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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What exactly is “fair use” — and how do you know when it applies? Join the AIMP and a knockout panel of experts for a practical conversation demystifying one of the most misunderstood areas of copyright law. We’ll break down the four factors courts consider when evaluating fair use and explore how they apply in the real world, from criticism and commentary to parody, news reporting, education, and beyond. Whether you’re a songwriter, publisher, attorney, or music industry professional, this discussion will help clarify where fair use begins, where it ends, and why the answer isn’t always as simple as it seems.
The event will be held Thursday, September 24th, at peermusic in Burbank from 6:00–9:00 PM, with bites and drinks provided. Come for the conversation, stay for the networking!
PANELISTS
Herlinda Castagnoli joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2021. Driven by her love of film and the arts, Herlinda works in all areas of the firm’s entertainment and media law practice, including rights clearance and production legal.
Herlinda received her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans in 2019, where she majored in Political Science and Music Performance with a specialization in classical piano. After graduating, Herlinda went on to pursue her law degree at USC Gould School of Law. While in law school, Herlinda was a member of the Trademark Moot Court team and served on the boards of the Entertainment Law Association and Latino Law Students Association. During her time as a law student, Herlinda also served as a student mentor at Legal Education Access Pipeline where she mentored law school applicants largely from communities that are underrepresented in the legal industry.
Before receiving her JD with a certificate in Media and Entertainment Law from USC in 2022, Herlinda interned at Donaldson Callif Perez during her second summer and third year of law school. During that time, Herlinda gained experience with the fair use doctrine and assisted the firm in its clearance and production legal practices.
Herlinda currently lives in Los Angeles and enjoys spending her free time watching movies and television and seeing live music and comedy. She is grateful to be in the business of supporting filmmakers, producers and their creative goals.
Daniel Schacht is Partner and Chair of the Music and Entertainment Practice at Donahue Fitzgerald LLP and Co-Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. A nationally recognized leader in music, entertainment, and intellectual property law, Daniel represents clients, from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and hip hop pioneers to global technology companies, including China’s largest online content distributor and the world’s most downloaded app.
His practice spans licensing, business transactions, intellectual property protection, and high-profile litigation. Daniel served as co-counsel in the landmark “Happy Birthday” copyright case, described by The New York Times as “a lawsuit for the ages,” which successfully placed the world’s most famous song into the public domain. He also served as lead counsel in the notable Wixen v. Spotify litigation.
Daniel is a frequent lecturer, educator, and advocate for the creative community. He regularly teaches Music Law and lectures at his alma mater, UC Berkeley School of Law, and presents seminars through California Lawyers for the Arts. He also serves as pro bono counsel to two Oakland Community Benefit Districts.
During law school, Daniel served as president of both the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and Parents at Boalt, and was a member of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. Before becoming an attorney, he was a bassist for dozens of bands you’ve probably never heard of.
Cory Shackelford is the founder and principal attorney of Shack Legal, P.C., a boutique law firm focused on transactional music law and intellectual property matters. He represents a range of clients across the music and media industries, including music publishers, record labels, composers, songwriters, producers, recording artists, production music companies, and video game publishers.
As part of his practice, Cory serves as General Counsel / VP of Business Affairs at Wixen Music Publishing, Inc., advising the company on legal and business matters. In that role, he has helped protect and manage the catalogs of some of the most successful songwriters of all time.
Andrew Wixen (moderator) is the founder of Simplify Music, a rights management and royalty consulting firm dedicated to helping artists, songwriters, and rights holders maximize and understand their income streams. With more than 20 years of experience in music publishing and rights administration, he specializes in catalog administration, royalty analysis, revenue recovery, and artist advocacy.
Prior to founding Simplify Music in 2024, Andrew served as CFO and COO of Wixen Music Publishing, where he oversaw royalty administration, licensing, financial operations, and assisted in building a proprietary asset management platform. During his career, he secured major licensing placements in Minions, Suicide Squad, and multiple Super Bowl advertising campaigns. He has also identified significant royalty discrepancies, including a single recovery exceeding $250,000, and has worked on high-profile litigation matters involving Spotify and Pandora.
