The 31st Cutting Edge CE

Music Business Conferences and Events

Schedules for each section is below

All panel takes place in Central Daylight Time [CDT]

Cutting Edge

Music Business Sessions

August 24 – 26, 2023

 Schedule

(Coming Soon)

All panel takes place in Central Daylight Time [CDT]

Wednesday, August 23 

Roots Music Gathering – Sustaining Culture – Open to the Public Sessions

Wednesday, August 23

InterContinental Hotel

Cutting Edge Songwriters Camp

Performances in Pete’s Pub Sessions

Location 2^nd Fl

11:00 – 11:30 PM                Cutting Edge Songwriters Camp (Invitation Only) – Welcome

12:00 – 4:00 PM                  Cutting Edge Songwriters Camp (Invitation Only) – Songwriting Rooms Opens

Small songwriting groups (4/5 songwriters per room), led by lead songwriters – The goal is to write one song per room per session.

5:00 – 6:30 PM                    [BREAKOUT SESSION in Pete’s Pub]  SpringBoard: Moment of Truth

Host: Barry Coffing, SpringBoard Conference, MusicSupervisor.com, WeGetMusic – In Pete Pub

5:00 – 9 PM                          Cutting Edge Songwriters Camp (Invitation Only) – Songwriting Rooms Opens

Small songwriting groups (4/5 songwriters per room), led by lead songwriters – The goal is to write one song per room per session.

Thursday, August 24 

[MORNING SESSIONS]

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Location: Frenchmen RM #1

8:50 Welcome

9:00 – 10:15  PM                  Recording Studio and Live Production Tips, Tricks, & Secrets [MUS. BUSINESS]

Recording in a commercial studio, home studio, or LIVE requires insight into the tools of the trade of engineers and producers. This panel will discuss equipment, techniques, and planning needed to avoid common mistakes.

Speakers:

• Dale Penner, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Paradise Alley Productions
• Danny Jones, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Danny Jones Production
• Deshaun Washington, Civic Theater, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
• Ben Lorio, Grammy Nominated Chief Engineer, McKinley Studio
• Barry Coffing, Owner, Music Supervior.com, WeGetMusic (Moderator)

10:30 – 11:45 AM                 Songwriters Essentials: Music Metadata – Tracking your songs’ plays in the Streaming Metaverse

What is Music Metadata? Understanding how your music is followed from your recording to Streaming. What actions should you take to ensure your rights are protected?

Speakers:

• Michelle Vice Maslin, Emmy-winning, #1 Hit Songwriter, Producer, Arranger

Thursday, August 24

[AFTERNOON SESSIONS]

12:00 – 1:00 PM                   Music Business Law: Music Business Law: Songwriters Agreements and  Recording Contracts Explained – Important clauses and deal points in recording affect the outcomes for artists and record companies. Q&A [MUS. BUSINESS]

• Kevin Mills, Esq. Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA
• Jessica Kaye, Esq. Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA (Moderator)

1:00 – 5:00 PM                                “Cutting Edge Songwriters Camp (Invitation Only) – Songwriting Rooms Opens”

Small songwriting groups (4/5 songwriters per room), led by lead songwriters – The goal is to write one song per room per session.

[Rooms expand into New Orleans, with writing happening at the InterContinetal, The McKinley Studios, and Leslie Smith Studio]

1:15 – 2:15 PM                    Technotainment Sessions Part I –

By “Technotainment,” we mean the future convergence/tipping point where technology and entertainment converge, allowing the consumer to access online, streaming media, video, Virtual Reality (VR), and multi-user content in one platform, creating entertainment pleasure, education, and communication opportunities—the new Super-Highway for consumer experience.

Technotainment Sessions cover:

• What practical opportunities exist for musicians, record labels, entertainment companies, and entrepreneurs?
• What can we do today?

Publicity, Branding, Marketing in the Metaverse – Building your social network to launch or enhance your Brand.

