Before joining Sprint, John was a co-founder of Orbit Commerce, an eBusiness platform for the delivery of web-based applications to small and medium-sized businesses.  Orbit had numerous Fortune 500 clients and was sold to a public company in 2001.  He also worked several years in high-tech consulting where he led technology teams that worked out of the Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto, Calif.  

John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames, and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Aydin S. Caginalp is a former member of Alston & Bird's Partners’ Committee (the firm’s management committee) and the former partner-in-charge of Alston & Bird’s New York office.  He is also the chair of the Media and Digital Commerce Group.  His practice is concentrated on business transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, private equity and general corporate and commercial matters, with an emphasis on international matters, entertainment and new media.  He is listed in “Best Lawyers” and “Super Lawyers.” 

Aydin has worked extensively in the media and e-commerce field in connection with the acquisition of technology companies, music, broadcast and production companies throughout the world.  In connection with Internet activities, he has worked in the establishment of ISP services, search engine companies, e-commerce companies and various initiatives involving delivery of music and entertainment products through the Internet, as well as digital rights management.

David Card analyzes the media and music industries, focusing on cross-media programming, online revenue streams, and audience segmentation. Previously, he directed media and marketing research, and, as Jupiter's Research Development VP, he helped guide coverage architecture, research methodologies, and overall quality.

Integrating his widespread digital authority in music, mobile, IPTV and product & service development, Ted Cohen is the Managing Partner of TAG Strategic.

In an industry that's been slow to embrace change, Cohen is the exception to the stereotypical music-exec rule. Of course, when you start a career on the road with Alice Cooper and Van Halen, you're more primed for the unexpected.

Known throughout the technology and music industries as being "part ambassador and part evangelist," Cohen was instrumental in crafting the licensing agreements upon which the Rhapsody subscription service and the iTunes Music Store were built.

In his previous role as Senior Vice President of Digital Development & Distribution for EMI Music (home of artists including Coldplay and the Rolling Stones), Cohen led next-generation digital business development worldwide for this "big four" record company, which includes labels such as Capitol, Virgin, Angel/Blue Note, Parlophone and Chrysalis.  During that time, EMI led the industry by embracing and exploiting new technologies and business models such as digital downloads and online music subscriptions, custom compilations, wireless services, high-definition audio and Internet radio.

In addition to seeking out, evaluating and executing business opportunities for the company on a global basis, Cohen served as both a strategist and key decision-maker for EMI's global new media and anti-piracy efforts. He worked to establish company-wide digital policies, which have provided EMI's artists and labels a substantial advantage in the digital music arena.

Prior to his role at EMI, Cohen served as Executive Vice President of Digital Music Network Inc., where he co-founded and served as Chairman of the groundbreaking Webnoize conferences.

Cohen also led two highly successful new media consulting operations, DMN Consulting and Consulting Adults, attracting clients such as Amazon.com, Microsoft, Universal Studios, DreamWorks Records, Liquid Audio, Wherehouse Records/Checkout.com and various other entertainment, technology and new media organizations. Cohen also held senior management positions at both Warner Bros. Records and Philips Media.

A 30-year industry veteran, Cohen was recently elected Chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas board, and currently chairs MidemNet, an international music/technology conference convened in Cannes each year.  Cohen also serves on the NARAS (Grammy) Los Angeles chapter Board of Governors as well as the national Trustee Board, the Board of Directors for the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund, co-chairs the new media arm of the T.J. Martell Foundation, and lends his time and talents to music & technology education efforts such as the Grammy In The Schools Program.

Mr. Driscoll’s practice is based in the entertainment and media industries, with a focus on intellectual property transactions and counseling.   His clients include television networks, production companies, publishers, motion picture studios, theatrical producers, and individual authors and artists.  Mr. Driscoll also devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing advertising agencies, advertisers and other companies involved in the marketing field, particularly with respect to advertiser-financed entertainment productions, sponsorships, product integrations and other “branded entertainment” projects. 

Mr. Driscoll is a member of the Copyright Society and a past member of the New York City bar’s Committee on Copyright and Literary Property, the International Trademark Association’s Internet Committee, and the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Theatre and Performing Arts.  He also served as a law clerk to Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Mr. Driscoll obtained his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his law degree from the Columbia University School of Law.