An active educator and advocate for creators, Andrew has spoken on music publishing at CSUN, USC, Musicians Institute, and the Los Angeles College of Music.
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Join AIMP National Chair Frank Handy in conversation with Kris Ahrend, CEO of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC), for a discussion about the importance of accurate catalog information and the steps you can take to help ensure no royalties are left unmatched or unclaimed.
Under the Music Modernization Act, remaining unmatched and unclaimed royalties will eventually be distributed to rightsholders through a market share distribution process. During this session, attendees will learn how the process works, what rightsholders should know, and the steps publishers can take now to review their catalog information and help keep it accurate and up to date.
Kris Ahrend is the Chief Executive Officer of The MLC, where he leads the organization in its mission to ensure songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers receive their mechanical royalties from streaming and download services in the U.S. accurately and on time. Under his direction, The MLC has achieved total royalties distributed of over $4 billion and grown membership to over 90,000 Members to date. In recognition of the organization’s impact under his leadership, The MLC received the Music Business Association’s 2024 Impact Award for Technological Excellence, honoring its innovative approach to solving challenges in the modern music industry. In 2025, The MLC was also named one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, underscoring its continued commitment to technological and operational excellence.
Before joining The MLC, Kris served as the President of U.S. Shared Services for Warner Music Group (WMG), where he led the development and launch of WMG’s Center of Excellence for Shared Services in Nashville and oversaw the operations of 15 functional teams providing a variety of administrative, financial, and legal services to WMG’s U.S.-based publishing teams, record labels, and corporate divisions. Prior to launching the Center of Excellence, Kris served as the Head of Business & Legal Affairs for WMG’s catalog label, Rhino Records, in Los Angeles, and then led a large legal, financial, and administrative shared services organization within WMG that he helped to create.
Kris started working in the music industry in New York City, where he held positions in the Law Department at Sony Music and then the Business and Legal Affairs Department at Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
A graduate of Binghamton University in New York and the Washington & Lee School of Law, Kris began his legal career as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then spent several years in private practice, working in the New York office of the international law firm Simpson Thacher.
Kris is a respected and recognized leader in the music industry. In 2021, he was named to Billboard magazine’s list of Change Agents, which honored leaders in the music community who led by both advocacy and example during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also received an Indie Spirit Award in 2021 from The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) in recognition of his contributions to the independent music publishing community. In 2022, Kris was named to Billboard magazine’s Power List, and in 2023, 2024, and 2025, he was named to Nashville Post’s In Charge annual list of the most influential people in the music industry.
Kris is a proud member of the Nashville business and music communities. He serves on the boards of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Downtown Partnership, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Recording Academy’s Entertainment Law Initiative, serves on Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business Advisory Board, and participates in the Nashville State Music Tech Advisory Council. A lifelong musician, Kris resides in Nashville with his wife, Karen, and two sons.
Frank Handy is a seasoned music industry executive with over two decades of experience in music publishing and administration. Currently serving as Vice President of Catalog Royalties Administration at peermusic, he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s global catalog, ensuring accurate royalty distribution, and optimizing revenue streams for songwriters and publishers.
Since commencing his career at Bug Music (now BMG) in 2005, where he ascended to the role of Senior Copyright Administrator, Frank has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving music creators. He subsequently transitioned to Bicycle Music (now Concord) before joining SONGS, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company into one of the foremost independent music publishers globally.
During his tenure at SONGS, Frank worked closely in servicing iconic songwriters such as The Weeknd, Lorde, Diplo, DJ Mustard, the George Gershwin estate, and many others. As the Vice President and Head of Operations and Administration at Position Music, Frank oversaw global copyright, royalties, licensing, income tracking, YouTube and digital distribution operations. He also played a key role in identifying new revenue opportunities and collaborated with the Vice President of Finance in evaluating catalog acquisitions and artist signings.
Frank currently holds the position as President (Los Angeles Chapter) and National Chair of the AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers), further underscoring his commitment to music creators.
