About

About

What We Do
Defend Songwriters!
SONA is the hub where the best creative-rights legal minds and fiercely passionate people from all corners of the songwriting world meet to educate, strategize, and mobilize.
We are making a difference.

What We Do
SONA is continually working to be an inclusive and diverse community that brings together passionate music creatives and industry professionals to reimagine the music industry in the 21st century.
We do this through using a collective voice to defend and represent the songwriter community at the highest levels of government and the music industry, in all issues where songwriters are impacted, including:
â Our right to fair pay in the age of digital media
â The ability to advocate for ourselves
â Our right to safety and equity in our workplaces
In other words, SONA is the closest thing to a union songwriters can have.

Our Story
The SONA Story
In January of 2015, songwriting partners Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis founded SONA (Songwriters Of North America) in response to the unfair licensing rates being paid to music creators by digital streaming companies like Spotify and Pandora.
With their close community of working Los Angeles-based songwriters and composers and high-powered entertainment attorney and activist, Dina LaPolt, they quickly built up their ranks to become a prominent and respected voice on the leading edge of issues that face songwriters in the new digital music economy.
They played a pivotal role in the crafting, lobbying, and passage of landmark copyright legislation, the Music Modernization Act.
Meet Our Team
Our staff and board represent the heart and soul of SONA. We are all passionate advocates for songwritersâ rights and are experts in our field. We guide the vision of SONA and ensure that we are always true of our mission.
Board of Directors
Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis is an Emmy-winning songwriter & composer based in Los Angeles, as well as a highly-influential music creatorsâ rights advocate. The daughter of musicians, she spent her early career in New York City as a recording artist signed to Irving Azoffâs Giant Records after attending Columbia University. But it was upon moving to LA that she had her first radio hit as a songwriter with Cherâs âA Different Kind of Love Songâ in 2002. She spent the next 10 years as a go-to top-liner and songwriter, writing hits including the worldwide #1 single âWingsâ by the British girl group Little Mix.Â
For the last decade, Michelle has branched out into the world of songwriting for animated television, most notably as a Peabody Award-winning composer of all original music for Disney Jrâs hit show, Doc McStuffins and Emmy-nominated songwriter of the beloved Nickelodeon series The Loud House. She and her co-writers won an Emmy this past year for Outstanding Original Song for âUnsaid Emilyâ from the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms. She has over a half-dozen TV themes currently airing; including Doc McStuffins, The Loud House, Ada Twist, The Harvey Street Kids, Sydney 2 the Max and DC Super Hero Girls. Â
Michelle is solidly situated on the leading edge of issues facing songwriters as evidenced by her many roles: as SONA co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the SONAverse; as a member of ASCAPâs Board of Directors; as an LA Chapter board member of the Recording Academy, as well as serving on the executive committee of the Music Peer Group for the Television Academy. She is deeply committed to the ongoing fight to make streaming royalty rates more fair to creators, to the education and empowerment of creators through metadata, to the implementation and utilization of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and to the fight for songwriters to get healthcare and workplace safety standards in place. In 2019 she won the California Copyright Coalitionâs (CCC) Apollo Award and was on Rolling Stoneâs âFuture 25â list.
Erin McAnally
Songwriter and artist advocate Erin McAnally has always been a part of the music business. Born in Muscle Shoals, AL, and raised in Nashville, she has extensive experience in A&R, production, music supervision and scoring for film and tv, publishing, and concerts and festivals.
Now living in Los Angeles, she has been serving as Songwriters of North Americaâs Co-Executive Director and Vice-Chair since 2023. She co-owns a publishing company with her husband, Mick Utley. They were frequent co-writers with Jimmy Buffett, landing two songs on his most recent and posthumous album.
She also works as a consultant and prose writer, helping artists, brands, and non-profits with marketing and communications, fundraising, education, events, and operations. In the past few years, one of her focuses was developing and teaching an education program with Artist Rights Alliance to empower artists and music creators and aiding the organization with strategic growth initiatives. She has extensive public speaking experience, having presented at conferences like Folk Alliance, SXSW, Americana Fest, and the US Copyright Officeâs Unclaimed Royalties Study Kickoff Symposium.
Jared Brenner
Jared Brenner is a transactional attorney working at the intersection of music and technology. Jared advises companies and their investors on corporate governance, venture capital investments, IP licensing transactions, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, employee matters and securities law compliance. He also regularly represents entertainment talent establishing joint ventures for lifestyle and consumer products brands, and in other investment transactions and acquisitions. In addition to his corporate practice, Jared is active in the music industry as an advisor to songwriters, artists and producers.
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Andrae Alexander
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Mark Pariser
Markâs practice emphasizes the proactive management of the tax and financial affairs of a variety of people who work in film, television, music and technology. His clientele also includes touring acts, international executives and entrepreneurs, and other high net worth individuals and their businesses.
Mark sees his role as providing the peace of mind that allows his clients to focus on both their professional and personal interests while knowing that their financial matters are in good hands. Financial and business management is complicated, challenging and shifts constantly. Markets can be volatile; tax laws change and risks exist today that did not exist just a few short years ago. Mark oversees his clientsâ affairs by providing budgeting and cash flow planning as well as incorporating insurance review, estate and tax planning into his management activities.
In addition he works closely with Manifest Works, an organization dedicated to workforce development and job placement for those affected by foster care, homelessness and incarceration, to make sure they comply with the various tax rules that apply to charities.
Linda Bloss-Baum
Linda Bloss-Baum is a full time faculty member and the Assistant Director of the Business and Entertainment Program at American Universityâs KOGOD School of Business. Prior to joining her beloved alma mater, American University, in her full time role, Bloss-Baum taught the popular course, Protecting the Creative Class, as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University for a decade while she was serving as the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy at SoundExchange. Before joining SoundExchange, Bloss-Baum ran the Warner Music Group office in Washington, D.C. for six years. She also served as Vice President, Public Policy/Government Relations at Universal Music Group/NBC Universal and Time Warner, Inc. Linda graduated from Catholic University Law School and has lived in the Washington, DC area for over 35 years.
