AIMP LA’s Mayra Vargas named to Billboard’s Pride List 2025
Congratulations to AIMP LA director Mayra Vargas for being recognized as part of Billboard’s Pride List 2025!
About Mayra:
Mayra Vargas is in the eternal quest for the intersection between music and activism. Born in Lima, Peru now residing in Los Angeles, Vargas is dedicated to uplift songwriters’ voices in the music industry through her role as Sr. Director of Creative Sync at Concord Music Publishing, pitching music for advertising and brands. She is excited to continue making efforts to have diversity, inclusion and love for music at the forefront of her journey and to keep creating ways to make songwriters and artists careers sustainable and charging to the future.
New Spotlight Conversation Announced: “Rights & AI” with ICMP’s John Phelan
June 10th | Fordham College at Lincoln Center | NYC For information and ticketing, please visit the GMPS 2025 Event Page
Multi-platinum songwriter and producer Sam Hollander will deliver the Songwriter Keynote at the 2025 AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit, presented by the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), on Tuesday, June 10th at Fordham College at Lincoln Center in New York City. With more than 22 U.S. Top 40 hits and collaborations spanning Panic! At The Disco, One Direction, Ringo Starr, Carole King, Def Leppard, and Weezer, Hollander brings a singular creative perspective to the role of the modern songwriter. His keynote will reflect on his prolific career and offer real-world insights on creative longevity, industry adaptation, and the evolving relationship between songwriters and publishers in a rapidly changing music economy.
In addition, AIMP has announced a new Spotlight Conversation: “Rights & AI: A Spotlight Conversation with John Phelan of ICMP.” Phelan, Director General of the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), will join AIMP National Chair Frank Handy for a wide-ranging discussion about the growing influence of AI on music rights. From creation and licensing to enforcement and regulation, the conversation will explore how publishers can navigate—and help shape—this next frontier. Following the interview, Phelan will present key takeaways from ICMP’s global work on AI and copyright.
The 2025 AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit will feature a full day of programming, including:
The Next Phase of Music Legislation — A must-watch panel on federal updates from leaders at the NMPA, RIAA, The Recording Academy, and NSAI, moderated by HFA’s Michael Simon.
IMPF Global Market View Report — Featuring IMPF representatives from Reservoir, ABKCO, and Music Publishers Canada, this session will explore trends in global publishing and the power of international partnerships.
SynchA&Ronicity — A behind-the-scenes look at how Sync and A&R departments collaborate for creative and commercial success.
The Indie Perspective — An open discussion among indie publishers from Third Side Music, Empire, Anthem, and Domino Publishing on adapting to the evolving business landscape.
The Music Industry’s Next Generation of Leaders — A spotlight on emerging executives driving change across publishing, licensing, and A&R.
The Summit will be preceded by a June 9th Kickoff Party hosted by AIMP NY’s Young Professionals Committee and sponsored by The Music Infrastructure Company and Tipalti. All tickets include admission to both events, as well as meals and a complimentary one-year AIMP membership for new attendees.
Event Details
What: 2025 AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit
When: June 9–10, 2025
Where: Fordham College at Lincoln Center , 140 W 62nd St, NYC
For more information on the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), please contact Jon Bleicher at Prospect PR [jon@prospectpr.com, 973.330.1711]
April 4, 2025 (Los Angeles) —
David Israelite Presents “State of Music Publishing” to AIMP LA Luncheon, April 2, 2025 (photo: Zach Gulino)
AIMP is excited to announce the launch of its newly updated website! Thank you for your patience as we navigate the transition.
Instructions for members to access your AIMP Member account:
A password reset email was sent to you on Friday, 03/15/2025, this is not a spam. All AIMP Members will need to reset their password to access the new website. Use the email link sent to you to reset your password and access your member portal. If you did not receive the email, click the button below to reset your password. Your username is the email address you have on file with AIMP. If you need further assistance, email info@aimp.org.
If you are NOT an AIMP member but would like to continue to be informed about AIMP events, webinars, and news, you’ll need to sign up anew for our mailing list. Click the button below to do so.
February 11, 2025 (Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York) – The Association ofIndependent Music Publishers (AIMP) has finalized its leadership for the next two years, with the Association’s Executive Committee unanimously electing National Chair for 2025-2026. In this role, Handy will work with the Executive Committee, which consists of each Chapter’s President and Vice President, to ensure all four AIMP Chapters are aligned and working together toward the Association’s goal to educate and inform the independent music publishing community about the most current industry trends and practices impacting the sector. He will also serve as President of the Los Angeles Chapter.
