Educated songwriters are empowered songwriters.

Music & Money is an educational series designed to help music creators feel empowered to navigate financial decisions and grow wealth with clarity and confidence. 

Watch and Learn

Year 2/Session 3: Songwriter to C-Suite

Kay Hanley (moderator) – Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Songwriter/composer

Larry Mestel (panelist) – Academy Award-nominated Producer, Founder & CEO Primary Wave Music

Anne Preven (panelist) – Grammy-nominated Songwriter & Co-Founder Pulse Music Group

Bruce Waynne (panelist) – Grammy-nominated Songwriter & CEO IWP

Year 2 / Session 2: Sync to Swim

Kellie Brown (EmCee) - COO, SONA Foundation and SONA
Choklate (panelist) – Songwriter & Artist
Amberly Crouse (panelist) – SVP Sync Services & Partnerships, BMG
Tom Dean (panelist) – Partner, LaPolt Law
Kevin Edelman (panelist) – Music Supervisor, CEO Metalman Media
Kay Hanley (moderator) – Emmy and Peabody Award-winning songwriter/composer

Presented in partnership with City National Bank
Hosted by BMI in Beverly Hills, CA

Year 2 / Session 1: Writing for Film/TV

Kay Hanley (moderator) – Emmy and Peabody Award-winning songwriter/composer Michelle Lewis (panelist) – Emmy and Peabody Award-winning songwriter/composer Angie Rubin (panelist) – Music Editor
Taura Stinson (panelist) – Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated songwriter/composer
Jay Stutler (panelist) – Senior Vice President, Music at Walt Disney Television Animation
John Bitrick (host)– Senior Consultant, Media & Entertainment and CFO/Co-Founder, SONA Foundation | Senior Consultant, Media & Entertainment

Presented in partnership with City National Bank
Hosted by BMI in Beverly Hills, CA

Year 1 / Session 4: How Songwriters Get Paid

AG (Adrianne Gonzalez): Panelist; Songwriter/Producer/Mix Engineer, byAGInc.
Annie Aberle: Panelist; Senior Vice President/Head of Creative, Pulse Music Group
John Bitrick: EmCee; SONA Foundation CFO/Co-Founder, Senior Consultant, Media & Entertainment
Serona Elton: Panelist; Head of Educational Partnerships for the MLC
Kay Hanley: Moderator; Songwriter, Composer, Producer
David Streit: Panelist; Director, Creative at BMI

Presented in partnership with City National Bank

Year 1 / Session 3: Building Your Business and Brand

Lindsay Arrington: Panelist, Partner LaPolt Law
Angelique Cinelu: Panelist; Songwriter and Co-Founder Hits to Healing
Denise Colletta: Moderator; Senior Vice President and Head of Music at City National Bank
Tina Fasbender: Panelist; Founder & President, Fasbender Financial Management
Kay Hanley: Host, Songwriter, Co-Founder SONA, Board Chair SONA Foundation
Jeff Jampol: Panelist; CEO Jampol Artist Management

Presented in partnership with City National Bank

Year 1 / Session 2: Put Your Catalog to Work

Claire Bernardin: Senior A&R Manager, BMG
John Bitrick: Host; Senior Consultant, Media & Entertainment; CFO, The SONA Foundation
Michaela Green: Music Creative Executive, Netflix Original Film
Kay Hanley: Moderator; Songwriter; Chair, The SONA Foundation
Brian Kennedy: Songwriter; Producer; Founder, Hits To Healing; Board Member, The SONA Foundation
Arielle Silver: Songwriter; Board President, Folk Alliance Region West; Program Manager, The SONA Foundation

Presented in partnership with City National Bank

Year 1 / Session 1: Financial Planning for the Music Creator

John Bitrick: Moderator, Senior Consultant, Media & Entertainment, CFO/Treasurer SONA Foundation
Lindsay Arrington: Partner LaPolt Law
Denise Colletta: SVP Entertainment Banking, City National Bank
Kay Hanley: Songwriter, Co-Founder SONA
Mark Pariser: CPA/Business Manager, Partner Dunn Pariser Peyrot, CFO/Treasurer SONA

Presented in partnership with City National Bank