Speakers:

• Ben Ferguson, COO, Soundscape VR, Denver, CO
• Sam Bregman, Esq. CEO, Alpha Tribe Media
• Megan Coffing, Website, Branding Expert

2:30 – 3:45 PM        Booking, Touring and Management –

1. What does a venue evaluate when choosing an act?
2. A Touring Hack to save time and money.

• I manage artists, and this is what I need them to do to be successful

Speakers:

• Christopher C. Brown, Esq., General Manager, ETP Agency (Moderator)
• Catherine Hartman, Main Hall Director, Talent Buyer, House of Blues, NOLA
• Henry Turner, Jr., Musician, Venue Owner, Festival Promoter
• Dorian Francis, Producer, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage
• Derrick Tabb, ReBirth Brass Band, SparkHammer Sync

3:00 – 5:00 PM        [BREAKOUT SESSION in Melpomene RM] Meet me in the Recording Room – Hands-on presentations covering:

Getting the most from your PM system – Workflow in the studio from master Mixing and Live Production engineers.

Engineers:

Dale Penner, Mixer/Producer

Deshaun Washington, Civic Theater, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

4:00 – 4:45 PM                    Let’s Write a Song for Synch Part I Synch Assassin, Producer, Music Supervisor Barry Coffing, and artist, music supervisor Jessica Alvarez, Sync Musica [MUS. BUSINESS]

Speakers

• Barry Coffing, Music Supervisor, Owner, Music Supervior.com
• Jessica Alvarez (aka, Jessi Campo), Sync Musica
• Danny Jones, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Danny Jones Production

4:45 – 5:30   Part II Let’s critique your songs – Play your finished song for the experts.

InterContinental Hotel – @Pete’s Pub

5:00 – 6:00 PM                    FILM MEETUP – In conjunction with Louisiana Produces and Louisiana Entertainment Office

Host: Wayne Douglas Morgan

Conversation with

• Johnny Palazzotto on making the documentary “The Original King Bee.”
• Meet Gisele Haralson, Filmmaker, Producer, “Who Said You Can’t,” Black Women in STEM
• Drew Young, “From Dust We Came”
• Woody Keim, “BattleGrounds: The Lost Community of Fazendeville”

6:00 – 8:00 performance

6:00 PM – 1:00 PM               Artists Showcase (venues across New Orleans)

Friday, August 25

[MORNING SESSIONS]

Friday, August 25, 2023

Location(s): Frenchmen RM #1, Frenchmen RM #2

9:00 – 9:20 AM                     An Overview of Everything in the Music Business that has NOT changed

Speaker

• Barry Coffing, Music Supervisor, Owner, MusicSupervior.com, WeGetMusic

9:30 – 10:10             SXSW Updates and vital information if you want to apply to Showcase, Register, or Volunteer

South by Southwest is the premiere entertainment culture event in the U.S., produced yearly in Austin, TX. Learn important information and Frequently Ask Questions. Q&A

Speaker

Amin Simms, Director of Registration, South by Southwest, Austin

10:20 – 10:50 – Realities of AI Songwriting, Art Creation, and Text Writing

Speaker:

Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley, Kumar, Atlanta, GA

11:00 AM – 11:40 AM        Keynote Speaker –  Eric Alexander, Founder, CEO, Soundscape VR – Welcome to the Musical Metaverse

11:45 – 12:45 PM                Technotainment Part II: Planning and using the Metaverse (AI, VR, Web 03) for your projects and business.

Speakers:

Eric Alexander, Founder, CEO, Soundscape VR

Huntington Blackard, The Digital Prophet

Linda Septien – Septien Entertainment Group, #1 Artist Developer (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Jessica Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Beyonce, Destiney Child)

Diego Pinzon, CEO, DAWn Audio (Digital Audio Workstation Network)

Friday, August 25

[AFTERNOON SESSIONS]

1:00 – 2:15 PM                    The A&R Process in the Digital Age, Part II: 5-Things you should do to attract A&R attention [MUS. BUSINESS]

A&R representatives, Record label owners, managers, and publicists discuss how to:

1. Build your Brand
2. Build Your Fan Base

• Network and Build Relationships

1. Get Discovered on Music Discovery Websites
2. Apply Marketing Strategies

Speakers:

• Lou Plaia – A&R, Sentric Music, former co-founder ReverbNation (Moderator)
• Christopher Brown, General Manager, ETP Agency
• Sam Bregman, Esq. Alpha Tribe Media
• John Autin, Owner, Rabadash Records
• Rich Ulloa, Owner, YT Music, Miami, FL

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM             Developing Writers and Artists in Today’s Market [Mus. Bus.]

