Digitalmusic.org's Music Startup Academy (1 of 3): Label and Publishing Basics for Entrepreneurs
This first session in the three part event takes a deeper dive into the economics of the music industry, including performance rights and understanding the various rights for master recordings and songwriting. We will also go over the various legal issues surrounding music product development. This panel is sponsored by the National Assoc. of Recording Merchandisers (NARM).
Presenters
As Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development for music trade association NARM, Bill Wilson leads the charge on all things digital at the music business association. A music industry professional with over two decades of experience working in varied roles within independent and major record labels, internet ventures, and mobile content, he brings a well-rounded perspective to the industry trade association. One of his most important roles is running NARM’s key initiative, digitalmusic.org, which was created to explore and resolve key business issues for music services and application developers. Key topics on the agenda of digitalmusic.org are digital supply chain, metrics, product development, music subscription, apps & games, and metadata.
TAG Strategic is a digital entertainment consulting firm providing expert strategy, market intelligence, product ideation, business modeling and business development services to multinational companies and select emerging businesses. TAG accelerates business development for its clients and delivers market leadership and sustainable, defensible advantage in the dynamic and rapidly evolving global marketplace.
Integrating his widespread digital authority in music, mobile, IPTV and product & service development, Ted Cohen is the Managing Partner of TAG Strategic.
In an industry that's been slow to embrace change, TED COHEN is the exception to the stereotypical music-exec rule. Of course, when you start a career on the road with Alice Cooper and Van Halen, you're more primed for the unexpected.
Known throughout the technology and music industries as being "part ambassador and part evangelist," Cohen was instrumental in crafting the licensing agreements upon which the Rhapsody subscription service and the iTunes Music Store were built.
In his previous role as Senior Vice President of Digital Development & Distribution for EMI Music (home of artists including Coldplay and the Rolling Stones), Cohen led next-generation digital business development worldwide for this "big four" record company, which includes labels such as Capitol, Virgin, Angel/Blue Note, Parlophone and Chrysalis. During that time, EMI led the industry by embracing and exploiting new technologies and business models such as digital downloads and online music subscriptions, custom compilations, wireless services, high-definition audio and Internet radio.
In addition to seeking out, evaluating and executing business opportunities for the company on a global basis, Cohen served as both a strategist and key decision-maker for EMI's global new media and anti-piracy efforts. He worked to establish company-wide digital policies, which have provided EMI's artists and labels a substantial advantage in the digital music arena.
Prior to his role at EMI, Cohen served as Executive Vice President of Digital Music Network Inc., where he co-founded and served as Chairman of the groundbreaking Webnoize conferences.
Cohen also led two highly successful new media consulting operations, DMN Consulting and Consulting Adults, attracting clients such as Amazon.com, Microsoft, Universal Studios, DreamWorks Records, Liquid Audio, Wherehouse Records/Checkout.com and various other entertainment, technology and new media organizations. Cohen also held senior management positions at both Warner Bros. Records and Philips Media.
A 30-year industry veteran, Cohen currently chairs MidemNet, an international music/technology conference convened in Cannes each year. Cohen also serves on the NARAS (Grammy) Los Angeles chapter Board of Governors as well as the national Trustee Board, the Board of Directors for the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund, co-chairs the new media arm of the T.J. Martell Foundation, and lends his time and talents to music & technology education efforts such as the Grammy In The Schools Program. Cohen served two terms as the Chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas.
Maurice A. Russell
Senior Vice President of Licensing, Collections and Business Affairs
Harry Fox Agency
Maurice A. Russell is the Senior Vice President of Licensing, Collections and Business Affairs for the Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA). In this role, Russell oversees the Licensing, Collections and Distribution Departments, which together work with licensees such as record labels and digital music services to provide fast and accurate licensing and the collection and distribution of royalties on behalf of HFA’s over 46,000 affiliate publishers. At the close of 2010, HFA administered almost 38 million licenses and over 3.7 million songs. As part of the Business Affairs team, he works closely with Business Development to implement new licensing opportunities, such as those for ringtones, lyrics, and tablature. Additionally, Russell manages the distribution of client royalties, ensuring the timely and accurate royalty and statement processing for publishers. He reports directly to Gary Churgin, HFA’s President and CEO.
Russell has directed the development and launch of systems to handle the intake, processing and execution of the over 200,000 physical product license requests received and over 1.5 million digital licenses issued by HFA per year, including eMechanical, HFA’s main online licensing system; eSignature, the electronic approval system; and the enhanced Songfile® application, HFA’s online mechanical licensing tool for smaller quantities of licenses. Russell has also supervised bulk licensing enhancements, licensing reports and other licensing related technical projects.
Russell is a sought-after expert on licensing issues. He is the co-chair of the Musical Works Licensing Working Group of Digital Data Exchange (DDEX), which defines and implements solutions for the standardization and exchange of digital data between trading partners. He has also spoken at numerous industry events, including SXSW, Digital Music Forum East and West and the ASCAP Expo.
Before joining HFA in 2002, Russell was the founder and CEO of Machine Enterprises Inc., where he provided commercial artist management and business consulting services to creative enterprises in the media, entertainment and design fields. In this capacity, he also advised firms on structuring operations and new business development strategies.
Prior to that, Russell was Vice President and General Manager of Razorfish Studios, Inc., where he oversaw the fast-growing start-up’s daily operations. In this role, Russell implemented corporate operations, including finance and accounting, business affairs, human resources and facilities and integrated the acquisitions of three entertainment companies.
Russell came to Razorfish Studios from Red Ant Entertainment, where he was the Senior Director, Business Development and Licensing, heading up the special products and licensing department. His responsibilities included marketing recording artists and music to film and television productions, negotiating and drafting recording agreements and licensing of music for online, film, television, compilation albums and all other secondary market exploitations. Before that, he was a Senior Director, Contract Administration at Polygram Records, responsible for supervising the administration of over 250 recording, license and video agreements, as well as tracking options, product delivery and financial obligations.
Russell holds a M.B.A. degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business Administration and a B.A. from Columbia College, Columbia University. In his spare time, Russell enjoys composing music.
Wednesday, March 14
