Thursday, February 12th
Our special guest this week, Julie Swidler, GC & EVP of Sony Music will Present on:
Trust, Talent, and Timing: Negotiation Lessons from a Career Resolving Music Industry Disputes
The music industry operates on a mix of contracts, creativity, ego and long memory. In this close-knit ecosystem, successful dispute resolution therefore depends as much on timing, trust and relationship management as it does on legal leverage.
In this session, Julie Swidler, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Sony Music, will share lessons learned from years of resolving disputes involving artists, producers, and global business partners, while highlighting the business realities and cultural dynamics that outsiders often miss.
As the veteran GC of one of the world’s leading music companies, Julie has guided teams of lawyers, creatives, and businesspeople around the world through an unprecedented period of disruption and innovation. As a result, Julie offers a truly unparalleled perspective on the music industry’s enduring and evolving patterns, and will reflect on what changes, what doesn’t, and why certain approaches consistently succeed.
Attendees can expect to gain concrete insight into:
· how mediators can add value by understanding industry pressure points.
· the mediator behaviors that are most effective
· the pitfalls that derail otherwise promising talks, and
· how industry-specific business considerations shape settlement decisions long before anyone enters a mediation room.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting your local food bank
Our presenter:
Julie Swidler is one of the music industry’s most accomplished business affairs executives, currently serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Sony Music Entertainment.
Since 2008, she has led Sony’s global legal, business and government affairs, shaping major negotiations, artist contacts and strategic ventures including the company’s expansion into podcasting. Her pioneering impact has been recognized with numerous honors: she was the first label executive and first woman to receive the Grammy Foundation’s ELI Service Award and has also been awarded the Music Business Association’s Presidential Award, alongside repeated recognition by Billboard and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Throughout her career, Swidler has played key roles at PolyGram, Arista and J Records prior to joining Sony Music. She is known for her advocacy on behalf of artists and her commitment to diversity having served on the Recording Academy’s Task Force on diversity and inclusion, which led to meaningful industry reforms.
Beyond her executive work, she is deeply involved in philanthropy including leadership with the T.J. Martell Foundation and in 2023, she was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees for Union College, her alma mater.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ), Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.