Handy has been actively involved in the Los Angeles Chapter for the past several years, serving as Chapter Treasurer from 2021 – 2023 and then Vice President from 2023 – 2025. Prior to starting his current role as VP, Catalog Royalties Administration at Peermusic, he held the role of VP, Head of Operations & Administration at Position Music from 2020 – 2024 and Head of Creator & Publisher Relations at AllTrack Performing Rights from 2018 – 2020. Handy has also consulted for Swell Sound, Geoffen Records, and El Camino Media. He is based in Los Angeles.
“It is an honor to serve as AIMP National Chair and build upon the work I have been doing with our Los Angeles Chapter,” said Handy. “As things continue to rapidly evolve in our industry, I am committed along with each of our Chapter Presidents to educating and supporting our independent music publishing community and continuing to grow and strengthen our mission. I thank the Executive Committee for their support and look forward to a successful term ahead.”
In previously announced results, the AIMP Atlanta Chapter elected Tony D. Alexander (MIME LLC) to a second two-year term as Chapter President, while Crystal Morris (Digital Royalty Distribution LLC) will serve as Vice President. David Alexander (David Alexander Consulting LLC) will take over as Treasurer, and Cheryl Potts (Cleerkut) will continue as Secretary. They will be joined by re-elected Frank Handy (Peermusic) as incumbent Board members Christopher Bass (Clark Atlanta University), Robin Kindrick (Track Dat Sync), Megan Oliver (Skybound Entertainment), and Eric Spence (Mosley Music Group). The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Kandice Bell (KandiLand Entertainment, LLC).
In Los Angeles,Frank Handy (Peermusic) was elected Chapter President. Eric Polin (Music Publishing Consultant) will take over as Vice President, while Yvonne Drazan (peermusic) will serve as Secretary and David Quan (The Greater Goods Co.) as Treasurer. In addition, newly elected Board members Gabi Cote (Position Music), Jessica Raviol (NBCUniversal), Debra Delshad (Creative Licensing Consultant), Sherry Orson (Star Vibe Group), Bryan Bakke (Orfium), Andrew Wixen (Simplify Music), Charley Londoño (Counsel Plus), and Mayra Vargas (Concord Music Publishing) will join re-elected incumbents Marc Caruso (Angry Mob Music), Barbie Quinn (BMI), Todd Brabec (musicandmoney.com), Michael Todd (ASCAP), and Garrett Johnson, Esq. (Garrett Johnson Law) on the Board. The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Juliet Lyons.
In Nashville,John Ozier (EVP, Creative, Reservoir Media Management) was elected Chapter President. The Chapter has also elected Courtney Crist (Eclipse Music Group) as Vice President, Janine Ebach (Ebach Entertainment) as Secretary, and Kari Barnhart (Studio Bank) as Treasurer. Newly elected Board members Duane Hobson (ASCAP), Dave Pacula (Liz Rose Music), Leslie DiPiero (Jonas Group Publishing), Megan Pekar (Loeb & Loeb LLP), and Melissa Spillman (Concord), will join incumbents Ree Guyer (Wrensong Music), ET Brown (SESAC), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Keithan Melton (Combustion Music), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Tim Hunze (Big Machine Music), and Robert Carlton (SMACKSongs). The Chapter’s Administration Director will be Kendall Lettow (peermusic) and its Administration Assistant will be Alex Tamashunas (Creative Nation).
In New York,Debbie Rose (Sundae Songs LLC) has stepped up to the role of NY Chapter President, and Jeff Pachman (Domino Publishing Company) will take over her former position of Vice President. Art Levy (Songtradr/The Levy Firm) will remain as Secretary. Newly elected Board members Omar Sandoval (Spirit Music Group) and Peter Raleigh (Raleigh Music Group) will join re-elected incumbents Amber Charania (Downtown Music Holdings), Antonella Di Saverio (BMI), Brooke Primont (Concord Music Publishing), David Hoffman (Reservoir Media Management), Joanne Kelsey (Anthem Entertainment), Joyce Dollinger (Alter, Kendrick & Baron, LLP), Melanie Santa Rosa (Third Side Music), and Michael Simon (Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish) on the Board. The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Leigh Cusick (Sundae Songs).
