Copyright and Music Creation in the Age of AI: Splits, Royalties, and Rights (CLE)

Join us for an evening of networking and learning! As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly common in music and creative industries, questions about copyright protection and royalties are at the forefront. The Copyright Office and US courts generally agree that works generated entirely by AI are not eligible for registration, but what happens when AI is used as a tool in the creative process? This CLE explores where the line may be drawn for AI-assisted works, what strategies creators and their counsel can use when registering copyrights, and how to navigate emerging challenges in this evolving area of law.

We will kickstart the evening with an hour of networking, followed by the hour panel session.

5:00pm - 6:00pm: Networking hour with beer and wine

6:00pm - 7:00pm: Panel session

This course has been approved by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a maximum of one (1) hour of general credit.

Moderator:

Hillel Frankel, Esq., McGlinchey

Hillel Frankel is Of Counsel with McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC and works out of their Nashville office in the iconic Batman Building focusing on intellectual property and transactional music and entertainment matters. Hillel has more than 25 years of experience in representing artists, writers, producers, production companies, record labels, visual artists and filmmakers in protection of their intellectual property rights and negotiations of complex licensing and purchase agreements. He also provides counsel in business affairs and business development for start-up production and music tech companies, recording companies as well as apparel, branding, sponsorship, cannabis and marketing entities.

In his not-so-former life as musician “Frankie Hill,” Hillel recorded and toured internationally on keyboards and saxophone for numerous bands including GRAMMY-nominated Liquid Soul, LA’s Bonedaddys, and Chicago’s P-1 and Heavy Manners. In Nashville he can be heard on sax and keys on recent recordings for Don Gallardo, Carey Ott, Freaks of Nashville and Saycouth.

Panelists:

Charles Alexander, CEO, ViNIL

When Billy Joel tells you to move to Nashville, you listen. That's exactly what Charles Alexander did, and Music City would never be quite the same.

As CEO of ViNIL, Charles and his co-founders, Jeremy Brook and Sada Garba, are on a mission to defeat digital deception and restore trust and authenticity in the age of AI. But his path has been anything but conventional. Before disrupting the music industry, he worked as a bioinformaticist, applying his expertise in data science and analytics to support scientists contributing to the Human Genome Project and related breakthroughs. He later brought that same analytical precision to digital strategy and music marketing, blending science and storytelling to help artists thrive in today’s technology-driven era.

His innovative approach paid off spectacularly when he helped independent artist Keeley Valentino achieve over 12 million streams for her song "Nashville" in the early days of Spotify – a feat almost unheard of for an independent artist at the time.

As a founder of Streaming Promotions, he pioneered new approaches to playlist marketing and streaming strategy. His client roster reads like a genre-spanning masterclass: from Ryan Cabrera to Keb' Mo' to Jackie Venson. But perhaps his most enduring legacy is "Rock The Net," the first-of-its-kind educational initiative that brought digital marketing literacy to the music industry in Nashville.

Today, Charles wears many other hats: digital strategist, artist manager, and independent singer/songwriter. He's a frequent speaker at major industry events like South by Southwest and the Americana Music Association Festival and Conference, sharing his expertise at the intersection of music and technology. His particular passion lies in advocating for BIPOC artists, with a special focus on supporting the AAPI music community.

When he's not helping artists navigate the digital landscape or speaking at industry conferences, you might find him working on his own music – proof that at heart, he's still that same artist who took Billy Joel's advice and never looked back.

Hayden Harlow, Director of Business & Legal Affairs, Concord Music Publishing

Being a young music industry professional requires passion above all else, which is exactly what Hayden Harlow taps into as he helps shape the future of the industry in Nashville. In his current role as a Director of Business and Legal Affairs at Concord Music Publishing, Hayden negotiates and structures publishing deals with emerging and established songwriters, navigates the complexities of royalty disputes, and most recently, assists in enforcing copyrights across Concord’s catalog.

His path into music law has been as dynamic as the industry itself. After earning his J.D. and a Master’s in Music Business at the University of Miami and law license in Tennessee, Hayden found his footing in Nashville alongside top attorneys like Elizabeth Gregory, representing legendary rock bands and producers here in Nashville and beyond. This experience served as the perfect launchpad for a newly-minted attorney.

Originally from the world of competitive athletics, Hayden was a varsity swimmer at Penn State, where he set program records and even competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. That same competitive spirit carried him from Miami to Nashville, where he now channels his discipline and drive into protecting creators and making sure their music finds its place in the world.

Marc Rucker, Associate Director, Artists & Industry Relations, SoundExchange

Marc Rucker serves as Associate Director within the Brand Marketing and Industry Relations group at SoundExchange. Marc is responsible for establishing and building key artist, management, and content owner relationships. He helps raise the profile of SoundExchange in the music industry and deepen creator engagement in Nashville and beyond.

Marc is a passionate ally to the creative community who has been embedded in the music industry for over 15 years, with experience in artist & business management, publishing, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Before joining SoundExchange, he managed the careers of multiple successful recording artists, helped co-found Young Entertainment Professionals and consulted on live entertainment in major sports venues. Marc has also participated in the charity boxing match Rumble on The Row and is an active participant and investor in the web3, AI and digital asset ecosystems.