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Join the AIMP LA Young Professionals Committee for our Summer Happy Hour on Wednesday, August 5, at Cham Gastropub in Koreatown! Whether you’re new to the music industry or looking to expand your network, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow music professionals and future execs in a relaxed, laidback setting. Grab a drink, make new connections, and celebrate summer with the AIMP LA YPC!
The AIMP Los Angeles YPC’s goal is to educate and guide aspiring music publisher executives on the most current industry trends and practices. We provide an open forum of discussion on the opportunities and challenges confronting the publishing industry while activating the next generation of music publishers, engaging more students and driving junior membership.
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?
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Back by popular demand… it’s time for Season 2!
After last year’s event was such a hit, AIMP LA is thrilled to bring it back for another round of music, connection, and invaluable industry insight.
Join us at Concord Music Publishing’s brand new Beverly Hills office for an evening where attendees will have the exciting opportunity to hear their songs played live and receive real-time feedback from music supervisors and sync creatives. This is a unique chance to gain direct insight into what supervisors are connecting with, what they’re currently looking for, and the kinds of music that are resonating in today’s sync landscape.
Whether you’re a songwriter, composer, publisher, A&R professional, or music industry creative, this is your chance to learn directly from the pros, gain insider perspective, and get your music in front of key ears in the sync world.
Come ready to listen, learn, and connect — and enjoy drinks and snacks while mingling with fellow songwriters, composers, publishers, and music industry professionals in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your community spirit. We can’t wait to see what Season 2 brings!
How to Submit:
Must be an AIMP member to submit music for listening panel. Not yet an AIMP member? Join here.
Submission guidelines: Submit only one song or instrumental – give us your best synchy song! May be unpublished or published, any genre.
Schedule:
6:30 pm Doors open, beverages and light refreshments will be served
7:00 pm Listening panel and feedback session begins
8:15 pm Panel discussion ends, beverages and light refreshments will be served
9:00 pm Event ends
Limited capacity, get your tickets early!
Panelists
Stevi Daft is Senior Director of Creative Sync at Position Music, specializing in Trailers and Promos. Originally from Iowa, her lifelong passion for music brought her to Los Angeles in 2010 to pursue a career in music both as a musician/singer/songwriter (alt rock, indie, grunge, pop) and sync rep. Films like Almost Famous, Donnie Darko and Marie Antoinette were early touchstones for her music-to-picture instincts. Stevi’s finishes include: Mad Max: Furiosa, White Lotus, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Black Panther, The Last of Us, Black Mirror, House of the Dragon, Fast & the Furious: FAST X, American Horror Stories, XBOX, NFL, SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, and more.
Michael Pelleg graduated from the University of Miami in 2013 with a degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries. He is currently working for Disney Television Studios as a Senior Manager – TV Music, where he has been for the last 10 years. During his time with The Walt Disney Company, he’s worked on such shows as Black-ish, The Muppets Mayhem, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Criminal Minds, Once Upon a Time, and Daredevil, among many others (over 150 seasons of TV). Before his time at Disney, he took a rather meandering journey through several different jobs within the music industry, working at a talent agency, artist management company, record label, and concert promoter before landing in the Film/TV music space where he’d always wanted to be. If it weren’t for Lisa Simpson (RIP Bleeding Gums Murphy), he never would have started playing the saxophone as a kid, starting him on his path toward a career in music.
Dale Mason has worked as a Senior Music Producer with MassiveMusic for over 6 years, producing top tier work for advertising. He connects brands and agencies with talented composers and syncs hit tracks within negotiated terms. From ideation and creative conception to mood board creation and rightsholder approvals, he has successfully placed numerous syncs for companies like Persil, Coca-Cola, VitaminWater, Alienware, HCA Healthcare, and Hellmann’s. He also produces original compositions, audio branding mnemonics, and works with amazing music houses at sync music camps.
Mayra Vargas (moderator) 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.
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The Association of Independent Music Publishers’ Young Professionals Committee is having a picnic at Bellevue Park in Silverlake!
Come meet and connect with fellow young professionals in music publishing!
Soft drinks and hot dogs will be provided (first come, first served).