Andrae Alexander
Andrae Alexander, a GRAMMY-winning musician and USC professor, moved to Los Angeles in 2009 from Maryland. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy Band of Washington, D.C., he is also an Amazon best-selling author of the book, âBuild Your Music Career From Scratch,â now in its second edition. An internationally traveled musician and clinician on the subjects of the music industry and music production, Andrae has been to over 40 countries.
As a musician, composer and consultant, he has worked on projects such as Empire, Detroit (the film) and the soundtrack of The Birth of a Nation. Among the artists he has worked with are NeYo, BlackBear, George Drakoulias, Swae Lee, Mellissa Ethridge, Allee Willis, Meek Mills, Pusha-T, Kanye West, Jesse J., Rodney Jerkins, Lamont Dozier and No I.D. In 2022 Andrae shared co-writing credits on Jon Batisteâs GRAMMY-winning Album Of The Year.Â
To the academic setting, Andrae brings real-world experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration and is in the process of completing a PhD. Andrae is currently a voting member of both the Recording Academy and the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a faculty member of USCâs Thornton School of Music in the Music Industry Department. Prior to USC, Andrae taught courses on the music business, production, composition and programming at the LA Film School in Hollywood.Â
Being a proponent of philanthropy, Andrae has worked with non-profits to use music as a tool for social rehabilitation in the homeless community and to serve underserved grade school children, where music has been removed from their schoolâs curriculum. The Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC), under the direction of Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Urban Possibilities, under the direction of Eyvette Jones-Johnson, are the other two non-profits that he currently serves in addition to SONA.
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Autumn Rowe
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Dina LaPolt
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Camus Celli
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Autumn Rowe
Autumn Rowe is a GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter/producer/DJ from New York. Growing up in the South Bronx, she applied her musical talents to a range of roles, from band leader to session singer. Later, she became a sought-after after songwriter, working with some of the worldâs biggest artists and record labels. She wrote the dance anthem behind the 2011 FIFA World Cup âHappinessâ featuring Alexis Jordan and has worked with Diana Ross, Dua Lipa, Tori Kelly, Ava Max, Jon Batiste, Naia Izumi, Jax Jones, Big Freedia, MK, Avicci, Zedd, Alesso, AfroJack, Deadmau5, Alex Newell, Leona Lewis, Digital Farm Animals, Boy George, Jon Bellion, The Knocks, Nick Jonas, Kali Uchis, Kacy Hill, Fifth Harmony, One Direction, Sinead Harnett, Fka Twigs, Lindsey, Stirling, Becky G and Macy Gray, among many other artists. In 2022, she became a GRAMMY winner as part of the writing and production team for Jon Batisteâs highly-acclaimed Album Of The Year, We Are.Â
Autumn is also a celebrated vocal coach. She appeared on season 2 of The X Factor and as the only vocal coach on Americaâs Got Talent for five years, between the showâs eighth and twelfth seasons. She has coached artists including Americaâs Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal, Fifth Harmony, Bea Miller, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Diamond White.Â
Currently living in Los Angeles, Autumn continues to write and mentor both established and emerging artists as well as working on her own projects as an artist and producer. Autumn recently added GRAMMY winner to her list of accomplishments as part of the writing and production team for Jon Batisteâs highly-acclaimed Album Of The Year, We Are.  She is currently signed to Stellar/Sony Music Publishing.
Dina LaPolt
Dina LaPolt, Esq. is the founder and owner of LaPolt Law, P.C., one of the music industryâs leading law firms and the only firm of its stature founded and run by a sole female attorney. Employing ten full-time attorneys who work together overseeing one of the industryâs most diverse client rosters, the firm represents music creators, superstar entertainers, top industry executives and prominent influencers in the areas of fashion and beauty.  Dina is an expert at strategizing and solving complex and sophisticated legal and business issues relating to contracts, copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity and litigation. She serves as an activist for creators and celebrities in the areas of privacy, copyright, and social justice initiatives, often becoming involved in legislative matters affecting the rights of her clients and advocating on their behalf.  Â
Dina co-founded Songwriters of North America (SONA) with songwriters Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley in 2016 and orchestrated SONAâs filing of a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in response to their mandate of 100% licensing in connection with the ASCAP and BMI consent decree review. Â
She has been honored with numerous industry accolades including Super Lawyers, a prominent rating system reserved for lawyers with a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, The Hollywood Reporterâs Power Lawyers and Top Music Business Attorneys; Billboardâs Power 100, Women in Music, Musicâs Most Powerful Attorneys lists, as well as Varietyâs Dealmakers Impact Report and Womenâs Impact Report. Notably, in 2018 Dina earned recognition for her work on industry-leading advocacy efforts on behalf of SONA in the passage of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) and was named one of the Executives of the Year for Billboardâs Women in Music and was also chosen by MIDEM in Cannes, France, with the 2018 MIDEM Music Lawyer of the Year award. Dina was honored by the Recording Academy in 2019 with the prestigious ELI Service Award at the Entertainment Law Initiative luncheon â the youngest attorney and only the second woman to ever receive the award in the history of the organization. The same year, she was also inducted into Billboardâs Women in Music Hall of Fame.Â
Dina is also on the board of We Are R.I.S.E., a non-profit established in South Los Angeles to empower young girls of color ages 7-12; City of Hopeâs Music, Film and Entertainment Group and serves on the Executive Leadership Council of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) which honored her with its 2021 BMAC Agent of Change Award alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump at their Inaugural Music in Action Awards gala.