Jason Fiber · President · Cordless Recordings

In 2001, Fiber founded Superfecta Recordings, an independent record label based in Los Angeles focused on reissuing out of print music titles from alternative artists.  As Superfecta’s president, Fiber was responsible for all day-to-day operations of the label, including sales, purchasing, marketing and distribution.  Fiber also founded and managed The Ideal Copy, an online retailer bringing hard to find titles to genre enthusiasts.

Prior to that, Fiber worked at Wherehouse Music, a leader in entertainment retailing.  As Vice President of Internet Services for Wherehouse, Fiber spearheaded the creation and expansion of the company’s online retail business and oversaw the development of in-store, digital music sampling stations.  Fiber also created and produced an Internet-based, weekly music talk show, “The Wherehouse Lounge.”  Before joining the Wherehouse, Fiber was a producer and project manager at the Web development agency, BoxTop Interactive/iXL, where he ran the entertainment group, producing websites for recording artists Rage Against the Machine and Alanis Morissette and brands such as, Guess Clothing and UPN.  

From 1993-1996, Fiber held the lead management role at World Domination Recordings, an independent label subsidiary of Capitol Records.  He began his career in the A&R department at Epic Records.

Fiber is a founding member of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers’ (NARM) Online Retailing Committee.  A frequent speaker at leading music industry events, Fiber has also been a spokesperson for the music industry in USA Today, The Los Angeles Times and Billboard.  He earned his bachelors degree in Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Thomas Hesse · President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales ·

Thomas Hesse was named President, Global Digital Business, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT upon the completion of the merger of SONY Music and BMG in 2004, and in January of 2007 he assumed the additional responsibility for U.S. Sales. Mr. Hesse is based in New York.

As President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Mr. Hesse oversees the Global Digital Business operating group, which develops the company’s digital revenues worldwide, as well as all aspects of the U.S. sales division.

From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Hesse served as BMG's Chief Strategic Officer. During this time, he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions and business development, as well as for directing BMG's digital business and new technology initiatives.

Prior to joining BMG, he was Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Strategy at Bertelsmann AG in Guetersloh, Germany. Mr. Hesse had previously held a number of executive positions at the company's television division RTL, including Secretary General of RTL Television, Germany’s largest commercial broadcaster, where he ran the network’s program acquisition and distribution groups, and CEO of RTL NEW MEDIA, where he built up the company's internet and digital television activities as well as other ancillary businesses. He began his career in media and entertainment as a corporate consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on Media and Corporate Finance.

He holds a BA and MA in Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University, an MSc in Economics from London School of Economics and a Doctorate in Finance from St. Gallen University, Switzerland. He studied as a concert pianist at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Hochschule fuer Musik in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Martin was previously a Partner with Bain & Company, a major international strategy consulting firm.  While at Bain, he headed the Media and Entertainment Practice.

Martin grew up in the UK, and has lived and worked in Europe, Australia and the United States.  He holds an MA from Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford.

Robert Khedouri, 36, is Co-Founder of MusicGremlin, Inc., which has launched the first wireless digital audio player that together with the company’s accompanying music service, create a breakthrough digital music experience. With the Gremlin and MusicGremlin music service, consumers can discover, purchase, manage, control and legally share their music collections directly from their digital audio players – all wirelessly and without requiring a PC.
Prior to starting MusicGremlin, Mr. Khedouri was a consultant with McKinsey & Company where he consulted across a variety of industries, including the recorded music industry and the technology sector. While at McKinsey, he also served as acting Chief Operating Officer for a successful internally-funded start-up venture of a major corporation, creating a secure proprietary platform for the delivery of streaming and downloadable audio and video over the Internet.

Stephen Knill · President, Entertainment ·

Stephen Knill is President, Entertainment for The Radiate Group, a global network comprised of 28 independently branded, best-in-class marketing services agencies. Radiate is part of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC), the world’s largest marketing services organizations. Knill develops new projects for existing entertainment focused agencies and their brand clients. He joined Radiate Group agency, GMR, in 1989 to develop “Marketing with Music programming.  He has negotiated and managed numerous music alliances for clients such as Miller Brewing, Kraft Foods, and DaimlerChrysler, among others. Before joining GMR, Knill held various marketing and promotion positions at music labels and artist management firms. His career started as a recording and touring musician. 

