AIMP Panel

Place: View Map
House of Blues
8430 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064

From left, Jill Berliner, Esq., Andy Gould, Lionel Conway, Donald Passman, Esq., David Cohen and AIMP board member Linda Newmark.

Photos by Liz Redwing, courtesy of House of Blues, Sunset. 

Additional Speaker Information

Jill H. Berliner was admitted to bar in 1984, California, U.S. District Court, Central District of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A. with honors in history, 1979); University of Southern California (J.D., 1984). Member and Editor, University of Southern California Law Review, 1982-1984. Awarded an " AV " Rating by Martindale Hubbell each year for the last ten years (2000-2010). "AV" means highest possible peer review rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards.

David Cohen , former Vice Chairman - Interscope Records. A true Music industry veteran, David has worked inside major record labels for many years including 19 years with Interscope and a long tenure at CBS records as VP of Business Affairs. David holds an MBA in corporate finance from NYU.

Lionel Conway began his career in the music industry with legendary publisher, Dick James. During his tenure with DJM, Conway worked with the Beatles, Elton John and other renowned writers. Conway was then tapped by music icon Chris Blackwell, to launch and oversee Island Publishing. During his 21 years with Island, he personally signed some of the world’s finest writing talent: Cat Stevens, Dave Stewart, Robert Palmer, Tom Waits, Mick Jones (Foreigner), Paul Rogers (Bad Company), Andy Fraser (Free), Jimmy Cliff, and U2. In 1992, Conway joined Madonna’s new company, Maverick, as President of Publishing, working very closely with both Madonna and manager, Freddie De Mann. There, he signed Grammy winner, Lucinda Williams, and platinum acts Vertical Horizon and Candlebox. In 2001, Mosaic Media Group enlisted Conway to build and run the newly created Mosaic Music Publishing, where he acquired such gems as the Daksel Seldak Catalog and signing a host of writers including an unknown Bobby Pinson, who would become one of Nashville’s most important songsmiths, winning BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2009. In 2005, Mosaic sold its publishing assets to Stage Three Music and Conway was asked to continue as President, overseeing all North American company activities. Over the past five years, Conway has continued building the value of the catalog through strategic acquisitions and signing writers like the Grammy winning, double ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Brett James, Heather Bright, Michael Shimshack and Jon Mabe. In 2010, Stage Three Music was acquired by BMG where Lionel continues to manage and guide the company’s publishing activities.

Manager/film producer Andy Gould began his career at age 15 as the messenger boy for Chappell Music. He quickly moved into the world of music publishing at Screen Gems where he worked with Carole King, David Gates (Bread) and many other classic songwriters. Gould was then sought out by CBS Publishing, and during his tenure at CBS Gould worked with Billy Joel, ELO, Kansas, and had hit records with Pat Benatar, Rainbow, and The Pointer Sisters. In 1983 he left CBS to join Worldwide Entertainment, co-managing Kool & the Gang and the Manhattans. In 1989 Gould formed Concrete Management & Marketing building a solid reputation as the management force behind the successful heavy metal bands White Zombie, Pantera, Metal Church and Anthrax. In 1993 Gould formed his own company, Andy Gould Management in L.A., where he continued his successful relationship with Rob Zombie. In 2001, Gould partnered with The Firm where along with his own roster he worked with The Firm’s impressive list of musical talents including Korn, Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias. After five years as Partner at The Firm, Gould re-formed his own company, Spectacle Entertainment Group, where he continued to manage Grammy-nominated artist and film writer/director, Rob Zombie. In 2006, Spectacle partnered with Irving Azoff’s Front Line Management Group, where Gould has worked with Guns N’ Roses, Morrissey, Les Claypool, Glenn Danzig, and Static-X, and currently DEVO. Gould has also worked as a producer with all of Zombie’s films including the controversial and critically acclaimed Lionsgate films HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS. Gould also produced Zombie’s re-imagining of a horror classic, HALLOWEEN (2007) for The Weinstein Company, which broke Labor Day box office records.

Donald S. Passman is the author of “All You Need To Know About The Music Business”, and a graduate of the University of Texas and Harvard Law School. He practices law with the Los Angeles firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, and has specialized in the music business for over thirty years. He has lectured extensively on the music industry, including Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, USC Law School, UCLA Law School, the Los Angeles Copyright Society, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Don is also the author of two novels, “The Visionary” and “Mirage”, published by Warner Books. Don has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for over twenty years, as well as the Top 100 Lawyers in California, the Top 500 Attorneys in America, Hollywood Reporter’s Top 100 Entertainment Attorneys, and Southern California's Super Lawyers.