Camus Celli
Polymath entrepreneur Camus Celli started his career in the music industry as a songwriter and producer, where he worked for Nile Rodgers (CHIC, David Bowie, Duran Duran). Camus went on to write and produce for artists such as Tina Turner and David Byrne and developed iconic talents such as Gavin Degraw.
As a founding member of Truideation, an award-winning creative agency, Camusâ team provided data backed cultural strategy for creative teams across esports, sports, and entertainment, launching campaigns for VW, LVMH, Paramount and Viacom. Camus most recently was a member of WPPâs âOpenXâ team that was awarded the global Coca-Cola account, providing end to end Cultural Strategy, as well as advising on influencer and GenZ strategy.
In 2023, with his partner famed producer Martin Terefe, they launched Kensaltown East, a 10k-square-foot recording facility and creative hub in the heart of Union Square to capture the current renaissance of art and culture in NYC. The facility houses music publishing, management, gallery spaces, and a spatial audio lab.
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Lauren Christy
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Shane Stevens
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Angie Pagano
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Lauren Christy
Lauren Christyâs journey into music began at the age of five when she found a piano buried in the garden at her parentsâ house in South London. As a child at the Bush Davies Theatrical School in East Grinstead, Sussex, she first dreamed of a career as a ballet dancer. But the piano drew Laurenâs attention in every dance studio.
âI was driven by the motion of sound, rather than the movement to sound,â she recalls. During that pivotal period, Lauren made her first attempts at songwriting with her close friend at the school, who happened to be the daughter of songwriter Tony Hatch (âDowntownâ). It was then she slowly realized songwriting was what she really wanted to do.
By the age of 19, she was recording her own songs, soon signing her first publishing deal with EMI, followed by a record deal at Mercury Records at age 21. Relocating to Los Angeles, she started work on her first album with producer and Carpenters guitarist Tony Peluso. That debut album, Lauren Christy, garnered her a nomination for Best New Artist at the 1994 American Music Awards. Laurenâs single, âThe Color of the Night,â was a Top 10 AC hit and landed her a nomination for Best Song in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes.
As Lauren started a family, she reinvented herself again as the co-creator of hit production team The Matrix. Alongside creative partners Graham Edwards and Scott Spock, the trio wrote and produced the worldwide phenomenon Avril Lavigneâs debut album âLet Go,â which included three international number-one hits- âComplicated,â âSk8er Boiâ and âIâm With Youâ â selling 25 million copies. For âComplicated,â the Matrix trio won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of The Year as well as receiving seven GRAMMY nominations: Song of the Year in 2003 for âComplicatedâ and again in 2004 for âIâm With Youâ along with Producer of the Year. (Lauren is one of only seven women ever to be nominated.) Christy is also a two-time Juno award winner and a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award recipient.
The Matrix has sold more than 30 million records and has worked with artists including Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz (âThe Remedyâ), Shakira (âDonât Botherâ), Liz Phair (âWhy Canât Iâ), Korn (âComing Undoneâ âTwisted Transisterâ), David Bowie (âNew Killer Starâ), Christina Aguilera (âThis Yearâ), Ricky Martin (âThis Is Goodâ), Britney Spears (âShadowâ), Hillary Duff (âSo Yesterdayâ), Ferras (âHollywoodâs Not Americaâ), Busted (âThree AMâ), Tokio Hotel (âHuman Connect to Humanâ), Rihanna (âCheersâ), Grayson Chance (âHold On To The Nightâ) among many others.
Entering her fourth decade as a music professional, this one-time dancer can be found six days a week raising kids and making music. Working closely with Donna Caseine and Golnar Khosrowshahi at Reservoir, Laurenâs recent independent work includes Enrique Iglesiasâs worldwide number one hit âTonight Iâm Loving You,â as well as songs recorded by a dazzling and diverse list of artists including Chris Medina, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Derulo, Headley, Bebe Rexha, Me Myself and I, Dua Lipa, Iggy Azalea, Avril Lavigne, The Struts, KORN and Jenn Bostic.Â
Lauren recently started her own record label, Youth Be Served Records (YBS Records). The first signing was artist Jenn Bostic, whose Take My Hand EP entered the iTunes Christian chart at #11. The labelâs second signing, Australian artist Tassia Zappia, saw the debut single âYou Donât Want Meâ earn more than half a million streams shortly after release. And the latest signing, Rosse, just signed a publishing deal with Merck Mercuriadisâs Hipgnosis Songs and is about to drop her first release.
Lauren is currently enjoying working with her daughters Georgia Christy Edwards and Sophie Skye Edwards on their band SkyeChrist, and they have recently released their first two singles, âSending Light (for Lucas)â and âBlack Lake.â
âItâs such a blessing to get to make records for a living and help people achieve their vision,â she says. âI want to keep doing this until I die. Just bury me with my piano!â
Shane Stevens
Shane Stevens is a Grammy and ACM nominated singer/songwriter who has written for a variety of country and pop acts, including Walker Hayes, Carrie Underwood, Lady A, Sara Evans, Kellie Pickler, Ronnie Milsap, Jo Dee Messina, Jordin Sparks, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor.
Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, he grew up in a house filled with country, pop, R&B, Christian, and beach music. In 1996, he moved to Nashville with his best friend and co-writer Karyn Rochelle to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional songwriter.
He achieved his first Billboard #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2010 with âAmerican Honey,â performed by Lady A and co-written with Hillary Lindsey and Cary Barlowe.
After achieving much success in writing country music, Shane wanted to broaden his songwriting horizon and moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a new direction as a writer, vocal producer, and artist developer in the pop and R&B world.
While in Los Angeles, Shane has contributed songs to several pop artists, such as âSuper Badâ, âGoodie Bagâ by Jesse McCartney, âEverlasting Loveâ by Fifth Harmony, âPaper Dollâ by Bea Miller, âParadiseâ by Little Boots, âStep On Upâ by Ariana Grande, âLove Me or Leave Meâ by Little Mix, âWoman Upâ by Meghan Trainor, âNobodyâ by Selena Gomez, and âIâll Chase The Skyâ, âNo Better Feelinââ and âNeighsayerâ on the 2017 My Little Pony soundtrack.