The AIMP Los Angeles YPC’s goal is to educate and guide aspiring music publisher executives on the most current industry trends and practices. We provide an open forum of discussion on the opportunities and challenges confronting the publishing industry while activating the next generation of music publishers, engaging more students and driving junior membership.
AIMP Congratulates Jeff Brabec and Todd Brabec on Artistic License Award from California Lawyers for the Arts
The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) congratulates longtime music publishing leaders Jeff Brabec and Todd Brabec on being named honorees at the 18th Annual Artistic License Awards, presented by California Lawyers for the Arts. The awards ceremony will take place on May 31st in Santa Monica at the William Turner Gallery at Bergamot Station.
The Artistic License Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the arts while supporting and strengthening creative communities. Jeff and Todd Brabec are being honored for their decades of leadership, education, and advocacy within the music publishing and entertainment law communities.
Twin brothers whose careers have spanned the legal, business, and educational sides of the music industry, the Brabecs are widely recognized as two of the most influential voices in music publishing. Together they have helped shape the understanding of music rights, licensing, and songwriter income for generations of creators, executives, attorneys, and students.
Todd Brabec is an entertainment law attorney, consultant, and educator – and a member of the Board of the Los Angeles Chapter of AIMP – whose 37-year career at ASCAP included serving as Executive Vice President and Worldwide Director of Membership. During his tenure, he oversaw membership operations across multiple international offices and played a pivotal role in modernizing the organization’s distribution systems and royalty structures, helping expand ASCAP’s market share and significantly increase songwriter and composer earnings. Today, Brabec continues to work as a consultant and attorney specializing in entertainment law and serves as an adjunct professor at USC, where he teaches courses on music licensing, publishing, and song contracts.
Jeff Brabec currently serves as Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for BMG Rights Management, where he specializes in music publishing catalogue acquisitions and complex licensing and rights agreements. A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Brabec has played a central role in evaluating and negotiating major publishing transactions and licensing agreements across digital media, film, television, and emerging technologies. In addition to his work at BMG, he serves as an adjunct professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, teaching music publishing and licensing. Brabec also serves on the board of the Mechanical Licensing Collective, established through the Music Modernization Act. He is also a member of the AIMP Los Angeles chapter.
“Jeff and Todd Brabec have spent decades helping songwriters, publishers, and music professionals better understand the complex economics and legal foundations of our business,” said Frank Handy, AIMP National Chair. “Through their leadership, writing, and teaching, they have made an extraordinary contribution to the music publishing community. On behalf of the Association of Independent Music Publishers, we are proud to congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition from California Lawyers for the Arts and to celebrate the lasting impact they continue to have on our industry.”
The Association of Independent Music Publishers congratulates Jeff and Todd Brabec on this recognition from California Lawyers for the Arts and celebrates their enduring contributions to the music publishing community.
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.
AIMP NY President Melanie Santa Rosa speaks up for songwriters.
With digital distribution moving so quickly, releases will often gather thousands of plays before appropriate songwriter attribution is accredited, leaving recognition and revenues behind. It’s a big problem.
There is something magical about a great song. It can trigger a memory, set the scene for an iconic TV or movie moment, or fill a room with people singing the same chorus without even knowing why it hits so hard. Songs are the connective tissue of our culture, yet the people who write them remain some of the least visible and least understood figures in the music business.
That invisibility is not new. But the streaming era has made it feel permanent.
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Registration is closed.
Think you know your music trivia? Let’s find out!
Assemble a team or come solo and join AIMP LA for a night of music trivia, great food, and even better company as we bring together the LA music community for a little friendly competition. Expect questions that go beyond the obvious—this is a room full of pros, after all!
We’ll also take a moment during the evening for a special presentation announcing the winners of the 2026 Linda Komorsky Scholarship, recognizing the next generation of talent entering our industry.
And because no great night happens on an empty stomach, there will be tacos, pan dulce, beer, wine, soda, and water (included in ticket price).
Thursday, May 21
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
BMI | 9420 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200
Beverly Hills 90221
Please note: BMI’s Security requires that each guest will need a photo ID which matches their name on the guest list. No walk ups are permitted.
Parking:
Spots are limited—You must register in advance for entry.
Special thanks to our event sponsor:
