photo of Serona Elton

Serona Elton

Chair- Music, Media, & Industry Dept, Assoc Professor
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The Mlc)

Serona Elton serves as Head of Educational Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC). In this role, Elton directs The MLC’s efforts to engage future members of the music industry currently studying music business and related subjects at colleges and universities across the country and around the world.


With extensive experience as a music industry professional and educator, Elton is also a professor, Director of the Music Business & Entertainment Industries Program, and Associate Dean of Administration at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. She is also a Yamaha Master Educator.

Previously, Elton worked for Warner Music Group, where she held the position of Vice President, Product Management, and EMI Recorded Music, North America, where she was Vice President, Mechanical Licensing and Repertoire Data Services. She has also provided consulting services to Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Zumba Fitness, and other music-related companies.  

A respected expert, Elton has written numerous articles about the music industry and directed several industry conferences. She is recognized by many for her extensive insight into mechanical licensing, royalties, contract summarization and management, rights management, record company operations and music industry information management.  

Elton is very active in numerous music industry organizations and is currently the Immediate Past Chair of the Florida Bar, Entertainment, Arts, and Sport Law Section. Previously, she has served as President of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA), a member of the Recording Academy Board of Governors for the Florida Chapter, and a Trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA.  Additionally, the Leadership Music alumnus has provided expert commentary for Billboard and CNN.com and has made multiple appearances on NPR’s Marketplace.

Elton holds a B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Florida, an M.M. in Music Media and Industry from the University of Miami and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She is a member of the New York Bar and Florida Bar. Elton resides in Miami, Florida.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring Serona Elton
Mar 16, 2021
2:00pm — 3:00pm
Events featuring Serona Elton
Mar 16, 2021
2:00pm — 3:00pm