The Entertainment Law Initiative was established by the Recording Academy® to encourage discussion and debate around legal affairs in the ever-evolving music industry and how they impact creatives and the greater music community. In partnership with the nation’s top entertainment law practitioners and schools, the initiative offers year-round networking and career development events for professionals and cultivates the next generation through connection and educational opportunities for students.
| 22-23 Entertainment Law Initiative Executive Committee | 22-23 Entertainment Law Initiative Advisory Council |
|---|---|
| Laurie Soriano (Chair) | Ken Abdo |
| Kris Ahrend | Jay Cooper |
| Sandy Crawshaw-Sparks | John Frankenheimer |
| Susan Genco | Jeff Harleston |
| Renee Karalian | Joel Katz |
| Michael Kushner | Chuck Ortner |
| Dina LaPolt | Don Passman |
| Wade Leak | Michael Reinert |
| Angie Martinez | Ron Wilcox |
| Tanya Perara | |
| Julian Petty | |
| Leron Rogers | |
| Henry Root | |
| Bobby Rosenbloum | |
| Julie Swidler | |
| Jeff Walker | |
| Robert Windom | |
| Stephanie Yu |
Read about the most recent professional development and networking event below:
Click the link below to watch ELI’s fall 2022 collaborative panel with GRAMMY U:
How Independent Artists Can Protect Their Work
Keep an eye on this page for announcements about 2023 ELI professional and student events, online programs and other opportunities.
Entertainment Law Initiative GRAMMY® Week Event
Thank you to those who attended the 25th Annual ELI GRAMMY Week Event and congratulations to 2023 ELI Service Award recipient Peter Paterno of King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, LLP. Information about the 26th Annual ELI Event will be released fall 2023.
The annual ELI GRAMMY Week Event gathers professionals and creators alike to celebrate, hear from industry leaders and allies, and acknowledge achievements of music business trailblazers through the ELI Service Award, an accolade presented to a legal professional or entity who has demonstrated commitment to advancing and bettering the music community through service. See below for recaps of past events:
2019 Entertainment Law Initiative Event With Dina LaPolt, Tina Tchen, Steven Tyler & More
Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Contest
Submissions for the 2023 contest are closed. Congratulations to 2023 ELI Writing Contest Winner Aron Lichtschein. Information about the 2024 contest will be released fall 2023.
The ELI Writing Contest challenges law students to identify and research a pressing legal issue facing the music industry today and outline a proposed solution in a 3,000-word essay. A nationwide panel of music law experts judge the papers in a blind process to select one winner and two runners-up.
2023 Writing Contest Prize Packages
One Winner
$10,000 tuition scholarship
Two tickets to the GRAMMY Awards®
Two tickets to MusiCares® Person of the Year
Two tickets to the Entertainment Law Initiative GRAMMY Week Event
Los Angeles roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations for winner and guest
Paper Publication in the ABA Entertainment & Sports Lawyer Journal
Mentorship session with an ELI leadership attorney
Two Runners-Up
$2,500 tuition scholarship
Mentorship session with an ELI leadership attorney
2023 Winner & Runners-Up
Winner: Aron Lichtschein, NYU School of Law, New York, NY
“Tickets To Ride: NFTs And The Future of Concert Ticketing”
Runner-Up: Gina Maeng, Georgetown Law School, Washington, D.C.
“Keep Calm And Rock On: A Federal Crowd Management Law For The Live Music Industry”
Runner-Up: Amanda Sharp, University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA
2022 Winner & Runners-Up
Winner: Sona Sulakian, USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
“Protecting The Artist: Licensing In An AI-Generated Music Market”
Runner-Up: Chelsea Cohen, LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA
“Welcome To The Metaverse: Solving Old-World Licensing In A Whole New Universe”
Runner-Up: Michael Harrigan, Stetson University College of Law, DeLand, FL
2021 Winner & Runners-Up
Winner: Sophia Sofferman, University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, FL
“It’s My [Recapture Right], And It’s Now Or Never…”
Runner-Up: Evan Biegel, St. John’s University School of Law, Queens, NY
“Tuning The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Musical Work Infringement”
Runner-Up: Alberto Vargas, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
The Recording Academy thanks our 25th Annual ELI GRAMMY Week Event sponsors for their generous support.
| Platinum Presenting | Silver |
|---|---|
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | American Bar Association |
| Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP | |
| Platinum Plus | Covington & Burling LLP |
| Pryor Cashman LLP | Eisner, LLP |
| Sony Music Publishing | Manatt, Phelps, Phillips LLP |
| Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder, LLP | |
| Platinum | Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill, LLP |
| First Horizon Music, Sports & Entertainment | SoundExchange |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Sound Royalties |
| Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP | The MLC |
| Sony Music Entertainment | |
| Spotify | Bronze |
| Universal Music Group | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP |
| Warner Music Group | BMI |
| Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association | |
| Gold | Boyarski Fritz |
| Fox Rothschild LLP | Concord |
| Global Music Rights | Greenspoon Marder |
| Greenberg Traurig | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP |
| Jenner and Block | NBC Universal |
| King Holmes Paterno & Soriano LLP | Nixon Peabody |
| LaPolt Law PC | Reed Smith LLP |
| Loeb & Loeb LLP | The Zia Firm PLLC |
| Micheman & Robinson LLP | Warner Chappell Music |
| Proskauer Rose |
For all inquiries or to be added to the ELI mailing list, please contact ELI@recordingacademy.com