Shaneâs most recent accolades includes selling a Country music musical movie to Paramount Pictures in 2019 where Shane was responsible for writing all original compositions associated with the musical alongside childhood friend Karyn Rochelle and co writing the biggest song of 2021 titled âFancy Likeâ by Walker Hayes. Currently, Shane spends the majority of his time where it all started, Nashville, TN. Shane primary focus is writing for both country and pop music while developing talent in both genres.
Angie Pagano
Angie Pagano is the CEO of the multi-faceted music company, AMP Entertainment. After 15+ years at both indie and major publishing and record companies, Pagano felt the need for another female-led company in the music industry. Prior to launching AMP in 2020, Pagano was the General Manager of Artist Publishing Group and Senior Vice President of sister recording company, Artist Partner Group. For the better half of a decade, Pagano led APG in operations, business affairs, A&R, finance, synchronization, as well as the companyâs overall compounding growth. Prior to APG, Pagano, who began her career at Chrysalis Music Publishing, became one of the key members responsible for the integration of Chrysalis into BMG. She was instrumental in the early building of BMG into what it is today, one of the largest publishers in the U.S. As an A&R, Pagano was involved in several hits including: Ava Maxâs first album Heaven & Hell including singles Sweet but Psycho, Kings & Queens, My Head & My Heart; Fifth Harmony â Work From Home; Niall Horan â Slow Hands; Selena Gomez â Rare; Megan Thee Stallion â Diamonds (with Normani); Justin Bieber â Anyone; Tate McRae â Vicious; Kane Brown â Be Like That.  Paganoâs clients have also been responsible for successes including: BTS â Butter; Justin Bieber â Holy; Ariana Grande â positions, 35+35, POV; Blackpink â Ice Cream (ft. Selena Gomez); Rihanna â Needed Me.
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Courtney Harrell
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Roahn Hylton
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Samantha Bullock
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Courtney Harrell
Courtney Harrell is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who has performed with and penned hits for Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum artists such as Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Kelly Rowland, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and many more. Her current chart-topping hit is âSnapâ by Rosa Lynn. Courtney was a semi-finalist on The Voice and now works as a music producer on NBCâs AMERICAâS GOT TALENT.
Roahn Hylton
Roahn Hylton, known as âFirst Bornâ, 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 MinajÊŒs first Billboard Top 5 single âSuper Bassâ. In addition to the song being a platinum hit in the U.S., âSuper Bassâ spent several weeks inside the top 20 and is MinajÊŒs highest charting solo single to date. He also produced âGun Shotâ for Nicki Minaj on her Platinum Album âRoman Reloadedâ, which ranked #1 on the Billboard 200. He produced âHoneymoon Avenueâ for Ariana Grande on her RIAA Gold Certified album âYours Truly,â also peaking at #1 on Billboard top 200. Then he produced âRick Jamesâ and âNo Complicationsâ 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
âIn 2016 he met Jacob Yoffee in Israel and the two became great friends. âThey have been working together ever since, creating the music group Th3rdstream in 2018. Since then they have scored 6 series together and have worked on film/television projects with Jay-Z, Lebron James, Robert Downey, Jr., Kevin Hart and Janelle Monae.
âIn 2019 Roahn was co-composer for âFree Meekâ on Amazon, which is produced by Jay-Z & Meek Mill as well as âAge of A.I.â a docu-series from producer Robert Downey, Jr. Hylton was also a series co-composer for âDonât F*** this upâ a Netflix series produced and starred by Kevin Hart. The series was nominated for Best Unstructured Reality Program at the 2020 Emmys.
Most recently, Roahn co-scored the currently untitled Nicki Minaj Documentary as well as the logo and theme for the âPower Universeâ on Starz produced by Curtis â50 Centâ Jackson. In July 2021 Roahn was announced as Series co-composer for âThe Wonder Yearsâ on ABC premiering September 2021.
Samantha Bullock
Samantha Bullock is a seasoned media and entertainment executive with deep expertise in live entertainment, strategic partnerships, experiential marketing, and content production. As Chief Media Officer of LaPolt Media, she leads creative and strategic initiatives across the companyâs portfolio, including serving as Executive Producer of The Stiletto Room with Dina LaPolt podcast and launching LaPoltâs motivational book Street Smart: Succeeding in a Manâs World.
Her career spans senior leadership roles at Capitol Music Group, Variety, and Ambassador Theatre Group, where she has developed global campaigns, built innovative partnerships, and infused music into legacy industries to modernize and expand cultural relevance.
Known for her entrepreneurial mindset and sharp instincts, Bullock has also built a robust freelance consultancy advising global brands, artist estates, music promoters, and entertainment disruptors. She is a trusted strategist for clients seeking to elevate brand resonance, drive cultural impact, and reimagine their connection with audiences across the evolving media and entertainment landscape.
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Ross Golan
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Ross Golan
Ross Golanis a multi-platinum songwriter, artist, podcast host and advocate. He studied music at the University of Southern California and has since released songs with artists including Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Lady Antebellum, Michael Bublé, Selena Gomez, Keith Urban, Ariana Grande, Flo Rida, One Direction, Idina Menzel, Nelly, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Cee Lo Green, 5 Seconds of Summer, Snoop Dogg, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, Andy Grammer, James Blunt, Big Sean, Travis Barker, Lukas Graham and Skylar Grey amongst many others. He was awarded 2016 BMI Songwriter Of The Year.
As an artist, his concept albumThe Wrong Manwas released on Interscope Records in July 2019 and opened as a musical open off Broadway in October 2019.