January 18, 2025
Be sure to mark June 10, 2025 on your calendars for this year’s AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit in New York City! Keep an eye on aimp.org for more details as they are announced.
January 14, 2025
After careful consideration we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Annual Grammy Luncheon and Presentation with David Israelite. In light of the devastation here in LA, this decision is made out of respect for those who have been affected by the ongoing fires. We will be rescheduling the State of Music Publishing with David Israelite event with details to follow. We will be contacting all paid attendees to discuss the options of saving your reservation for the rescheduled event or issuing refunds in the next week.
Below are links to donate to Musicares to help support those in our music community who have been affected by the wildfires as well as the Billboard Relief guide for music workers.
We appreciate your patience and understand. Our thoughts are with all of those who have been impacted by the fires.
January 09, 2025
AIMP Board Election Results
The results are in! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York Chapter elections. Please note that the Nashville Chapter will be electing their new Board officers in January.
In Atlanta, Tony D. Alexander (MIME LLC) was elected to a second two-year term as Chapter President, while Crystal Morris (Digital Royalty Distribution LLC) and Tye Huntley (Smart Cadence Media LLC) will serve as Co-Vice Presidents. David Alexander (David Alexander Consulting LLC) will take over as Treasurer, and Cheryl Potts (Cleerkut) will continue as Secretary. They will be joined by re-elected incumbent Board members Christopher Bass (Clark Atlanta University), Robin Kindrick (Track Dat Sync), Megan Oliver (Skybound Entertainment), and Eric Spence (Mosley Music Group). The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Kandice Bell (KandiLand Entertainment, LLC).
In Los Angeles, Chapter President Marc Caruso (Angry Mob Music) will step down after a two-year term, passing the torch to Frank Handy (Music Publishing Consultant). Eric Polin (Music Publishing Consultant) will take over as Vice President, while Yvonne Drazan (peermusic) will serve as Secretary and David Quan (The Greater Goods Co.) as Treasurer. In addition, newly elected Board members Gabi Cote (Position Music), Jessica Raviol (NBCUniversal), Debra Delshad (Creative Licensing Consultant), Sherry Orson (Star Vibe Group), Bryan Bakke (Orfium), Andrew Wixen (Simplify Music), Charley Londoño (Counsel Plus), and Mayra Vargas (Concord Music Publishing) will join Caruso and fellow re-elected incumbents Barbie Quinn (BMI), Todd Brabec (musicandmoney.com), Michael Todd (ASCAP), and Garrett Johnson, Esq. (Garrett Johnson Law) on the Board. The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Juliet Lyons.
In Nashville, The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has elected its Officers for 2025-2026, selecting John Ozier (EVP, Creative, Reservoir Media Management) as Chapter President. Ozier will take over for Ree Guyer (Wrensong Music), who will be stepping down from her position but remain on the Board. The Chapter has also elected Courtney Crist (Eclipse Music Group) as Vice President, Janine Ebach (Ebach Entertainment) as Secretary, and Kari Barnhart (Studio Bank) as Treasurer. Newly elected Board members Duane Hobson (ASCAP), Dave Pacula (Liz Rose Music), Kari Barnhart (Studio Bank), Leslie DiPiero (Jonas Group Publishing), Megan Pekar (Loeb & Loeb LLP), and Melissa Spillman (Concord) will join incumbents Ree Guyer (Wrensong Music), John Ozier (Reservoir Media), ET Brown (SESAC), Courtney Crist (Eclipse Entertainment), Janine Ebach (Ebach Entertainment), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Keithan Melton (Combustion Music), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Tim Hunze (Big Machine Music), and Robert Carlton (SMACKSongs). The Chapter’s new Administration Director will be Kendall Lettow (peermusic) and its new Administration Assistant will be Alex Tamashunas (Creative Nation). remain on the Board.
In New York, Debbie Rose (Sundae Songs LLC) will step up to the role of NY Chapter President as Michael Lau (CollectivRights Management) wraps up his four-year term. Jeff Pachman (Domino Publishing Company) will take over Rose’s former position of Vice President, Art Levy (Songtradr/The Levy Firm) will remain as Secretary, and Lau will become Treasurer following the departure of Steven White (Janover, LLC). Newly elected Board members Omar Sandoval (Spirit Music Group) and Peter Raleigh (Raleigh Music Group) will join re-elected incumbents Amber Charania (Downtown Music Holdings), Antonella Di Saverio (BMI), Brooke Primont (Concord Music Publishing), David Hoffman (Reservoir Media Management), Joanne Kelsey (Anthem Entertainment), Joyce Dollinger (Alter, Kendrick & Baron, LLP), Melanie Santa Rosa (Third Side Music), and Michael Simon (Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish) on the Board. The Chapter’s Administration Director will remain Leigh Cusick (Sundae Songs).
