Fair Use Demystified: Understanding When and How Copyrighted Works Can Be Used



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$35 for AIMP Members (national level); $50 for non-members, online members

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!

TICKETS

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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FREE for AIMP Members (make sure you're signed in); $15 for non-members

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.

TICKETS

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.

RSVP



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Kick off summer with AIMP LA and our friends at PEN Music Group!

Join us for the AIMP LA Summer Tailgate Tacos + Mixer—an evening of great tacos, cold drinks, and even better company. This is your chance to step away from the inbox, reconnect with colleagues, meet new faces, and finally introduce yourself to those people you’ve been meaning to know.

No panels. No presentations. No formal agenda.

Just a relaxed summer gathering filled with conversation, networking, and community among music industry professionals. 

Bonus: PEN Music Group will have its offices and recording studio open throughout the evening, giving attendees a chance to explore the space while they mingle.

Whether you’re a publisher, attorney, manager, executive, or music creator, come enjoy a fun and relaxed evening with us.

Tacos and drinks included in ticket price. 

Bring your business cards, your hot topics, and your appetite!

WHEN:
Wednesday, June 24
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

WHERE:
PEN Music Group Headquarters (parking lot)
12456 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604

PARKING:
Parking info will be sent to registered attendees.

Tickets
Members: Log in before check out to receive $25 pricing



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AIMP Members (National Level): Log in before check out to receive $30 member pricing; Non-Members: $40

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!

Tickets

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.

Submit Music Here

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.

RSVP

Catch AIMP National Chair and LA President Frank Handy on SiriusXM’s Break the Business (Channel 145 Slam Radio) as he breaks down the realities of getting paid in today’s music industry – from sync deals and live performance royalties to building lasting relationships and finding your lane as an indie creator. Smart, candid, and full of real advice. Listen to the full interview here – segment begins around the 29-minute mark.



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Join AIMP Nashville for an in-depth look at publishing and recording, types of songwriting royalties, how to collect them as an independent creator, and other current topics impacting the songwriting community.

An AIMP Members-Only event. If you’re an AIMP member, the event is FREE to attend, but attendance is capped at 50 attendees!

RSVP to emma.pagliarulo@concord.com, you will receive a reply when your RSVP is accepted. To become a member of AIMP, click here.

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.

To apply, click here.