As an advocate, he coauthored the proposal to get songwriters added to the Album of the Year award at The Grammys. He has also been a leading voice in passing the Music Modernization Act alongside NSAI, SONA, NMPA and RIAA. He is now the first songwriter added to the NMPA board in its 102 year history.
Staff
Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis is an Emmy-winning songwriter & composer based in Los Angeles, as well as a highly-influential music creatorsâ rights advocate. The daughter of musicians, she spent her early career in New York City as a recording artist signed to Irving Azoffâs Giant Records after attending Columbia University. But it was upon moving to LA that she had her first radio hit as a songwriter with Cherâs âA Different Kind of Love Songâ in 2002. She spent the next 10 years as a go-to top-liner and songwriter, writing hits including the worldwide #1 single âWingsâ by the British girl group Little Mix.Â
For the last decade, Michelle has branched out into the world of songwriting for animated television, most notably as a Peabody Award-winning composer of all original music for Disney Jrâs hit show, Doc McStuffins and Emmy-nominated songwriter of the beloved Nickelodeon series The Loud House. She and her co-writers won an Emmy this past year for Outstanding Original Song for âUnsaid Emilyâ from the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms. She has over a half-dozen TV themes currently airing; including Doc McStuffins, The Loud House, Ada Twist, The Harvey Street Kids, Sydney 2 the Max and DC Super Hero Girls. Â
Michelle is solidly situated on the leading edge of issues facing songwriters as evidenced by her many roles: as SONA co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the SONAverse; as a member of ASCAPâs Board of Directors; as an LA Chapter board member of the Recording Academy, as well as serving on the executive committee of the Music Peer Group for the Television Academy. She is deeply committed to the ongoing fight to make streaming royalty rates more fair to creators, to the education and empowerment of creators through metadata, to the implementation and utilization of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and to the fight for songwriters to get healthcare and workplace safety standards in place. In 2019 she won the California Copyright Coalitionâs (CCC) Apollo Award and was on Rolling Stoneâs âFuture 25â list.
Erin McAnally
Songwriter and artist advocate Erin McAnally has always been a part of the music business. Born in Muscle Shoals, AL, and raised in Nashville, she has extensive experience in A&R, production, music supervision and scoring for film and tv, publishing, and concerts and festivals.Â
Now living in Los Angeles, she has been serving as Songwriters of North Americaâs Co-Executive Director and Vice-Chair since 2023. She co-owns a publishing company with her husband, Mick Utley. They were frequent co-writers with Jimmy Buffett, landing two songs on his most recent and posthumous album.
She also works as a consultant and prose writer, helping artists, brands, and non-profits with marketing and communications, fundraising, education, events, and operations. In the past few years, one of her focuses was developing and teaching an education program with Artist Rights Alliance to empower artists and music creators and aiding the organization with strategic growth initiatives. She has extensive public speaking experience, having presented at conferences like Folk Alliance, SXSW, Americana Fest, and the US Copyright Officeâs Unclaimed Royalties Study Kickoff Symposium.
Kellie Brown
Kellie Brown is a philanthropic focused marketer and strategist with more than 15 years of experience in program development, partner relations, and fundraising worldwide. She has worked for global brands including CNN, The NBA (National Basketball Association), and Hard Rock International where she led the creation of the Hard Rock Heals Foundation and designed programs that supported the growth of music based organizations in more than 85 countries. A graduate of Seminole State College and the University of Central Floridaâs Non Profit Management program, Kellie is keen philanthropist both in training and in heart. She is the creator of Sound Circle Management, a boutique think tank and development firm focused on family run companies and local community growth. Kellie is a native of Long Beach, California. Some of her favorite songwriters are Fela Kuti, Nipsey Hussle, and Hil St Soul.
Founders
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Kay Hanley
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Dina LaPolt
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Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis is an Emmy-winning songwriter & composer based in Los Angeles, as well as a highly-influential music creatorsâ rights advocate. The daughter of musicians, she spent her early career in New York City as a recording artist signed to Irving Azoffâs Giant Records after attending Columbia University. But it was upon moving to LA that she had her first radio hit as a songwriter with Cherâs âA Different Kind of Love Songâ in 2002. She spent the next 10 years as a go-to top-liner and songwriter, writing hits including the worldwide #1 single âWingsâ by the British girl group Little Mix.Â
For the last decade, Michelle has branched out into the world of songwriting for animated television, most notably as a Peabody Award-winning composer of all original music for Disney Jrâs hit show, Doc McStuffins and Emmy-nominated songwriter of the beloved Nickelodeon series The Loud House. She and her co-writers won an Emmy this past year for Outstanding Original Song for âUnsaid Emilyâ from the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms. She has over a half-dozen TV themes currently airing; including Doc McStuffins, The Loud House, Ada Twist, The Harvey Street Kids, Sydney 2 the Max and DC Super Hero Girls. Â
Michelle is solidly situated on the leading edge of issues facing songwriters as evidenced by her many roles: as SONA co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the SONAverse; as a member of ASCAPâs Board of Directors; as an LA Chapter board member of the Recording Academy, as well as serving on the executive committee of the Music Peer Group for the Television Academy. She is deeply committed to the ongoing fight to make streaming royalty rates more fair to creators, to the education and empowerment of creators through metadata, to the implementation and utilization of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and to the fight for songwriters to get healthcare and workplace safety standards in place. In 2019 she won the California Copyright Coalitionâs (CCC) Apollo Award and was on Rolling Stoneâs âFuture 25â list.
Kay Hanley
Best known as the lead singer of Boston-based alternative rock band Letters to Cleo, which released three albums between 1990-2000, spawning such hits as âAwakeâ and âHere and Now.â
After a 14-year hiatus, Letters To Cleo reunited in 2014 to appear as themselves on NBCâs Parks + Recreation. Shortly thereafter, they began releasing new music and embarked on several sold-out US tours They are currently working on their 4th full length studio album.
