Songwriters of North America - SONA

SONA Warrior Awards Week has finally arrived! Tomorrow kicks off a week of events, beginning with the Songwriter Summit, followed by the @theSONAFoundation Wellness Festival, and ending with the 2024 SONA Warrior Awards. Join us as we learn, connect, and celebrate on the most Songwrite-ly night of the year! Upcoming Events: Sept. 28: SONA Songwriter Summit @ The Village Studios, LA https://lnkd.in/gdCqExxP Oct. 5: The SONA Foundation Wellness Fest @ NOHO Arts District, LA https://lnkd.in/g-fNUd3T Oct. 6: 2024 Warrior Awards @ Skirball Cultural Center, LA https://lnkd.in/gAncCp6A For more information on these events, visit the links above!

Did you know SONA Board Member Lauren Christy hosts a live songwriting masterclass? The next one is coming up on October 5 and she is generously saving two spots for SONA members! Class starts at 12 PM PST. It’s 2 hours long and beginners are welcome. One lucky winner from the class wins a free home studio set-up! Please fill out the survey at the link below to be considered. We’ll let the winners know on Monday, Sept. 30! Lauren Christy is co-creator of The Matrix, the trio wrote and produced the worldwide phenomenon Avril Lavigne’s “LET GO” which included three international number one hits: ‘Complicated,’ ‘Sk8er Boi ‘and ‘I’m With You’ - selling 25 million copies. For ‘Complicated’, the Matrix trio won the Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of The Year. The Matrix also received seven Grammy nominations: Song of the Year in 2003 for ‘Complicated’ and again in 2004 for I’m With You along with Producer of the Year (Lauren is one of only 2 women to ever be nominated for producing acts other than themselves ). The Matrix has sold more than 30 million records and has worked with artists including Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz (The Remedy), Shakira (Don’t Bother), Liz Phair (Why Can’t I), Korn(Coming Undone, Twisted Transister), David Bowie (New Killer Star), Christina Aguilera (This Year), Ricky Martin (This Is Good), Britney Spears (Shadow), Rihanna (Cheers), among many others. Lauren's recent independent work includes Enrique Iglesias’s worldwide number one hit Tonight I’m Loving You, Chris Medina (What Are Words), Kelly Clarkson (I Forgive You), Bebe Rexha (I’m Gonna Show You Crazy, Me Myself and I, I Got You, Last Hurrah, Bad Bitch), Dua Lipa (Blow Your Mind Mwah) Iggy Azalea (Team), Avril Lavigne (It Was In Me, Souvenir), The Struts (Body Talks, In Love with the Camera, People), KORN (Colder, Gravity of Discomfort). Lauren is releasing her first album titled "THEIR HITS MY WAY" in August 2024 Produced by Lauren and Benj Heard. It's a covers record of all her biggest hits she has cowritten and produced, she's dropping a song a month starting February 9th. Lauren is currently working on Republic Records Haiden Henderson, Independent artist Sam Short, and her own daughter's Georgia Christy Edwards and Sophie Skye Edwards band SkyeChristy signed to Warner Records . For the survey link, visit: https://lnkd.in/gUX2DSc5

The 2024 Summit is tomorrow! Joining expert panelists and speakers is songwriter and Music Industry Executive and #iVoted Advocate Advisory Council. Rynda Laurel is a dynamic force across the music, entertainment, branding, and technology space. With over 30 years of diverse experience, she brings invaluable insight to every project. Her hands-on work with entertainment companies, artists, content creators, brands, and intellectual properties provides her with a unique, multifaceted perspective of the business landscape. Rynda is currently the SVP, Music Partnerships at memBrain where she focuses on music-centric clients, including the innovative KiTbetter where she serves as Head of Artist Relations. Rynda also continues to run her boutique consulting agency, The Creative Catalyst Co, where she collaborates with artists and artist management teams to drive success across various initiatives. SONA, with Variety as a media partner, is proud to present the 2024 Songwriter Summit “A State of the Songwriter Union: AI Edition” on September 28 from 1-5:30 pm at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Tickets are free for SONA members. Email info@wearesona.com to receive your discount code. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the world’s most historic recording studios and hear from some of the brightest minds helping guide the future of music. If you're not yet a SONA member, be sure to join! Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gdCqExxP

