Valensi Rose Managing Partner Michael R. Morris will moderate a panel discussion on “Music Publisher Rates Royalties and Fees: 2026 and Beyond,” hosted by the California Copyright Conference.

The September 29 presentation, which starts at 2:30 p.m., will be held via Zoom. Registration, available online, is free to members of the Conference, and $7 for non-members.

Understanding and navigating the complex world of music rates and royalties can be a daunting task even for experts. The panel will discuss what those in the entertainment industry need to know when dealing with the primary revenue areas of Performances, Mechanicals and Synchronization.

The panelists will include:

Jeff Brabec, Senior Vice President for Business and Legal Affairs, BMG Rights Management. Mr. Brabec specializes in evaluating, analyzing, projecting income, and negotiating music publishing catalog acquisitions. A graduate of New York University School of Law, he has also been a government legal services attorney. He is the co-author of the book Music, Money, and Success: The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business.

Todd Brabec, author, educator, entertainment law attorney and consultant, is a former ASCAP Executive Vice President and Worldwide Director of Membership. He is an Adjunct Professor at USC, where he teaches about licensing of music, film, TV, and video games. He is co-author of Music, Money, and Success: The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business and authored the “Music Publishing Law” chapter in The Essential Guide to Entertainment Law. 

Serona Elton is Head of Educational Partnerships at The Mechanical Licensing Collective, where she directs The MLC’s efforts to engage college students in the music industry. Elton is also Vice Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, as well as a full professor and Chair of the Music Industry Department at the school. Previously she worked at Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group, as an expert in licensing and royalties. She is co-author of the book Music Business Handbook and Career Guide (13th edition).

Michael Morris has blended his tax law expertise with his passion for music and entertainment, resulting in a practice that is unique. As a former trial lawyer for the IRS and a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, Michael provides insightful resolutions to his clients’ complicated tax, estate, and business transaction issues. In the entertainment industry, Michael has developed a strong reputation of providing valuable and effective business solutions in areas such as copyright and contractual matters.

Although Michael’s core competency is within the tax arena and entertainment, he has developed significant expertise covering a wide range of businesses. His diverse client base includes major studio executives, recording artists (including Grammy winners), production companies, film and TV composers, talent agencies, payroll companies, skin healthcare companies, post-production houses, software companies, and an award-winning winery.

The California Copyright Conference was established in 1953 for the discussion of copyright-related areas pertaining to music and entertainment. Today its 300-plus members represent all areas of the music and entertainment industry, including publishers, songwriters/composers, attorneys, music supervisors, representatives from trade publications, performing rights societies, music libraries, motion pictures, television, multimedia, Internet, and record companies.