Speakers:

• Barry Coffing, Music Supervisor, Owner, MusicSupervior.com (Moderator)
• Michelle Vice Maslin, Emmy-winning, #1 Hit Songwriter, Producer, Arranger
• Michael Dixon, Soda Rock Music, Nashville/London

3:30 – 5:30 PM         [BREAKOUT SESSION in Melpomene RM] Meet me in the Recording Room – Hands-on presentations covering:

Engineers

• Abid Hussain – Songwriting with the Ableton with a Certified Ableton Engineer
• Diego Pinzon, CEO, DAWn Audio (Digital Audio Workstation Network) – Live demonstration

3:30 – 4:30 PM        Music Industry Development – “Reimagined”

@ New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM 

Cutting Edge Songwriters Expo

2:00 – 3:00 – Lilli Lewis

3:00 – 3:45   Tribute to Wilson “Willie Tee” Turbinton

5:00 – 5:30   Conversation with Lou Plaia, A&R Director

7:00 PM –                             

Lifetime Achievement Award – James Rivers

Music Influencer Award – Jason Patterson

6:00 PM – 2:00 AM               Artists Showcases (venues across New Orleans)

Saturday, August 26

[MORNING SESSIONS]

Location: Frenchmen RM #1

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM             Educators Panel [MUS. BUSINESS]

Where do educators and institutions stand today in better equipping artists and entertainment entrepreneurs?

Speakers

Peter Cho, Executive Dean, Delgado Community College, West Bank Campus

Dr. Raymond M. Delaney Jr., Southern University New Orleans

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM        Conversations with Managers, Publicists, Booking Agents, Venue Operators, Artists on their role in the music ecosystem   [MUS. BUSINESS] 

This panel will improve the audience’s understanding of how a professional team works with an artist.

Speakers:

• Marcia Groff, Publicist, Entertainment Media Group (Moderator)
• Deanna Bernard, Booking Agent, Producer
• Henry Turner, Jr., Musician, Venue Owner, Festival Promoter
• Christopher O Brown, General Manager, ETP Agency
• Ben Ferguson, COO, Soundscape VR, Denver, CO

11:15 PM – 12:30 PM         Songwriting with Michele Vice-Maslin, Part III [MUS. BUSINESS]

Conversations with Songwriters

Veteran Songwriter and Producer Michele Vice-Maslin lead the third of three sessions on essential considerations when crafting a song for synch licensing.

Speakers:

• Michele Vice Maslin, Emmy-winning, #1 Hit Songwriter, Producer, Arranger

Saturday, August 26

[AFTERNOON SESSIONS]

Creatives Festival

Performances, Workshops, Film Presentation

and

Community Service Awards

Presented To

Ecos Latinos & Ashe Cultural Arts Center

**Free**

@ Ashe’s Powerhouse Theater – 1731 Baronne St, NOLA

Saturday, August 26

1:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Supported by New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund

Musicians and Creative Entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend

Discussion – Filmmaker Profile – Presentations

• Music – Artists’ Performances, Interviews, information on negotiating recording contacts, your music in Film/TV, Virtual Speed Meeting
• Film – Fashion Discussion, interviews, Demonstrations, Beauty Tips, Product Sales
• Tech – Music Tech, Esports, Equipment Demonstration, Podcast
• Film – Who Say You Can’t

1:00 – 1:20    Performance: High Heal Dula w Nolawazi Yadrestal

1:30 – 2:15    – Event Production and Funding

Speakers

Henry Turner, Jr.  – Musician, Venue Owner, Festival Producer (BR Soul Food Festival. Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival, A Taste of the Deep South)

Don P, Radio Personality, Promoter

Klervae Stinson MA,  Program Director, New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund

Lacey M. Chataignier, Director, Louisiana Music Program, Office of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Lt. Governor

Deanna Bernard, PCA, New Orleans Music Events

2:30 – 3:10    – Facilitating Legacy Projects (Dew Drop Inn and the McKinley Studios)

Host:

Glenda McKinley – GMc+ Advertising Agency, Owner, McKinley Studios

3:15 – 4:15    – Creative Entrepreneurs Training Provided: The Catapult Fund of the Jazz and Heritage Foundation

Kia Robinson Hatfield, Director of Programs, Marketing, and Communications at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation

4:30 – 6:00    Film Presentation: “Who Say You Can’t” – Black Women in STEM & Filmmaker Profile Q&A – Gisele Haralson, Filmmaker

6:10 – 6:55    Performance: Songwriters in the Round – Henry Turner, Jessi Campo, Cliff Dowling, Sysia Danae

7:00 – 7:15    Community Service Award Presentation: Ecos Latinos & Ashe Center for Cultural Arts

7:15 – 8:00    Performance: Mywhatalife Music Collective (Aquaya, Jack Faze, MUNCHIE)

Who can you meet at the Cutting Edge?

