, innovations, and opportunities shaping the future of music publishing. Built for the people who care most about where this industry is headed.
The voices driving the conversation on policy, rights, global deal-making, independent innovation, and the future of music publishing.
We are honored to welcome legendary songwriter and producer Glen Ballard for our 2026 Songwriter Keynote, in conversation with Tom DeSavia of Concord. Glen’s extraordinary body of work spans decades and genres, and his perspective on songwriting, creativity, and the music business is not to be missed.
Songwriter Keynote: An Intimate Conversation with Glen Ballard
Moderated by Tom DeSavia, Concord Music Publishing
Glen Ballard
State of the Industry: Music Publishing, Legislation & What’s Coming Next
Moderated by Michael Simon, HFA
Chris Barkley, NMPA · Linda Bloss-Baum, SONA · Graham Davies, DIMA · Morna Willens, RIAA
Inside the Indie World
Moderated by Amber Charania, YouTube
Danny Abowd, The Royalty Network · Delphine Dalquie-Dickson, 22D Music Group · Heather Johnson, Sub Pop Records · Jennifer Newman-Sharpe, Exceleration Music
Global Power Centers: Publishing Beyond Borders
Moderated by Adam Parness, Adam Parness Music Consulting
Thando Makhunga, Downtown Music Publishing Africa · Spek, PopArabia · Jashima Wadehra, Ode Consulting
Full Agenda Coming Soon…
Early bird pricing has been extended through May 9. Prices increase May 10.
| Ticket Type | Early Bird Price |
| AIMP Member | $220 |
| Non-Member | $345 |
| Group Rate — AIMP Member (5 or more attendees) | $176 / ticket |
| Group Rate — Non-Member (5 or more attendees) | $276 / ticket |
Bonus for Non-Members: Register for the Summit and receive one year of AIMP National membership included with your ticket.
Your Ticket Includes:
– Access to the June 8 Kick-Off Mixer
– Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments on June 9
– A full day of expert panels and industry insights
Sponsorship opportunities: Unlock additional visibility for your business and services by sponsoring the Summit. For details, contact Melanie Santa Rosa at melanie@aimp.org.
Group rate inquiries: Contact nyadmin@aimp.org.
We have secured group rates at two hotels near Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus. Rates are available June 7-12, 2026. We strongly recommend booking before the May 9 deadline.
Please note: New York City is a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city with matches beginning June 13. Hotel availability and pricing across the city will be significantly higher than usual during this period.
| The Empire Hotel | Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Central Park |
| 44 W 63rd St, New York, NY 10023 | 538 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019 |
| Book online: bit.ly/gmps2026-empire | Book online: bit.ly/gmps2026-fairfield |
All hotels have a 72-hour cancellation policy. The Empire Hotel charges $50 for early departure and late checkout.
Want to see what the Summit is all about? Review last year’s agenda and watch recordings of past sessions.
KOSIGN · NMPA · YouTube · The Frederic Loewe Foundation · Mint Digital Services · Music Publishers Canada · SOCAN
Join industry leaders for a discussion on the importance of music in sports and how it all comes together to create a memorable product for sports and music fans alike.
April 23rd, 6-8pm ET
American Arbitration Association
150 East 42nd St, 17th Floor
Moderator:
Antonella DiSaverio, BMI
Speakers:
Claude Mitchell, ESPN
John Sands, IMG Media
Stephanie Scarpulla, Major League Baseball
This is a hybrid event, attendees may register for a virtual option.
Registration is free to AIMP members, $20 for non members.
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John Sands is head of IMG Music – the preferred vendor production music resource at IMG. Nominated for two Sports Emmy Awards, John is a music producer, composer, and music supervisor whose music has been featured in hundreds of shows. IMG Music’s award-winning composer team has written the title music / original scores for top sports broadcasts, documentary films, and television programs. Recent bespoke scores include ALLEN IV3RSON (Prime Video), UFC JOURNEY (ESPN+), SUPER BOWL GREATEST COMMERCIALS: HALL OF FAME COUNTDOWN (CBS / PARAMOUNT+), DP WORLD TOUR (GOLF CHANNEL), and ANDREW YOUNG: THE DIRTY WORK (MS NOW).
Claude Mitchell leads the ESPN Music Department as Coordinating Director, Music, overseeing the network’s end‑to‑end music strategy and creative vision. He directs all music operations, including original composition, scoring initiatives, and high‑value licensing partnerships with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, Imagine Dragons, J. Cole, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and U2. Mitchell also drives strategic music placement across ESPN’s broad portfolio of programming and live events, delivering impactful exposure and cultural reach for artists and rights holders.
