The mechanical licensing team (MLC) conducted four appointments to its advisory committees, including one appointment to the dispute resolution committee and three appointments to the Consulting Committee on Operations.
Firstly, Jennifer Falco (senior vice president, licensing in the HipGnose Songs group) was appointed to the dispute resolution committee.
In her role, Falco leads all media licensing operations, including mechanical, digital, synchronization, karaoke, and printing. Having focused on negotiations of general licenses on large platforms, such as streaming, audiovisual, and fitness, MLC states that Falco plays a crucial role in forming licensing strategies.
Previously, Falco was affiliated with a music group.
Additionally, Sean McGrow (Senior Vice President of Catalogs at Downtown Music Publishing) was reappointed to the dispute resolution committee.
The dispute resolution committee provides recommendations to the Council on Policy and Processing of Royalties related to works that are subject to property disputes, consisting of five songwriters and five representatives of music publishers.
Iwona Wyrzykowska (Senior Vice President of Global Movie and Television Management and Digital Administration at Universal Music Publishing Group) was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Operations.
With over 18 years of experience in music publishing, Wyrzykowska has played a pivotal role in global cinema and television management, digital operations, and copyright management. Her achievements at Universal Music Publishing Group include significant advancements in music metadata and content management systems.
Jessica Richling O’Melly (Vice President of Mechanical Licensing, Copyright, and Archives at Warner Chappell Music) was also appointed to the Advisory Committee for Operations. With more than 18 years in the music industry, MLC recognizes her as a “proven leader” in music licensing, adept at managing complex operations and innovative strategies.
Before her leadership role at Warner Chappell, Jessica spent nine years overseeing music licensing for Viacom’s flagship programming, MTV, and significantly contributed to the development of global music licensing at Beachbody.
Christina Johnson (Vice President of Copyright at Kobalt Music) also joins the Advisory Committee on Operations. With over ten years in the industry, Johnson has held key roles at Universal Music Publishing Group, including Senior Director for North American Copyright, focusing on copyright innovations and operational efficiency in the music sector.
Johnson specializes in the intersection of publishing administrative operations and system development and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
Additionally, Ana Ruis (founder and client acquirer at Drive Music Publishing) was reappointed to the Advisory Committee on Operations.
The MLC advisory committee provides recommendations on policies and procedures related to the team’s operations, focusing on effective investments and the deployment of information technologies. It consists of six representatives from music publishers and six from digital music providers.
Supervision of Unclaimed Royalties
MLC also has an unclaimed royalty committee, which recommends policies and procedures regarding the distribution of unclaimed accrued fees. This committee comprises five songwriters and five representatives from music publishers.
Patrick Kerli (President of Third Side Music Inc.) and Frank Livall (CEO of The Royalty Network Inc.) were reappointed to the Committee for the Supervision of Unclaimed Royalties.
“After thorough consideration, we chose individuals who bring diverse perspectives and experience, ensuring that our committees continue to reflect and meet the needs of the musical community.”
Alice Coleman, MLC
Commenting on the appointments, Alisa Coleman, chairman of the board of directors at MLC, stated: “On behalf of the MLC council and the appointment committee, this process underscores our commitment to advancing our mission.
“After thoughtful deliberation, we selected individuals who bring various viewpoints and expertise, guaranteeing that our committees will continue to reflect and meet the needs of the musical community.”
Lucas focuses on the interaction between music and society. He specializes in how music influences and reflects cultures, analyzing the role of sound in social, political, and cultural events around the world.
