On Nov. 8, the GRAMMY Foundation's Entertainment Law Initiative, in partnership with the New York Chapter and the ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries, held its sixth annual panel discussion at the Cardozo School of Law.
The panel included Ken Abdo (vice president of Lommen Abdo Law Firm and Chair of the Entertainment Law Initiative); James Diener (president of Octone Records and senior vice president, A&R/marketing for J Records/RCA Records Music Group); Nicholas C. Ferrara, Esq. (managing partner of Serling Rooks & Ferrara, LLP); Prophet Omega (artists, EMI/Astralwerks); Michael L. Reinert, Esq. (executive vice president, business & legal affairs for Universal Motown Records Group); and Julie Swidler (executive vice president, business & legal affairs for BMG U.S. Label Group).
The panelists discussed the many issues presented by the challenging role of encouraging and signing new artists. Those attending heard compelling points about the attorney's role in bringing artists to the attention of A&R executives, as well as the challenges and limitations presented by doing so. The composition of the panel made for a dialogue that was spirited and very much focused on best practices and approaches for attorneys in support of their artists.
ELI holds seminars nationwide to support the GRAMMY Foundation's mission of furthering the advancement of music education. These seminars bring together key music industry lawyers, managers, agents and artists to discuss topics currently affecting the industry. ELI's Annual Luncheon will take place on Feb. 9, 2007, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.