In the late 90âs, Ms. Hanley began expanding her work as a singer and songwriter, providing the singing voice for Rachael Leigh Cookâs character Josie in Universal Picturesâ feature film Josie and the Pussycats and performing cover versions of Nick Loweâs âCruel to be Kindâ and Cheap Trickâs âI Want You To Want Meâ in Touchstone Picturesâ hit film 10 Things I Hate About You, a film in which Hanley also appeared on screen.
The past decade has seen Kay laser-focused on a career writing and producing music for TV animation. After finishing a Peabody Award winning, five- season dream job composing music for Disney Jrâs groundbreaking hit series, Doc McStuffins, Hanley and longtime writing partner, Michelle Lewis have continued to pursue projects that inspire them. Their songs can currently be found on Disney Jrâs Vampirina and Muppet Babies, Netflix/Dreamworksâ Harvey Street Kids, Disney Channelâs Sydney To The Max, and Cartoon Networkâs new DC Super Hero Girls.
Ms. Hanley and Ms. Lewis are co-executive directors of Songwriters Of North America (SONA), a non-profit that advocates for the protection of songs and songwriters in the digital music marketplace.
Dina LaPolt
Dina LaPolt, Esq. is the founder and owner of LaPolt Law, P.C., one of the music industryâs leading law firms and the only firm of its stature founded and run by a sole female attorney. Employing ten full-time attorneys who work together overseeing one of the industryâs most diverse client rosters, the firm represents music creators, superstar entertainers, top industry executives and prominent influencers in the areas of fashion and beauty.  Dina is an expert at strategizing and solving complex and sophisticated legal and business issues relating to contracts, copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity and litigation. She serves as an activist for creators and celebrities in the areas of privacy, copyright, and social justice initiatives, often becoming involved in legislative matters affecting the rights of her clients and advocating on their behalf.  Â
Dina co-founded Songwriters of North America (SONA) with songwriters Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley in 2016 and orchestrated SONAâs filing of a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in response to their mandate of 100% licensing in connection with the ASCAP and BMI consent decree review. Â
She has been honored with numerous industry accolades including Super Lawyers, a prominent rating system reserved for lawyers with a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, The Hollywood Reporterâs Power Lawyers and Top Music Business Attorneys; Billboardâs Power 100, Women in Music, Musicâs Most Powerful Attorneys lists, as well as Varietyâs Dealmakers Impact Report and Womenâs Impact Report. Notably, in 2018 Dina earned recognition for her work on industry-leading advocacy efforts on behalf of SONA in the passage of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) and was named one of the Executives of the Year for Billboardâs Women in Music and was also chosen by MIDEM in Cannes, France, with the 2018 MIDEM Music Lawyer of the Year award. Dina was honored by the Recording Academy in 2019 with the prestigious ELI Service Award at the Entertainment Law Initiative luncheon â the youngest attorney and only the second woman to ever receive the award in the history of the organization. The same year, she was also inducted into Billboardâs Women in Music Hall of Fame.Â
Dina is also on the board of We Are R.I.S.E., a non-profit established in South Los Angeles to empower young girls of color ages 7-12; City of Hopeâs Music, Film and Entertainment Group and serves on the Executive Leadership Council of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) which honored her with its 2021 BMAC Agent of Change Award alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump at their Inaugural Music in Action Awards gala.
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Adam Dorn
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Michelle Featherstone
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Pamela Sheyne
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Adam Dorn
Adam Dorn, one of SONAâs founding members, is a composer, record producer, recording artist, arranger and songwriter who has been working in the music business since the age of 16. The son of renowned jazz and R&B producer Joel Dorn, he was mentored by GRAMMY-winning producer and musician Marcus Miller. He had the honor of learning from Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Luther Vandross as a teenager while studying with Miller. In conjunction to that apprenticeship, Adam later studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is an accomplished bassist.
His music can be heard everywhere â from Disney theme parks Star Wars attractions to the Showtime docuseries Enemies about power-abusing politicians from Oscar and Emmy-winning director Alex Gibney. Morphing between producer, composer and recording artist at all times, he has worn many musical hats over the last 35 years. As a musician (piano and bass) and co-writer, he has worked with U2, Sting, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Luther Vandross, Bryan Ferry and Laurie Anderson, among many others. The last decade has seen Adam increasingly focusing on TV and film composing, with a specific focus on documentary series and feature films. Two current projects include a feature doc about the life and times of former California Governor Jerry Brown and a documentary about the beginnings of the early days of the civil rights movement entitled Ainâ;t No Back To A Merry-Go-Round, both slated for early '23 release. He also recently produced the music for a PIXAR animation short called Us Again.Â
Adam also scored Season 3 of the Peabody-winning investigative journalism podcast, Serial, which holds an ongoing record as the fastest podcast to reach five million downloads and streams in iTunesâ history. In 2019 he scored HBOâs critically acclaimed documentary and Sundance selection Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, directed by Emmy-winner Marina Zenovich. This was his second collaboration with Zenovich, having previously scored the Emmy-nominated film Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic which won the NAACP Image Award for Best Television Documentary.Â
His other credits include scoring HBOâs Emmy-nominated docuseries, The Weight of the Nation, from 31-time Emmy-winning producer Sheila Nevins and four-time Emmy-winning producer John Hoffman; the trilogy reboot of the Kickboxer action film series (Vengeance, Retaliation); The 2021 Nicholas Cage Sci-Fi thriller & âJiu-Jitsuâ; and Melissa McCarthyâs TV Land comedy, Nobodies. Additionally, Adam scored the end credits for AMCâs Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated crime drama Better Call Saul. He also reimagined the music for ESPNâs iconic sports program Around The Horn hosted by Tony Reali.Â
Beyond his career as a composer of prestige documentaries, film and television, Adam is a successful jazz-oriented dance music producer and DJ. Under the moniker Mocean Worker, his music can be heard in numerous films and television shows including The Devil Wears Prada, The Bourne Supremacy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Pink Panther, CSI and Six Feet Under.