Joining us for the 2024 Songwriter Summit is CEO and Founder of SmarterLicense Liz Hagelthorn in conversation with Producer, Songwriter, Composer and SONA board member Roahn Hylton. Liz Hagelthorn is the CEO and Founder of SmarterLicense. Previously, Liz led creative for the largest pseudonymous meme network, overseeing strategy across 127 accounts amassing 300M followers, reaching 1.6 billion people per month. Most notably, Liz was the face and creator behind @girl and helped lead the network’s acquisition in under two years. Liz previously held positions at Twitter, and works with high-profile initiatives brands, creators and celebrities to develop viral organic growth strategies. As an expert on online influence, meme culture, technology, and organic virality, Liz's work focuses on pioneering new creative frontiers, aiming to empower the creation of more formats, remixes, derivative works and empowering previously unimagined ways to create and expand IP. Liz graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley. Roahn Hylton, known as “First Born”, is a multi platinum Grammy nominated Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop music producer and composer from Houston, Texas. He attended Oral Roberts University before becoming a Grammy nominated professional music producer. Roahn Hylton (First Born) was a co-producer on Nicki Minajʼs first Billboard Top 5 single “Super Bass”. In addition to the song being a platinum hit in the U.S., “Super Bass” spent several weeks inside the top 20 and is Minajʼs highest charting solo single to date. He also produced “Gun Shot” for Nicki Minaj on her Platinum Album “Roman Reloaded”, which ranked #1 on the Billboard 200. He produced “Honeymoon Avenue” for Ariana Grande on her RIAA Gold Certified album “Yours Truly,” also peaking at #1 on Billboard top 200. Then he produced “Rick James” and “No Complications” for Keyshia Cole on her 6th studio album, which eventually become the #1 RnB album in the country, making it his fourth number 1 album in 4 years. Roahn has also worked with Flo Rida, Plies, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Kaleena, Ludacris, Cassie, Ariana Grande, The Game, Gucci Mane, and New Boys. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gAncCp6A

The 2024 Summit is fast approaching! We are very excited about this special conversation between Congressional Candidate Laura Friedman and Senior Artisans Editor at Variety Jazz Tangcay for our Keynote, which will explore current federal and state legislation and the needed guardrails to give us proper control, consent, and compensation for our work in the age of AI. First elected to the California State Assembly in November 2016, Laura Friedman represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles, as well as the communities of La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, Montrose, North Hollywood, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sunland-Tujunga,Studio City, Toluca Lake, and Valley Village. Laura’s legislative work is focused in three primary areas: addressing the housing affordability and homelessness crisis, combating climate change, and protecting vulnerable communities.During her time in the Assembly, Laura has secured over $60 million in funding for active transportation projects in her district, and authored a package of bills to create new avenues for communities to tackle the affordable housing crisis, encourage water conservation, strengthen environmental sustainability, protect communities against devastating wildfires, improve access to higher education and health care, and ensure that California’s foster youth have the support that they need as they transition to adulthood. Jazz Tangcay is the award winning Senior Artisans Editor at Variety and covers all crafts below-the-line. She is also on the Awards team analyzing the Emmys and Oscar races. Prior to joining Variety, Jazz worked at Awards Daily, where she covered film and TV, and wrote reviews and analysis on the Emmys and Oscar races. She is also a member of BAFTA and the Gold Derby experts. Jazz was an A100 honoree on Gold House's 2024 most impactful AAPI leaders in culture and society list. SONA, with Variety as a media partner, is proud to present the 2024 Songwriter Summit “A State of the Songwriter Union: AI Edition” on September 28 from 1-5:30 pm at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Tickets are free for SONA members. Email info@wearesona.com to receive your discount code. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the world’s most historic recording studios and hear from some of the brightest minds helping guide the future of music. If you're not yet a SONA member, be sure to join! Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gAncCp6A

