The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has wrapped the first day of its 4th annual Global Music Publishing Summit — also known as Creator Day. June 7’s online programming touched on everything from the AIMP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative to the state of sync licensing to achieving lasting success from TikTok, and featured speakers including legendary songwriters, producers, artists, and entrepreneurs David Porter, Hank Shocklee, Craig Wiseman, and John Titta. Creator Day ended with a performance showcase from NYC3 and Music Publishers Canada, shining a light on some of today’s best up-and-coming writer/performers. More details and images from Creator Day can be found below, with full-size screenshots available for download here. The Summit will continue tomorrow (June 8) and Wednesday, with tomorrow’s agenda focused on the Business of Publishing. If you’d like to attend as press, please let me know; it’s not too late to add you to the press list!
After a welcome from AIMP National Chair and Nashville Chapter President John Ozier, Los Angeles Chapter President Teri Nelson Carpenter, and New York Chapter President Michael Lau, the Global Music Publishing Summit kicked off with a presentation from strategic HR firm EnterGain, who delved into the results of a survey of the AIMP membership conducted to create a starting point for its efforts to be a more diverse and inclusive organization that promotes equity for its members. EnterGain Senior Advisor Yuna Perry and Managing Directors James Celentano and Mikal Celentano presented the results.
RCA Nashville artist Andrew Jannakos then discussed his path from The Voice to viral TikTok star to recording artist with his manager Andrew Cohen of Cohencidence Projects, Derek Wells (Senior Director, A&R, Spirit Music Group), and moderator MaryAnn Keen (Associate Director of Writer Publisher Relations, BMI). After a video of him cooking while listening to a recording of his song “Gone Too Soon” went viral on TikTok, Jannakos and Cohen quickly built a team and set to work turning that success into lasting fame. The track has now been streamed over 60 million times, with a new EP produced by Wells just released and gaining traction.
AIMP Board Officers and Members then delivered a series of updates on the Association’s initiatives. AIMP NY Board Member Julia Buchheim (Director of Sync Licensing, Downtown Music Publishing) discussed the AIMP Mentorship Program, currently accepting applications for mentors and mentees for the summer session through June 25th. AIMP NY President Michael Lau (CEO, Laud Music/Imachew Music) then discussed the AIMP’s Educational Outreach efforts, AIMP LA Chapter Secretary Barbie Quinn (Senior Director, Administration & Publisher Relations, BMI) spoke about the Linda Komorsky Liker AIMP Scholarship, and AIMP Nashville Vice President Ree Guyer (Owner/President, Wrensong Music) recapped this year’s AIMP Nashville Awards. In addition, AIMP LA Chapter President Teri Nelson Carpenter (CEO, Reel Muzik Werks) announced the new annual LA Spotlight Event, the first installment of which is scheduled for September 16th, and AIMP LA Vice President Marc Caruso (CEO/Co-Founder, Angry Mob Music) addressed efforts to update the AIMP’s website, with the new version expected to launch later this year.
Next up was the Songwriter Keynote featuring Craig Wiseman, songwriter and Founder of Big Loud Publishing, in conversation with John Titta, EVP of Membership at ASCAP. The two discussed Wiseman’s rise from a bar-band drummer in Mississippi to writing a song for fellow writer/drummer Don Henley to duet with Kenny Rogers, and much more. Key to Wiseman’s success was a willingness to bring other genres into the Country fold — “People like good music, and there you go. It’s like food, it doesn’t matter if it’s Italian or a Cuban sandwich. If it’s good, it’s good.”
AIMP NY Board Member Julia Buchheim (Director of Sync Licensing, Downtown Music Publishing) then moderated the “Sync Update with the ZYNC Team,” interviewing the company’s Marisa Baldi (Chief Creative Officer), Madison Norris (Senior VP, Creative Operations), Shelby DiPerri (Head of Film and Television), and Kelly Ross (Head of Creative Licensing | Publishing Business Affairs). They discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the sync world and how film and TV studios are returning to a more regular schedule, the rise of streaming services, the impact of livestreaming and its potential going forward, and much more.
Afterwards, the “POWER! The Roots of Today’s Popular Music” panel brought together songwriter/producer David Porter, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and CEO of Made in Memphis Entertainment (MIME), and Hank Shocklee, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and co-founder of Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad, with moderator Sharon Tapper, an AIMP NY Board Member, NY Grammy Governor, and Co-Founder of NYC3. They discussed Porter and Shocklee’s rise in the music industry and how it was affected by their hometowns of Memphis and New York City, respectively, as well as how best to prepare the next generation to build teams around their art and hook up with other artist entities to create a movement.
Finally, NYC3 Co-Founders Sharon Tapper and Linda Lorence-Critelli, as well as Music Publishers Canada (MPC) CEO Margaret McGuffin, hosted the “NYC3 Showcase Event” to wrap the day. The online show featured performances from artists Beau Young Prince (Half & Half Records/ Rough Trade Music Publishing), Jon Bryant (Nettwerk Records & Publishing), VÉRITÉ (AWAL Records & Kobalt Music), CARYS (Warner Music Canada/ Atlantic Records/ CCS Rights Management), and Shawn Hook (Ultra Records/ Round Hill Music).