Confirmed Music Business and Creative Industries Workshop Speakers, with more to come

• 2023 Cutting Edge Music Business Sessions and Creatives Speakers
   
  • Dale Penner, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Paradise Alley Productions
  • Danny Jones, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Danny Jones Production
  • Deshaun Washington, Civic Theater, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
  • Ben Lorio, Grammy Nominated Chief Engineer, McKinley Studio
  • Barry Coffing, Owner, Music Supervior.com, WeGetMusic
  • Michele Vice Maslin, Emmy-winning, #1 Hit Songwriter, Producer, Arranger
  • Ben Ferguson, COO, Soundscape VR, Denver, CO
  • Sam Bregman, Esq. CEO, Alpha Tribe MediaMegan Coffing, Website, Branding Expert
  • Christopher C. Brown, Esq., General Manager, ETP Agency
  • Catherine Hartman, Main Hall Director, Talent Buyer, House of Blues, NOLA
  • Henry Turner, Jr., Musician, Venue Owner, Festival Promoter
  • Dorian Francis, Producer, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage
  • Barry Coffing, Music Supervisor, Owner, Music Supervior.com
  • Jessica Alvarez (aka, Jessi Campo), Sync Musica
  • Danny Jones, Engineer, Producer, Owner, Danny Jones Production
  • Johnny Palazzotto Producer, Documentary “The Original King Bee.” The Silm Harpo Story
  • Gisele Haralson, Filmmaker, Producer, “Who Said You Can’t,” Black Women in STEM
  • Amin Simms, Director of Registration, South by Southwest, Austin
  • Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley, Kumar, Atlanta, GA
  • Eric Alexander, Founder, CEO, Soundscape VR – Welcome to the Musical Metaverse
  • Huntington Blackard, The Digital Prophet
  • Linda Septien – Septien Entertainment Group, #1 Artist Developer (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Jessica Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Beyonce, Destiney Child)
  • John Autin, Owner, Rabadash Records
  • Rich Ulloa, Owner, YT Music, Miami, FL
  • Michael Dixon, Soda Rock Music, Nashville/London
  • Abid Hussain – Songwriting with the Ableton with a Certified Ableton Engineer
  • Diego Pinzon, CEO, DAWn Audio (Digital Audio Workstation Network) – Live demonstration
  • David Kunian, Archivist, New Orleans Jazz Museum
  • Peter Cho, Executive Dean, Delgado Community College, West Bank Campus
  • Dr. Raymond M. Delaney Jr., Southern University New Orleans
  • Marcia Groff, Publicist, Entertainment Media Group (Moderator)
  • Deanna Bernard, Booking Agent, Producer
  • Henry Turner, Jr.  – Musician, Venue Owner, Festival Producer (BR Soul Food Festival. Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival, A Taste of the Deep South)
  • Don P, WHIV, Radio Personality, Promoter
  • Klervae Stinson MA,  Program Director, New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund
  • Lacey M. Chataignier, Director, Louisiana Music Program, Office of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Lt. Governor
  • Deanna Bernard, PCA, New Orleans Music Events
  • Glenda McKinley – GMc+ Advertising Agency, Owner, McKinley Studios
  • Kia Robinson Hatfield, Director of Programs, Marketing, and Communications at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation
  • Don Pitts, Sound Music Cities
  • Scott Fetters, 2112/Center for Creative Entrepreneurship
  • Josh Fleig, Greater New Orleans, Inc
  • Leslie Harris, New Orleans City Council
  • Lacey M Chataignier, Louisiana Office of Cultural Development
  • Howie Kaplan, New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy
  • Pixie Weyand, Feed Music, Austin, TX

 31^st Annual

CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT LAW SEMINAR

August 24, 25, 26, 2023

New Orleans

InterContinental New Orleans Hotel

A Brave New World in Entertainment Law

Covering

“AI – Publishing – Trademark – Films – Literary Publishing – Audio Production Legal Consideration –  Transactional Issues”

This course is approved for a total of 16.00 hour(s) of credit, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics, 1.00 hour(s) of professionalism, and 1.00 hour(s) of law office practice by the MCLE Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association. 

