May 20, 2022 – The Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) presented its third annual Linda Komorsky AIMP Scholarship to Decker Paterson on May 19th during their most recent webinar “AIMP NFT Series Part 2: Branding Songwriters and Songs with NFTs, DAOs and the Metaverse.” Paterson, who is slated to graduate in December 2022 with a dual degree in Music Industry and Theater at the University of Southern California (USC), will be awarded $3,500 to help him complete his education.
The Scholarship Committee — Barbie Quinn, Sr. Director, Administration & Publisher Relations, BMI and AIMP LA Chapter Secretary; Eric Polin, SVP-Music Publishing, Universal Pictures, and AIMP LA Chapter Board Member; Kathy Spanberger, President of peermusic and former AIMP LA Chapter President; and Liz Redwing, AIMP LA Administrative Director — reviewed many qualified applicants and recommended Paterson, who was unanimously confirmed by the AIMP LA Chapter Board of Directors.
“Thank you so much to the AIMP for choosing me as the recipient of this very generous and prestigious award,” said Paterson. “I am incredibly humbled and forever grateful for this opportunity that the AIMP and the Komorsky family have given me, and I am excited to make both of them proud in the near future.”
Paterson started working with and developing artists at the age of 17 and has maintained that same passion for A&R by interning at multiple A&R and management companies including Dark Horse LA, Dim Mak Records, and CON-STRUC-TION. Paterson is currently managing an artist named Aimee Vant, and will be taking an administrator role at an indie and hip-hop blog called Vituhmins this summer, where he hopes to complete a rebrand. Throughout his time at USC, Paterson has maintained a GPA of 3.86 and, in addition to the Linda Komorsky AIMP Scholarship, has received numerous scholarships including the Dean’s Scholarship, the Braverman Scholarship, and the Academic Achievement Award Scholarship.
“We are elated to be presenting the Linda Komorsky Scholarship to Decker Paterson,” said Teri Nelson Carpenter, Los Angeles Chapter President of the AIMP, as well as President and CEO of Reel Muzik Werks, LLC. “He is an incredible student, not only academically but also in the work he does day in and day out to support independent artists and songwriters in Los Angeles. He truly represents the kind of student we want to award the scholarship to each year.”
Barbie Quinn, Scholarship Committee Chairperson added, “While all the applicants were wonderful, Decker stood out above the rest. After speaking with him and hearing his motto, ‘to get value, you need to give value,’ we knew he truly lived by those words. Through his studies and his passion for developing the next generation of music makers, he embodies the values that Linda Komorsky brought to our profession. We’re thrilled to be presenting this scholarship to such a deserving young man.”
In addition to Paterson’s scholarship presentation, the May 19th “AIMP NFT Series Part 2” webinar featured a conversation with panelists Vickie Nauman (Founder & CEO, CrossBroderWorks), Yvonne Drazan (VP Latin Division, West Coast, peermusic), Poo Bear (Singer/Songwriter/Producer) and Autumn Rowe (Singer/Songwriter/Producer/DJ). They discussed how songwriters and their publishers may enter this new virtual arena by collaborating in branding the songwriters behind the songs, building communities of followers, fulfilling songwriters’ creative and artistic visions, increasing attribution, and consequently, maximizing publishing revenues. The panel was moderated by Abby North (President, North Music Group, AIMP LA Chapter Board Member).
To become an AIMP member or check your membership status, visit www.aimp.org/register. Future webinars will be announced at www.aimp.org/events.
About Linda Komorsky
Linda Komorsky was a highly respected music publishing executive and adviser who is best known for handling the administration of Steve Miller’s music catalog. In 1982, she founded International Music Services and served as its President for five years. She went on to become President of the USA Branch of EG Music, SVP of International Acquisitions and Marketing at BMG Music Publishing, SVP of Business Affairs at TouchTunes, and SVP and General Manager at Dimensional Music Publishing. Along the way she worked with a variety of artists and songwriters, including Miller, Sting, Graham Nash, Jennifer Warnes, Michael McDonald, Randy Newman, Danny Elfman, and Harold Faltermeyer. Komorsky was also a member of several professional organizations, serving as President of the AIMP and Secretary of the California Copyright Conference. She passed away in October 2014 after a traffic accident.
