AIMP LA Names PEN Music Group Indie Publisher of the Year, Will Honor

Jay Rosenthal with Individual Award at December 5th Holiday Party

Los Angeles, CA – November 21, 2019 – The Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) will honor PEN Music Group, Inc. with its Indie Publisher of the Year Award and the late Jay Rosenthal with its Individual Award in support of Songwriters & Publishers at this year’s “LA Chapter Holiday Awards, Mixer & Benefit“ on December 5th at BMI’s offices in Los Angeles.

PEN Music Group, Inc. was selected in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The company is a full-service independent music publisher that was co-founded in 1994 by President Michael Eames, a former AIMP President, as an alternative to large multi-national publishers. PEN’s catalogue spans decades and genres with songs like the standard “All of Me,” the Stevie Ray Vaughan classic “Crossfire,” the iconic “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing, the Christina Aguilera classic “Genie in a Bottle” (recently interpolated by both Camila Cabello and Jason Derulo), “Buy Me a Rose” (which was a hit for both Kenny Rogers and Luther Vandross), “The Man” by Aloe Blacc, and the recent “Have It All” by Jason Mraz, among countless others. PEN also secures hundreds of synch placements each year and supports and develops songwriters/producers/artists such as Todd Wright, Mikey Wax, Josh Bartholomew/Lisa Harriton, ShyBoy, Jacob Lee, and many others. In addition, PEN is associated with four albums that are nominated for 2020 GRAMMY Awards: the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and A Star Is Born soundtracks, both up for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media; John Legend’s A Legendary Christmas, up for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album; and Sugaray Rayford’s Somebody Save Me, up for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

“PEN Music Group has been a true ally for independent songwriters over the last quarter-century, and we couldn’t be happier to present them with our Indie Publisher of the Year Award,” said Teri Nelson-Carpenter, AIMP National Chair and LA Chapter President. “Michael Eames and his company have helped countless songwriters land their tracks on major albums, secure lucrative sync placements, and otherwise advance their careers, all while working to improve the overall landscape for all rights-holders. Here’s to another 25 years!”

Prior to his untimely passing on November 2nd, the AIMP LA Board voted to recognize Jay Rosenthal for his lifelong dedication to independent songwriters and publishers, as well as his recent work in support of the Music Modernization Act (MMA). The presentation will now serve as a tribute to his considerable life’s work, including serving as a Partner at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP and Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA). Rosenthal worked extensively on developing and implementing the NMPA Late Fee and Modernization Programs; worked with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other domestic and international stakeholders on national and international anti-piracy matters; and counseled the NMPA on copyright policy and reform. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Rosenthal held a series of Washington, DC Update events, where AIMP Premier members could hear him discuss the latest legal developments affecting independent publishers and songwriters, particularly regarding the MMA.

“Jay’s passing was a true blow to the publishing community, independent or otherwise, and while we will be paying tribute to his life, we originally voted to honor the very real contributions he made to our industry in the past year,” said Nelson-Carpenter. “Without him, we would not be nearly as far along with the MMA’s long-overdue overhaul of music publishing rights, an accomplishment that will carry his legacy forward for years to come.”

Registration for the “LA Chapter Holiday Awards, Mixer & Benefit” is available now via this link. While the event is open to AIMP members only, each member may bring one guest. A portion of all admission fees will benefit the AIMP Linda Komorsky Liker Scholarship Fund. The scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time in Fall 2020, is available to full-time students in good standing who are enrolled in an accredited, music industry studies bachelor’s degree program in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Applicants must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, or continuing senior in the Fall 2020 school term. The application deadline is April 6, 2020, with the recipient being announced on May 21, 2020. The scholarship will be available for use in the Fall 2020 semester. Application materials are available now at www.aimp.org/scholarship.

There will also be a food and toy drive benefitting The City of Hope and a local food shelter. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable cans and packages of food (vegetables, beans, meat, soup, pasta, baby food, etc.) and any new unwrapped boys or girls toys.

About AIMP
The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) was formed in 1977 and has local chapters in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville. The organization’s primary focus is to educate and inform music publishers about the most current industry trends and practices by providing a forum for the discussion of the issues and problems confronting the music publishing industry. The opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions with others on issues of mutual concern is fostered by the atmosphere at the AIMP’s monthly meetings, forums, and workshops, the videos of which can be seen (along with more general info on the organization) at www.aimp.org.

AIMP Media Contact
Laurie Jakobsen, Jaybird Communications — laurie@jaybirdcom.com, 646.484.6764
Bill Greenwood, Jaybird Communications – bill@jaybirdcom.com, 609.221.2374