Subject to change

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Morning Session

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM           Professionalism – The Ornery Adversary [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

What do you do when the attorney on the other side is unprofessional, nasty, or simply impossible? What do you do when you have an adversary who stalls, doesn’t return calls, or delays matters? How do you get the most out of your negotiation? How do you save a deal from going south?

Speakers:

• Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM        Sorting Out Rights in Band Names [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

This presentation examines – through classic and new court decisions – how rights in bands names are determined among group members, between different bands, in concept groups and as to third parties, including personal managers and record labels. Federal trademark rights, state false advertising laws and other applicable laws will be explained.

• Stan Soocher, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Law & finance, Professor Emeritus, college of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver
• Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM         Trademarks Essentials: Avoiding and resolving disputes. What’s in a name? [Legal/ CLE 1.00 cr. hrs.]

How selecting a company name, logos, branding merchandise raise issues of control. Logos v. slogans v. word trademarks: Branded what can and what cannot. Discussion of recent cases on brands, conflicting rights, and the unauthorized use of word trademarks or marketing campaigns.

Speakers:

• Gregg R. Zegarelli, Esq., Zegarelli Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Firm, Pittsburgh, PA (Moderator)
• Charlotte Towne, Esq., Charlotte Towne Law, Miami, FL

12:30 Break

Thursday, August 24

[AFTERNOON SESSIONS]

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM             Turning The Beat Around: Co-Authorship, Co-Producer and Copyright Infringement Claims Brought by Beat Creators and Defenses to Such Claims [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

Between click through agreements, social media and the internet at large, beats, underlying music beds, are freely exchanged and circulated in the music world. Without appropriate contracts and documentation in place, the practice of allowing others to hear, share or use your beats creates fertile ground for claims of copyright infringement, joint authorship and/or producer credit depending upon the relevant facts. These claims and the defenses to such claims present many challenges to the practitioner.

Speakers:

• Brian D. Caplan, Esq., Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, LLP, New York, NY
• Lauren Kilgore, Esq., Shackleford, Bowen, Mckinle & Norton LLP, Nashville, TN

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM             AI vs. Generative AI Intellectual Property Isssues in the Web 3.0 World [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hrs.]

This panel will cover understanding AI and Data Rights, current legislation and case law. The discussion will include AI involvement in the Metaverse (Web3), AL involvement in NFTs and art/music generation and the legal implication of generative AI.

Speakers:

• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley, Kumar, Atlanta, GA
• Kevin Mills, Esq. Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA
• Eric Ryan Alexander, CEO, Founder, Soundscape VR
• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Austin, TX

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM             The Legal and Business Essentials of a Literary Publishing Deal   [Legal/ CLE/Business 1.5 cr. hr.]

This panel will discuss various forms of content creation, licensing and marketing of Book Publishing.

Speakers:

• Kirk T Schroder, Esq., Schroder Brooks Law Firm, PLC, Charlotteville, VA
• Jessica Kaye, Esq. Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA (Moderator)

Friday, August 25

[MORNING SESSIONS]

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM          Ethics: Vernon P. Thomas Ethics Presentation [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

This panel will cover rules of professional conduct and Social Justice areas.

Speakers:

• Judith DeFraites, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• Tim Kappel, Esq., Wells & Kappel LLP, New Orleans, LA
• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM        Audiobooks, Narrations and Podcasts Legal and Production Considerations [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

This panel will cover Audiobooks and AI, producer’s licensing issues, securing rights and understanding liabilities and issues pertaining to narrations contracts for services, rate of pay and who owns finish product.

