BMI New York is proud to announce the rollout of a new bi-monthly music industry workshop and panel series for 2007. Produced in conjunction with Gibson Guitar and Billboard magazine, the first "Industry Insider" entitled "Music in Film: Soundtracks in 2007" will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the Gibson Baldwin NY Showroom (421 West 54th Street) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free; please R.S.V.P. to rsvp@bmi.com with the panel date in the subject.
This new panel series, modeled after a program created in 2006 by BMI Los Angeles staff, offers an inside look into the making and marketing of music. Noted industry taste-makers will provide insight on hot topics affecting songwriters, musicians, managers and the industry at large. In addition to the inaugural "Music in Film" panel, future topics include "Building Your High-Octane Team" (April 10), "A&R: Getting Their Attention" (June 12), "Groups That Support You and Your Music" (Aug. 14) and "Publishing 101: You\'ve Got a Hit, Now What" (Oct. 9).
The N.Y. "Industry Insider" series will launch on Feb. 13 with tips and tricks from established film music executives, who will discuss soundtrack placements, networking and how to make the perfect pitch in a moderated Q&A format. Panelists include music supervisors Jim Dunbar and Janice Ginsberg; Karen Lamberton, VP, Soundtracks and Film & TV Music, RCA Music Group; Gillian Morris, Senior VP, Film & Television Music/Licensing, Wind-Up Records; and moderator Steven Scharf; Senior VP, Creative, Carlin America & President, Steven Scharf Entertainment.
Janice Ginsberg\'s 20-plus year career includes working with artists of all genres as a talent acquisition executive, music supervisor, music publisher and producer. Ginsberg\'s experience encompasses many credits in radio, TV, feature films and soundtrack albums. Consultancies have included her acting as U.S. representative for Italy\'s CAM Original Soundtracks (Il Postino), a joint venture with music publisher Carlin America and Greene Street Films for whom she established a music publishing division. Presently, Ginsberg is developing a music department for the Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation. Her production credits include Standing in the Shadows of Motown-The Story of the Funk Brothers, Strange Brew: The Story of Cream and Let the Good Times Roll: The Roots of American Music...New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Music supervisor and consultant credits include Sisters, The Hip-Hop Project and Snow Angels.
Jim Dunbar is a New York-based music supervisor and producer. His credits include Kimberley Peirce\'s Boys Don\'t Cry, Richard Linklater\'s School of Rock, Wes Anderson\'s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and Martin Scorsese\'s The Aviator. Among his current projects are Todd Haynes\' I\'m Not There, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini\'s The Nanny Diaries, and an untitled project by Kimberley Peirce. Prior to working in film, Dunbar was a senior A&R executive at Capitol, Columbia and Geffen Records, and worked as a DJ for radio stations WHFS and KUSF.
Gillian Morris is currently Senior Vice President of Film & Television Music/Licensing at Wind-Up Records, responsible for licensing Wind-Up\'s master and publishing rights for film and TV placement, as well as overseeing the company\'s soundtrack division. Prior to joining Wind-Up in 2000, Morris was an independent music supervisor for a series of independent films in New York City, and prior to that, oversaw the film and television licensing department at Arista Records in Los Angeles.
Music executive Karen Lamberton started her career at Thorn EMI in Los Angeles, later becoming an assistant at Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency where she worked with such top composers as Ennio Morricone, Hank Zimmer and Michael Kamen. Other experience includes positions at Capitol Records, Worlds End and Quincy Jones\' music publishing company, where she rose to VP. She joined J Records in 2001 as VP of Soundtracks and Film/TV Music, establishing a licensing division and overseeing the procurement and making of soundtrack albums. She also worked with such artists as Maroon 5, Alicia Keys and Gavin DeGraw at J, and after the BMG merger, she took on the additional responsibility of working the RCA roster, which included Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera, among others. She is currently VP of Soundtracks and Film & TV Music at RCA Music Group, overseeing a vibrant staff and a roster of artists well-represented in the area of soundtrack albums and film, TV, and advertising.
Steven Scharf\'s 38 years in the recording industry has covered areas of record producing, A&R, music publishing, and the management of record producers, film and TV composers, and artists. In 1991, he founded Steven Scharf Entertainment, a producer management company representing a wide array of talent, including producers Julius "Juice" Butty and Rob Friedman, composers Mark Suozzo and Barry Goldberg, and artists Ali Eskandarian, Intercooler and 46bliss, among others. He has also ventured with legendary music publisher Freddy Bienstock of Carlin America Inc., where he is currently Senior VP of Creative, concentrating on all film/TV/advertising and song placements.
The "Industry Insider" series was created by the BMI Los Angeles Writer/Publisher Relations team in conjunction with Gibson Guitar and Billboard to provide BMI songwriters with music industry insider resources essential for success. Moderated by a rotating group of professionals from the three companies, the panel series offers a direct link to the inner-workings of the music business from the perspective of established music professionals. Educational support for the creative community is a cornerstone of BMI\'s songwriter outreach programs, and through such programs, BMI fosters networking and career-developing skills and talents.