Bob Kohn is co-founder, Chairman and CEO of RoyaltyShare Inc., the industry leader in web-based royalty processing. Kohn is a leading expert on music licensing and intellectual property law & policy, and as an entrepreneur was a pioneer in digital music distribution. He is the co-author of Kohn On Music Licensing (Aspen Law & Business, 3rd Edition 2002), a 1,600 page legal treatise which USA Today called, the bible on legal issues in the music world.

In 1998, Bob founded EMusic.com, Inc., the pioneering MP3 music-download service which was acquired in 2001 by Universal Music Group. Until recently, Kohn served vice chairman of the board of Borland Software Corporation where he previously served as senior vice president and general counsel. Prior to that, he was an associate attorney at the law offices of Milton A. "Mickey" Rudin, an entertainment law firm whose clients included Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, and Cher.

Kohn serves on the editorial board of the Entertainment Law Reporter and has taught law at Monterey College of Law in Monterey, California. He is a frequent lecturer and panelist at industry conferences.

Marty Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer, Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA): As DCIA’s CEO, Marty Lafferty is responsible for industry outreach, strategic development and management of all association initiatives. He is an accomplished new media industry leader with a track record of successful multi-business collaboration and excellence in pioneering the distribution of content via new technologies.

Throughout his career, Lafferty has served in senior leadership positions for some of the world’s most innovative technology and entertainment companies. Lafferty joined DCIA from Lafferty Media Partners LLC (LMP) where he served as Managing Partner. Prior to LMP, he was CEO of Zoom Culture, which he transformed from a year-old dotcom into a thriving digital television and new media firm within 24 months, working with partners including NBC and PAX TV. He also led Zoom’s software development team and partnered with Apple engineers to serve as the first Beta client for Scale 8’s advanced global storage network and edge content distribution system. Previously he served as CMO for StreamSearch.com, where he oversaw the conversion of streaming video search engines from a technological to an entertainment market focus, working with and for major studios such as Paramount and Artisan. During his tenure as Microsoft TV VP of Corporate & Service Marketing, Lafferty supported the strategic refocus of Microsoft’s WebTV acquisition from a purely B2C niche subscription offering to a B2B application suite for multichannel service distributors and their set-top suppliers, in addition to introducing plans for the Xbox game console.

Lafferty has received recognition from, and held leadership positions in, numerous industry organizations throughout his career. He was awarded the Council for Entrepreneurial Development Award as a top-fifty new company. He served as Membership Chairman of the Interactive Services Association, and was named Chairman of the International Digital Satellite Television Symposium. Lafferty also co-founded the Satellite Broadcasting Communications Association and served as its first Vice Chairman.

Lafferty holds a Master’s degree from Yale University and Bachelors with honors from Williams College. He has received the NCTA’s President’s Award and a CTAM TAMI Award for industry service.

Over the past twenty years, Jennifer Lane has been actively involved in all aspects of radio station and internet radio station operations and management. Her experience extends from sales and marketing to general and group management in small, medium and large markets. She is a Certified Radio Marketing Consultant. In 2003 Ms. Lane launched Net Radio Sales.

Ms Lane was an early and active advocate for the online radio industry. She was a vocal participant in early copyright fee issues (CARP) affecting the industry. She has written several articles and appeared on several panels to speak on the topic of revenue development for the internet radio industry. For the past several years she has been a judge for the EPpy Awards recognizing excellence in websites.

Ms. Lane has been a pioneer in revenue development strategies for the internet radio industry. Prior to launching Net Radio Sales, she was a founding member of the Internet Radio Marketing Group (IRMG), the first network of independant internet radio stations formed in 2001 to cooperatively promote advertising in the medium. Her extensive background in National Broadcast Management has included contractual relationships with several Interep companies including D&R, McGavren Guild, and Allied Radio Sales.

Currently she is President of Net Radio Sales, a company that sells advertising on Internet Radio Stations. At present, Net Radio Sales represents a network of Internet Radio Stations with over 400 stations reaching over 5 million listeners each month.

Gerd (45) is a respected digital music & media expert, futurist and often-quoted visionary and thought-leader. He is well-known as a music & media industry innovator and a sought-after think-tank leader and strategic advisor.

Originally from Germany, Gerd has spent almost twenty years in the music and entertainment-technology industries, and is equally at home in the U.S. as well as in Europe. He currently lives in Basel, Switzerland. Gerd is the co-author of the best-selling book “The Future of Music”, and has a new book “Feels Like Free Media” coming up later this year.