He currently resides in NY with his wife and son after living in Los Angeles for the past 11 years.
Michelle Featherstone
Born in Chester, and raised in Cambridge, England, Michelle began playing the piano at age seven and started composing original music very soon after. At 22 she moved to Los Angeles and started playing the local club circuit. Her songs started garnering the attention of music supervisors, and soon her music was featured in many TV shows.
By 2008 she was signed to a publishing deal at Windswept Pacific/BUG Music/BMG  She has had cuts with French artist Nolwenn Leroy, French DJ Quentin Mosi (winners Star Academy) and Danish artist Teitur Lassen as well as leant her vocals to many DJ projects throughout Europe.
To date, Michelleâs music has been featured on every major US network and has served to enhance the drama on shows such as Greyâs Anatomy, Parenthood, Las Vegas, One Tree Hill, Smallville, How I Met Your Mother and Ghost Whisperer, as well as document the âreal lifeâ trials on shows such as MTVâs The Hills and The City as well as So You Think You Can Dance, Biggest Loser and Americaâs Funniest Videoâs.
Not limited to the small screen, Michelleâs music can be heard in many films, including Peaceful Warrior, Captivity, Sherrybaby, and Disneyâs Bridge to Terabithia. Her songs and voice can be heard in Trailers (CBS Films 7500) and commercials (Canon Camera, Travelers Insurance) and in 2014 she scored the feature film Muffin Top.
Always writing and collaborating, Michelle has written and produced several CDs of music, experimenting with different styles and genres. As well as her own music, Michelle lends her songwriting, vocals and production to an Electronica project entitled âPplrsâ with producer Chris Thompson and a childrenâs project entitled âToozigootsâ alongside long-time songwriting partner Meg Toohey (The Cold and Lovely, Waitress the Musical).
Michelle has also been a reoccurring volunteer at Rock and Roll Girls Camp Los Angeles since 2012, and a visiting songwriter at WriteGirl LA.
Pamela Sheyne
Based in Los Angeles, New Zealand-born Pam Sheyne is a multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer, singer and mentor.Â
Her songwriting career has achieved success on a global scale and includes international hit records and song placements in numerous films and TV shows. With 50+ million record sales, 100+ platinum sales, she is also a prestigious Ivor Novello Award winning songwriter.
Pam is best known for co-writing the global breakthrough single, âGenie In A Bottle,â for Christina Aguilera. Other artists who have recorded Pamâs songs include Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Saturdays, Cece Winans, The Backstreet Boys and Laura Pausini.
As a singer Pam has performed and/or recorded with, among others: The Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Daryl Hall, Cyndi Lauper and Dave Stewart.Â
Pam is also a songwriting mentor. Her new venture SongWriterCamps with long-time collaborator Richard Harris was launched in 2018 as a mentoring retreat focusing on the craft of songwriting.
She is also a founding member of Songwriters of North America (SONA), an advocacy group that fights to protect the value of copyrights in the new digital marketplace.
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Shelly Peiken
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Brendan Okrent
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Adam Gorgoni
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Shelly Peiken
She is best known for penning culturally resonant, female-empowerment anthems such as Christina Aguileraâs No. 1 smash, âWhat a Girl Wantsâ and Meredith Brooksâ GRAMMY-nominated, âBitch.âÂ
Shelly has written for Jessie J, Keith Urban, Britney Spears, Brandy, SmashMouth, Natasha Bedingfield, Reba, Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus, INXS, Backstreet Boys, Michelle Branch, DiVinyls, Pretenders, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Her songs have appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as The Blind Side, The Hot Chick, Princess Diaries, Center Stage, What A Girl Wants, What Women Want, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Raising Helen, A Walk To Remember, The Bourne Identity, Orange Is The New Black, Glee, Orphan Black, Smash, 30 Rock, and Greyâs Anatomy.Â
Shelly is also an adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)Â Â
Her memoir Confessions Of A Serial Songwriter which chronicles her journey from a young girl falling under the spell of magical songs to writing hits of her own, earned her a second GRAMMY-nomination for Best Spoken Word Album.Â
Her experiences, accomplishments and the circles in which she has traveled give her a unique perspective on the music business:Â that of a professional woman who fought her way into a highly competitive industry, found a way to succeed, balanced a thriving career with a family and who has witnessed firsthand the changes that have turned the industry upside down.Â
Along with her SONA colleagues, Shelly has found great purpose in advocating for creatorsâ rights while at the same time staying true to her first love: the often elusive but always immensely satisfying act of writing a great song. You can follow her musings about the life of a professional songwriter in her popular Serial Songwriter blog.
Brendan Okrent
Having developed a keen fascination for songs and a deep affection for songwriters early in her life, Brendan feels privileged to have been able to work with and for music creators over the course of her career. Â
She was an executive at ASCAPâs west coast membership department for over two decades where some of her signature achievements included: starting the nationally-known Quiet On The Set showcase series featuring over 500 acts such as John Mayer, Jonatha Brooke, Ben Harper, Hillary Lindsey, the Weepies, Bonnie Hayes, Kristin Hall (Sugarland), Matt Nathanson, Allen Shamblin, Rufus Wainwright and Lindy Robbins among many others; co-producing the ASCAP Pop Music Awards for many years and working on the ASCAP I Create Music EXPO from its inception in 2006. Â
Also at ASCAP, Brendan is proud to have led the Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop for 15 years and still enjoys ongoing relationships with many of the over 200 writers who consider that workshop a meaningful starting ground for their careers. The workshop featured such prominent guest speakers as Sir George Martin, Linda Perry, Diane Warren, Billy Steinberg, Jody Gerson, Greg Wells, Don Was and scores of others. Among her hundreds of signings to ASCAP membership over the years, Brendan notes that in 2004 she met a then 19-year old songwriter/artist named Katy Perry and had the honor of bringing her to ASCAP.Â
A native of Cincinnati, Brendan graduated from the Ohio State University School of Journalism and began her career with a brief stint as a publicist after moving to Los Angeles. Prior to joining the ASCAP staff she ran her own independent music publishing company and was later west coast creative director for Motownâs publishing arm, Jobete Music, hired by the legendary Lester Sill. Â
She is a founding board member of Songwriters of North America (SONA), where she wears many hats and enjoys continuing to work with her friends in the songwriting community, advocating on behalf of creatorsâ rights.