The White House Creator Economy Conference (WHCEC) is the first-ever event hosted by the White House’s Office of Digital Strategy that will convene a group of digital creators and industry professionals to discuss the most pressing issues within the creator economy today — including privacy, fair pay, AI, mental health, and more.
The deadline to apply for this special opportunity, which will be hosted at the White House, is July 12th. To read more about it, click here.
Episodes are streaming now on all major podcast platforms!
AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit 2024 – Sold Out Success
24 June 2024
The 2024 Global Music Publishing Summit wrapped on June 11 at the 3 West Club in New York City, drawing in over 300 attendees, including songwriters, music publishers, rights organizations, record labels, DSPs, and more. It was sponsored by Copyright Delta, ICE, Music Publishers Canada, the NMPA, PRS for Music, RyteBox, and Switchchord, as well as AIMP National Annual Supporters including ASCAP, BMI, CMRRA, Exploration, The MLC, SESAC Music Group, SXWorks, and YouTube.
Officers and Directors from AIMP Chapters in NY, LA, ATL, and Nashville
Hi-res photos from every GMPS panel are available here. All photos should be credited to Gary Gershoff, except the AIMP Pre-GMPS Young Professionals Mixer photo, which should be credited to Ashley Morey. Video of the GMPS will soon be made available to AIMP members at aimp.org.
From left: Michael Lau, Ree Guyer, Frank Handy, Tony D. Alexander. Photo credit: Gary Gershoff
The event kicked off with a welcome from Michael Lau (AIMP National Chair and New York Chapter President; CEO, Laud Music/Imachew Music), Frank Handy (AIMP LA Chapter Vice President; Head of Operations & Administration, Position Music), Ree Guyer (AIMP Nashville Chapter President; President, Wrensong), and Tony D. Alexander (AIMP Atlanta Chapter President; President and Managing Director, Made in Memphis Entertainment), who each provided an update on the Association’s national and regional activities.
From left: Brooke Primont, Leah Streetman, Kate Urcioli, Jason Rezvan, Keith D’arcy, Anita Chinkes Ratner. Photo credit: Gary Gershoff
One of the day’s standout panels was “Publishers’ Perspective: Unveiling the Power of Covers in Synchronization.” Led by moderator Brooke Primont (AIMP NY Board Member; EVP, Publishing Sync, Concord Music Publishing), panelists Jason Rezvan (VP, Advertising, Spirit Music Group), Keith D’arcy (SVP, Sync & Creative Services, Warner Chappell), Leah Streetman (President and Head of Film & TV Music, Triton Creative), Anita Chinkes Ratner (EVP Creative Music Strategy, PARAMOUNT), and Kate Urcioli (Managing Director & Partner, Heavy Duty Projects) discussed the immediate emotional connection that comes with a cover song; the difference between re-records, remixes, and traditional covers; and how they work with companies and music supervisors to find or create the perfect cover version for their needs.
From left: Amber Charania, Clara Kim, Chris Barkley, Morna Willens. Photo credit: Gary Gershoff
On Tuesday afternoon, Chris Barkley (Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, NMPA), Clara Kim (Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer, ASCAP), Morna Willens (Chief Policy Officer, RIAA), and moderator Amber Charania(AIMP NY Board Member; Senior Director of Legal and Business Affairs, Downtown Music Holdings) delivered the “Washington, D.C. Update.”Together, they discussed upcoming and proposed legislation affecting the music publishing community, including several proposals to establish a federal right of publicity in light of the rise of generative AI, the NMPA’s proposal to allow rights-holders to opt out of compulsory licensing, and more.
The night before the GMPS on June 10, the AIMP Young Professionals Committee hosted the free “AIMP Pre-GMPS Young Professionals Mixer” at The Rose in NYC. The event brought together the publishing industry for drinks, snacks, and networking.
Doug Collins writes Guest Column for Billboard Magazine: “On the Music Modernization Act’s 5th Anniversary, Streaming Services Are Trying to Redefine Its Intent”