The 2024 Summit is this Saturday! Joining expert panelists and speakers is Songwriter and Producer, Tushar Apte Tushar is a multi-platinum, award winning Australian writer/producer/composer based in Los Angeles. His production & writing credits include lead singles and major releases with Benson Boone (on the gold-selling debut GHOST TOWN), Chris Brown, Demi Lovato, Blackpink, BTS, Zayn, Nicki Minaj, Noah Cyrus, Steve Aoki, Taking Back Sunday, Surf Mesa, and many more. Records that Apte have produced and written on have amassed over 3 billion streams. A true multi-genre, multi-format talent, he’s found success in Pop, Dance, R&B, Alternative and Film/TV. Tushar is an accomplished Film and TV composer, having composed on shows for NBC (“Zooey’s Incredible Playlist”), BET (“The Bobby Brown Story” composed with Babyface), ITV (“BBQ Champ”), BBC (“Walking With Dinosaurs”, and others), Netflix (“Jr. Jams”) and many more. Apte has also become an industry leader in the world of music technology, working on sound design projects for Splice, Native Instruments, Presonus, Fender and more. He continues to move into future-forward avenues of music creation and development in the world of music Ai – working on major projects for Mercedes, Mastercard, Authentic Artists, Bytedance/Tiktok and more. SONA, with Variety as a media partner, is proud to present the 2024 Songwriter Summit “A State of the Songwriter Union: AI Edition” on September 28 from 1-5:30 pm at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Tickets are free for SONA members. Email info@wearesona.com to receive your discount code. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the world’s most historic recording studios and hear from some of the brightest minds helping guide the future of music. If you're not yet a SONA member, be sure to join! Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gAncCp6A #wearesona #songwritersfirst #songwritersrights #ai

Due to the generous sponsorship from our industry partners, we are able to provide Networking Tables for a few SONA Members at the 2024 SONA Warrior Awards! Join us on the most Songwrite-ly night of the year! Please complete the survey at the link below for consideration to attend the ceremony. If selected, you will be seated at one of the networking tables generously provided by our supporters. The event is live and in-person from 5:30 to 10 pm on Sunday, October 6 at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. For more information and to complete the survey, visit: https://lnkd.in/g6s_4mUP

Joining our panel is Lucas Keller, the founder and CEO Of 4, Milk & Honey, a 21st-century hybrid entertainment management company with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Dallas and London. The company was launched in 2014 by Founder and President Lucas Keller, a 20-year veteran of the music industry who in 10 years has built one of the biggest global talent management companies approaching 50 employees. Milk & Honey has the largest songwriter producer roster in the world and represents over 20 global DJs including names like Oliver Heldens, Benny Benassi, Joel Corry and more as well as 80 athletes including stars like Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos), Kam Curl (Los Angeles Rams) and more. The company’s clients have had some of the biggest global hits of the century, including Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” BTS’ chart-topping “Butter,” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s “Despacito,” James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go,” Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” and many more with current records on the chart from David Guetta, Doechii, Doja Cat, Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen and more. SONA, with Variety as a media partner, is proud to present the 2024 Songwriter Summit “A State of the Songwriter Union: AI Edition” on September 28 from 1-5:30 pm at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Tickets are free for SONA members. Email info@wearesona.com to receive your discount code. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the world’s most historic recording studios and hear from some of the brightest minds helping guide the future of music. If you're not yet a SONA member, be sure to join! Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gdCqExxP

2024 SONA Warrior Award Honoree, Ross Golan is a multi-platinum songwriter and advocate and host of the podcast And the Writer Is, which has become the preeminent interview for the music industry’s most accomplished songwriters. His advocacy assisted in passing The Music Modernization Act, adding songwriters to and abolishing the 33 percent rule for the Grammys’ Album of the Year category, and he served as the first songwriter on the board of the National Music Publishers Association. Songwriters of North America is proud to host the 2024 SONA Warrior Awards, where we celebrate songwriters and music executives who use their platforms to protect the professions of writing and composing music. Get your tickets now for songwriters' most prestigious night, available at: https://lnkd.in/gAncCp6A FOR SONA MEMBERS-ONLY: For a limited time, *SONA members* receive 50% off the cost of any ticket! Email info@wearesona.com to receive the code. If you're not yet a SONA member, visit wearesona.com to join. Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code.

Featured panelist Suzanne “Suzy” Wilson is the General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights for the United States Copyright Office. She was appointed to the position effective January 31, 2022. Wilson is responsible for an extensive portfolio of regulatory, litigation, and policy matters. She provides legal guidance to the Office’s divisions, implements regulations governing the administration of the copyright system, advises congressional offices and other federal agencies, and develops legal positions in copyright litigation and other matters. SONA, with Variety as a media partner, is proud to present the 2024 Songwriter Summit “A State of the Songwriter Union: AI Edition” on September 28 from 1-5:30 pm at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Tickets are free for SONA members. Email info@wearesona.com to receive your discount code. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the world’s most historic recording studios and hear from some of the brightest minds helping guide the future of music. If you're not yet a SONA member, be sure to join! Email info@wearesona.com once you've joined to receive your member discount code. For tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gdCqExxP