Stephanie Scarpulla is the VP of Global Music Partnerships & Music and Media Clearances for Major League Baseball and MLB Network. A three-time Emmy award-winner, Stephanie has been with the organization for 17 years. She works to create innovative ways to engage with artists and fans on and off the Major League Baseball platform and helps to develop the MLB music marketing strategy – spanning live events, brand campaigns, social and digital media, original content scores, gaming franchises and platforms, music supervision, licensing & clearances for studio programming.
| AIMP Members | $385 |
| Non-Members | $510 |
| Group Rate, AIMP Members (5 for 4) | $308 per ticket |
| Group Rate, Non-Members (5 for 4) | $408 per ticket |
The Vetter v. Resnik ruling is already reshaping conversations around U.S. termination rights, with significant implications for independent publishers, songwriters, and rights professionals.
Join our panel of leading legal experts as they break down what the decision actually says, why it matters, and how it could influence everything from catalog valuation and deal structuring to long-term rights strategy.
We’ll unpack the court’s reasoning in clear, practical terms and outline the key considerations every stakeholder should understand as the termination landscape continues to evolve. If you work with songs, rights, or contracts, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Moderator:
Consuelo Sayago, Cribnote Entertainment
Speakers:
Lisa Alter, Alter, Kendrick & Baron, LLP
Frank Scibilia, Pryor Cashman LLP
This is a hybrid event, attendees will be emailed a Zoom link upon registration.
Registration is free to AIMP members, $20 for non members.
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Consuelo is currently the CEO/Founder at CribNote Entertainment which offers music publishing and rights management consulting services. and music business solutions for artists and songwriters at various stages of their careers and a music publishing model that is tailored to the needs of the client.
Most recently, she was the VP of Global Administration at Spirit Music Group where she oversaw the administration of the Spirit Catalog, which contains such greats as the Pete Townshend, Billy Squier, T-Rex, and Dropkick Murphys catalogs.
Other previously held positions include Head of Society relations at the UAE based collective rights organization, ESMAA, the General Manager at Mojo Music & Media in their start up year, and AVP of International at BMI.
She was elected and is currently a member of the MLC’s Dispute Resolution Committee and she frequently speaks on panels at music conferences and universities.
Consuelo holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Hofstra University and a certificate from Columbia Graduate School of Business in Emerging Leadership.
Ms. Alter’s clients also include a large number of bespoke songwriters, recording artists, and producers as well as musical estates comprising the successors to many of the great American songbook composer and lyricists. Among her clients are numerous inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and recipients of Grammy and Ivor Novello Awards.
Ms. Alter lectures frequently on copyright issues at professional and music industry meetings in both the US and the UK. She has served as a Visiting Professor at Yale Law School where she taught a course on the Law and Business of Music, and has written numerous articles addressing music publishing and copyright matters. She is the author of “Protecting Your Musical Copyrights” which is widely relied upon in the music publishing industry.
Ms. Alter is perennially recognized in Billboard’s “Top Music Lawyers” and “Power” lists, as well as Variety’s “Legal Impact Report,” “Dealmakers Impact Report,” “New York Women’s Impact Report,” and “New York Dealmakers Elite.” She has also been named as one of Billboard’s “Women in Music: Executives of the Year,” The Hollywood Reporter’s “New York Power Lawyers,” and U.S. News & World Report’s New York City “Best Lawyer of the Year” in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Entertainment Law – Music.
A highly accomplished intellectual property and entertainment lawyer, Frank represents content owners on all aspects of copyright law – including litigation, licensing, enforcement, rights clearance and due diligence – with a strong focus on digital music issues. His work has a direct financial impact on his major music industry clients, their songwriters and recording artists, and the industry as a whole.
Join us for an AIMP NY Community Happy Hour!
This relaxed, come-as-you-are gathering is a great opportunity to connect with fellow music publishing professionals, meet AIMP NY leadership and the YPC Steering Committee, learn more about the chapter, and discover how to get involved or become a member — whether you’re a longtime member or new to AIMP.
Members and non-members are welcome.
Date: Thursday, February 26
Time: 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: Versa, Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
218 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
Light bites available | Cash bar
RSVP/registration is required. Please note that registration does not guarantee entry.
Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
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Please join the New York Chapter of the AIMP for drinks, food, and celebration as we say farewell to 2025!
The Holiday Party & Annual Meeting will begin at 6pm on Thursday December 4th at High Bar New York atop the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel:
346 W 40th St 37th Floor, New York, NY 10018
We are thrilled to be awarding CMRRA and SOCAN with the Indie Spirit Award recognizing their 50th and 100th respective anniversaries.
Tickets are on sale now:
Members – $100
Non Members – $175
Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are included in the price of your ticket.
For group tickets, sponsorship opportunities and discounted hotel rates, please contact nyadmin@aimp.org.
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