Four Additional Students Receive Special Recognition Awards
for Excellence and Promise in Music Publishing
The Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has awarded its sixth annual Linda Komorsky AIMP Scholarship to Nicole Rocha, a student at USC currently pursuing a degree in Music Industry Studies. Rocha will receive a $4,000 scholarship and a one-year AIMP membership. The announcement was made during AIMP LA’s recent webinar, “Trust the Data or Trust Your Ears? AI, Algorithms, and the Future of Indie Publishing.”
Rocha, a rising senior at USC, is pursuing a B.S. in Music Industry with a minor in Cinematic Arts while working two part-time jobs and rotating internships. She has previously interned for Fest Forums, NAMM, Incite Management, and BeachLife Music Festival, and will perform in London in Spring 2025 through USC’s Contemporary Musicianship program. With interests spanning vocal performance, law, streaming, and live events, Rocha aspires to one day launch her own streaming platform and music festival.
“I was in disbelief when being told I was chosen to be this year’s recipient of the Linda Komorsky Scholarship,” said Rocha. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for extra units next fall, but I chose to believe that if I continued to learn with the best intentions, the solution would find me. So thank you to AIMP for finding me and seeing my potential. I hope that one day I will be able to inspire the people in my life to help others the way Linda Komorsky has inspired this scholarship.”
In addition to Rocha, AIMP LA presented special recognition awards to four outstanding students whose exceptional applications stood out in what was the most competitive applicant pool the committee has seen to date. Aditi Sreenivas (USC), Alexander Edwards (Cal State Northridge), Cocona (Coco) Mori (UCLA), and Sofia Relic (USC) each received a $500 scholarship and a one-year AIMP membership. In previous years, any one of these recipients might have been selected as the primary scholarship winner — a reflection of the remarkable strength and promise of this year’s candidates.
Collectively, these students bring an inspiring mix of academic excellence, creative drive, and real-world experience — from internships at Apple Music, Warner Music Group, and Jampol Artist Management to backgrounds in sync licensing, copyright, and global music development. Several plan to pursue careers in entertainment or IP law, while others are focused on music supervision and international collaboration.
“It’s truly empowering to know that such an incredible team of professionals believes in what I’m doing,” said Mori. “It means a lot to be recognized by an organization that is doing so much to help independent publishers and writers,” Edwards echoed. All five recipients will be honored once more at AIMP LA’s upcoming in-person mixer and panel event, “Is It Synchy?,” taking place on July 10th in Los Angeles.
“Each year, our goal is to recognize students who are as passionate about music publishing as we are — people who understand that this is not just a business, but a vital part of the creative ecosystem,” said Barbie Quinn, Scholarship Committee Chair and AIMP LA Chapter Board Member. “Nicole and this year’s honorees represent exactly the kind of talent and drive our industry needs. We’re thrilled to support them as they begin their journey.”
This scholarship is awarded annually in honor of Linda Komorsky, a trailblazing music publishing executive and former AIMP LA President whose career was marked by vision, mentorship, and deep dedication to the field. In keeping with her legacy, the scholarship focuses not on performers or songwriters, but on students pursuing careers in the music industry itself — the future publishers, rights managers, and business leaders who will carry the field forward.
The Scholarship Committee — consisting of Barbie Quinn, Sr. Director, Administration & Publisher Relations, BMI, and AIMP LA Chapter Board Member; Eric Polin, Founder, EMP Music Publishing , and AIMP LA Chapter Secretary; Jonathan Haskell, Vice President, Publishing, Alibi Music, and AIMP LA Chapter Board Member ; Garrett Johnson, Esq., AIMP LA Chapter Board Member; and Juliet Lyons, AIMP LA Chapter Administrative Director — reviewed a highly competitive pool of applicants and unanimously selected this year’s recipients.
Over the years, the AIMP LA board has also sought to go beyond financial awards, building long-term relationships with recipients and offering continued guidance and mentorship as they enter the industry. As Quinn explains, “This scholarship doesn’t end with a check — we stay in touch, support them, and bring them into the AIMP family.”
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 Steve 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.