Speakers:

• Jessica Kaye, Esq. Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA (Moderator)
• Kirk T Schroder, Esq., Schroder Brooks Law Firm, PLC, Charlotteville, VA

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM        Representing high-value Sports and Entertainment Clients, Agreements, Rights To Publicity [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

Speakers:

• Brittney Trigg, Esq., BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL
• Kimberly Haynes, Esq., Haynes Johnson, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

Friday, August 25 

[AFTERNOON SESSIONS]

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM            New Trends in Synch and Masters Use Licensing

This panel’s discussion will extend to multiple music licenses use in Film/TV, Podcast and the Metaverse. [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

Speakers:

• Stephen J. Easley, Esq., Law Office of Stephen J. Easley, Esq.
• Christoper Szapary, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, New Orleans, LA
• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA
• Rich French, Chairman, CEO of French/West/Vaughan (FWV), Raleigh, NC

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM “Where the $ Comes From” [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

Performances, Synch Licensing, Mechanicals, Sound Recordings, Neighboring Rights and Foreign Countries-these are the primary sources of royalties and fees for songwriters, composers, writer/artists and their representatives-music publishers and record companies.

This panel will discuss the entities that negotiate, collect and distribute music rates and royalties, the areas where there is no negotiation, the actual monies being paid to songwriters and artists and the future of creative compensation. Areas covered include audio and audio-visual streaming services, traditional broadcast and cable television, radio, video games, advertising commercials, consumer products, “catalogue” musicals, holograms and more.

Speakers:

• Todd Brabec Esq., former ASCAP Executive Vice President, co-author “Music, Money and Success”, Adjunct Professor USC
• Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs BMG, Board member The MLC, co-author “Music, Money and Success”, Adjunct Professor USC
• Scott Keniley, Esq., Keniley, Kumar, Atlanta, GA

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM             The Fundamentals of a Film Distribution Deal [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

Speakers:

• Kirk T Schroder, Esq., Schroder Brooks Law Firm, PLC, Charlotteville, VA
• William Ramsey, Esq. Ramsey Law Firm, New Orleans, LA
• Kevin Mills, Esq., Kaye & Mills, Beverly Hills, CA
• Jeff Becker, Esq., Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 26 

[MORNING SESSIONS]

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM           Legal Practice Management: Do’s and Don’ts of Building a Successful Entertainment Law Practice [Legal/ CLE 1.0 cr. hr.]

New Orleans has become a hub for music, film and TV industries, but what does it mean for an attorney and independent music and filmmaking clients. This panel will walk you through maintaining communication with clients, client funds management, and making sure the filmmaker/client engagement letters are correct. Review user-generated content rights and procedures with filmmaker clients. Establishing a disbursement system for staff fees payment. Review intellectual property agreements, tax credit financing incentives, and distribution.

Speakers:

• David Dalia, Esq., New Orleans, LA (Moderator)
• Vernon Wesley Thomas, Esq., New Orleans, LA
• Tim Kappel, Esq. Wells & Kappel, New Orleans, LA
• Brittney Trigg, Esq. BTRIGGLAW, PLLC Miami, FL

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM –      Recording, Producing and Agency Agreements – What to look for – What to avoid [Legal/ CLE 1.25 cr. hr.]

The panel will cover essential deal points when representing artists, record labels and producers. The panel will focus on potential costly mistakes to avoid.

Speakers:

• Tim Kappel, Esq., Wells & Kappel LLP, New Orleans, LA(Moderator)
• Brittney Trigg, Esq. BTRIGGLAW, PLLC, Miami, FL
• Edgar “Dino” Gankendoff, Esq., Provosty & Gankendoff, LLC, NOLA
• Darryl Cohen, Esq., Cohen, Cooper Estep & Allen, Atlanta, GA

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM           “The Changing World of Music Publishing Agreements 2023” [Legal/CLE 1.5 cr. hr.]

Single Song, Exclusive Songwriter, Co-Publishing, Participation, Administration, Joint Venture, Collaboration, Sample and Foreign Sub-Publishing-these are the primary Music Publishing Agreements governing songwriters and composers. This panel will discuss the most important provisions of each of these agreements, what’s negotiable and what’s not, what the financial impact is when one signs these agreements and most importantly, how these agreements have changed in recent years.

Whether you are your own publisher, signed to an independent publisher or major publisher or just starting out, knowledge of how the music publishing business works is essential to a successful career.

Speakers

• Jeff Brabec, Esq., Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs BMG, Board Member The MLC, Co-author “Music, Money and Success”, Adjunct Professor USC.
• Todd Brabec, Esq., Entertainment Law attorney, Co-author “Music, Money and Success”, Adjunct Professor USC, former ASCAP Executive Vice President.
• Jedd Katrancha, Downtown Music Services, New York, NY

29^th Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar

Faculty