This panel focuses on licensing issues filmmakers encounter when placing music in their films. Panelists will share tips on how to acquire and license music for films.
Michelle Belcher, Partner, Primary Wave Music
The Last of the Mohicans, Bad Boys
Damon Elliot, Producer/Writer
The Fighting Temptations
Growing up the son of actor and jazz drummer Bill Elliott and pop legend Dionne Warwick, Damon at an early age acquired the sensibilities, incredible rhythm, vocal styling and the personality to work with stars
of all magnitudes. As a kid watching his mom work in the studio with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Stevie Wonder or dining with Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby and other musical icons, Damon knew where his future was headed.
As one of the most talented and creative minds in the music industry, Damon Elliott has already accomplished more than most people only dream of. He is a highly acclaimed producer, writer and composer who has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. Damon has worked with many multi-platinum selling artists including Destiny's Child, Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Pink, Jessica Simpson, Mya, Christina Aguilera, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Macy Gray to name a few.
As a composer Damon scored the movies “Malibu’s Most Wanted” starring Jamie Kennedy, New Regency's “First Daughter” starring Katie Holmes, directed by Forest Whitaker, Austin Powers’ “Goldmember” ,“Mean Girls”, “Fat Albert” and “The Mask 2”.
Damon is currently writing and producing for Spice Girl “Mel B”, Britney Spears and Pink, and as the president and founder of Confidential Records Damon discovered Grammy nominated Keyshia Cole, whose first two albums have sold more than 5 million albums.
Yakub Hazzard, Partner, Dreier, Stein, Kahan, Browne Woods, George LLP
Noted as a ‘Super Lawyer’ that represents artist, managers, and record and publishing companies
Yakub Hazzard is a partner in and co-chair of the firm's Entertainment & Media
Department. His practice focuses on all aspects of the entertainment industry,
including trademark and copyright infringement, rights of publicity and privacy, and
breach of contract, with particular focus on music-related disputes.
Tabetha Plummer, Plummer Law Group
The Family
Ms. Plummer worked in the Business and Legal Affairs Department of
Motown Record Company, LP. While there, she established their copyright department andauthored a copyright instructional manual. Afterwards she opened her own
law firm, Plummer Law Group, PC.
A few of Ms. Plummer’s current clients include: recording
artists, Avant, Snoop Dogg, Omarion and Xzibit.
Aaron Zigman, Composer, Orchestrator
Composer, Orchestrator
Sex and the City, Meet the Browns, Why Did I Get Married
Darrel Thompson, Darrell Thompson at Law
Entertainment Attorney with several clients in the music industry
Darrell Thompson is a highly regarded transactional entertainment attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he received both his BA (’87) and JD (’90). Mr. Thompson started his own firm right out of law school and was fortunate to gain clients such as Raphael Saadiq from Tony, Tone, Toni, Montell Jordan, D’Angelo and Teddy Riley. He took a brief hiatus from private practice in the mid-90’s to work in the business affairs department at Motown Records, where he helped pioneer the company’s transition to digital media. During his tenure at Motown, he negotiated deals for headliners including Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, and Queen Latifah. After returning to private practice Mr. Thompson affiliated himself with two entertainment industry powerhouse law firms, first, Davis, Shapiro, Lewitt, et. al. and second, Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP, where he represented many well-known platinum artists, industry executives, and business enterprises. His cliental throughout the years have included the Black Eye Peas, Tyrese, En Vouge, The Isley Brothers, Phil Collins’ publishing company and Jay Z to name a few.
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