Adam Gorgoni
Composer Adam Gorgoniâs scoring credits include Sundance favorite Starting Out In The Evening, Deauville Grand Prize Winner The Dead Girl, cult comedy classic Waiting, the HBO documentary I Knew It Was You, and many others.Â
Recent television work includes USA Networkâs Necessary Roughness, the CW series Aliens In America, Lorne Michaelsâ ABC comedy Sons and Daughters, as well as shows for NBC, Disney, Discovery Channel, Bravo and National Geographic. Adam also has extensive experience in music for advertising, with clients including Toyota, AT&T, IBM, Mastercard.Â
Adam indulged his longtime love of musical theater as a co-producer of the groundbreaking musical Head Over Heels, which debuted in 2018 on Broadway to critical acclaim.
Following the passage of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) in October, 2018, Adam â a SONA founding member and board member â was asked to oversee a national nomination process choosing a handful of songwriters (out of hundreds of applicants) to be part of the Music Licensing Collective (MLC). Â Moving forward, this committee will have the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of this historic legislation.
Adam is proud to be part of a movement that will ensure music creators will be paid fairly in the digital age. He is deeply committed to SONA and especially enjoys continual conversations with an expanding group of legislators who wish to support this mission.
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Jack Kugell
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Jack Kugell
Versatile writer/producer Jack Kugellâs work spans the pop, R&B, country and film/TV arenas. He has worked with artists from all over the world, reaching #1 more than a dozen times in many different countries.
Jack was first signed to EMI Music Publishing (which later became Sony/ATV) in 1993, a successful relationship lasting 23 years. As the son of producer Marty Kugell (âIn The Still of The Nightâ), his first musical experiences took place as he watched his dad write and record in the classic studios of New York and Los Angeles. By the age of 11, he knew that he wanted to be a songwriter. What started as a hobby soon became a full-time career and lifelong passion.
His first success as a songwriter came after he penned the perennial Christmas song âHey Santa!â for The Wilsons and the theme song for The Carnie Wilson Show. Jack is perhaps most recognized for his #1 chart-topper âValentine,â recorded by Martina McBride, co-written with Jim Brickman. âValentineâ became a #1 AC hit as well as reaching Top 5 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and earned multi-platinum status for both Martina McBride and Jim Brickmanâs albums. Artists Jack has worked with include Christina Aguilera, Kesha, J.Lo, Fergie, The Pussycat Dolls, Jim Brickman, Martina McBride, Jessica Simpson, Sean Kingston, Mary J. Blige, Wayne Brady, Taio Cruz, 98 Degrees, All-4-One, Anastacia & Michelle Williams to name a few.
Jack along with his partners Jamie Jones and Matt Wong, are songwriters/producers collectively known as The Heavyweights. The GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum production team has delivered hit songs to amass collective sales of over 35 million units. Their work has been featured in the Disney Channel Original Musical Movies Descendants 2, Zombies, the upcoming Descendants 3 as well as Disneyâs feature film Kim Possible and most-recently the critically acclaimed Ravenâs Home Remix â The Musical.
The Heavyweights other endeavors include writing and producing Shontelleâs âBattle Cry,â which received the historic honor of being an official theme song for the Obama campaign, as well as being included on the official Obama Campaign CD. The Heavyweights also wrote and produced Wayne Bradyâs critically-acclaimed debut album âA Long Time Coming,â which resulted in a 2009 GRAMMY- nomination for Bradyâs vocal performance on the Sam Cooke classic, âA Change Is Gonna Come.â In 2015 the Heavyweights work resulted in their second GRAMMY-nominated vocal for Hidden Beach Recordings Artist, Angie Fisher, for the song âI.R.S.â
Jack, who serves as a board member of Songwriters of North America (SONA), is committed to fighting for creatorsâ rights. Â Â He continues to consistently write great songs and put his stamp on great talent.
SONA
Advisory Council
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Abby North
Adam Gorgoni
Adam Parness
Anjulie Persaud
Ari Herstand
Aurielle Brooks
Barbara Quinn
Beka Tischker
Chris Stills
Caron Veazy
Claudia Brant
David Silberstein
Desmond Child
Donna Caseine
Emily Warren
Erika Nuri Taylor
Gail Greenwood
Greg Wells
J Hart
Jai Yoko
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Jeff Duquette
Jaime Zeluck-Hindlin
Jamie Dee Hart
Jessie Massabni
Jesse Thomas
Joe DiMona
Joel C High
John Bitrick
Justin Tranter
Kara DioGuardi
Kay Hanley
Kevin Casini
Kevin Griffin
Lane Smith
Laura Veltz
Lee Dannay
Louie Diller
Lucy Levinsohn
Marcus Miller
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Marcus (MarcLo) Lomax
Mark Beaven
MariamiÂ
Matt Tishler
Maytav Koter
Michael Eames
MILCK
Muni Long
Pam Sheyne
Paul Keen
Sam Hollander
Sarah Hudson
Sharon Tapper
Shay M. Lawson
Shelly Peiken
Sidd Khosla
Stef Fryzel
Tanya Donelly
Toby LightmanÂ
Zach Gurka