As an entrepreneur, Gerd’s latest role is as Founder and CEO of www.Sonific.com — Soundtracks for blogs, photo and video sites, and social networks. During the .com fat years, Gerd was the Founder/President/CEO of LicenseMusic.com, Inc. in SF, an influential start-up that revolutionized the process of music licensing and B2B transactions for labels and publishers.

Zahavah Levine is Chief Counsel of YouTube.  She oversees the development of YouTube partnership and promotional deals with networks, record labels, movie studios, and other organizations interested in forging content relationships with the largest video entertainment service on the Internet. She also directs policies focused on protecting the rights of copyright holders and content owners.

Prior to YouTube, she was Associate General Counsel & Director of Music Licensing for RealNetworks, Inc., and was responsible for the music licensing for all of RealNetworks’ products and services including Rhapsody, RadioPass and SuperPass.  She also represented Real on the board of directors of the Digital Media Association (DiMA), a trade organization that advances the interests of digital entertainment technology companies in Washington D.C.  Zahavah joined Real as part of Real’s acquisition of Listen.com, Inc.  As Listen.com’s sole in-house counsel, Zahavah was responsible for all aspects of Listen’s legal affairs including its music licenses, distribution agreements and corporate transactions.   

Before joining Listen, Zahavah was a Senior Associate at the law firm of Bingham McCutchen (formerly McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen, LLP) where she represented technology start-ups and emerging companies in securities, intellectual property, and general business transactions.  

Prior to working at a firm, Zahavah served as a law clerk to the Honorable David R. Thompson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and to the Honorable Charles A. Legge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She received her JD from Boalt Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley where she was Associate Editor of the California Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif honors society.  She received her BA in History from Brown University.

Steve Marks · EVP & General Counsel · Recording Industry Association of America

Steven Marks is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Mr. Marks oversees RIAA’s litigation, licensing, and technology initiatives.  Mr. Marks also represents the industry on legislative issues, having led negotiations on behalf of the industry that resulted in comprehensive revisions to the Copyright Act.

Mr. Marks is a frequent speaker on licensing, technical and legal matters at industry conferences and events.  He also guest lectures on copyright law relating to music, including at Duke Law School and Georgetown Law School, and has written on aspects of the copyright law.

Mr. Marks graduated from Duke Law School where he was Articles Editor of the Duke Law Journal.  Upon graduation, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mary M. Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.  Mr. Marks received his B.A. from Duke University in 1988.

Scott McKenzie · Group Editorial Director · Billboard

Scott McKenzie is Group Editorial Director for the Billboard Information Group. He has oversight of editorial efforts across all Billboard-branded platforms. This includes Billboard's weekly magazine, multiple Web sites and video products. He is also the editorial director for Radio & Records. Based in New York, McKenzie drives strategy, direction and content efforts worldwide. He  leads new media initiatives for the Billboard brands. McKenzie came to Billboard in 2004 after several years at ABC News in New York and CNN in Atlanta. At ABC, he was the managing editor of ABCNEWS Digital responsible for all editorial content across ABCNEWS online and broadband video platforms. At CNN, McKenzie headed the first integration effort between Time magazine, CNN and Asiaweek magazine to deliver a Web site covering all of Asia for the three brands. McKenzie began his career as a daily newspaper reporter in Brisbane, Australia, working for The Telegraph and The Courier-Mail. In the late 90s, he was the national bureau chief for Rupert Murdoch's stable of Australian newspapers after serving as the chief correspondent for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong where he spent four years. He has covered everything from the armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia to rock concerts and U.S. presidential tours. He is a native of Australia.
 

Simson served as Executive Producer of the PBS television special, "Mary Chapin Carpenter Live At Wolftrap," received an Emmy nomination for his music supervision of the PBS "American Roots Music" special, and also worked on Harry Belafonte's "An Evening With Harry Belafonte and Friends." His other television credits include: Sesame Street 30th Anniversary Special and a network special of the April '97 Presidential Summit, "Keeping America's Promise."

Simson has been very active in the Washington, D.C. Arts community and received the "Outstanding Volunteer Attorney Award" from Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts during its 10th Anniversary celebration. He was one of the founders of the Washington Area Music Association and served as its first President (1985-1990). Simson has also served as Vice President of the Steering Committee of the D.C. Bar's Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law Section and as a Board member and Legal Counsel to the Songwriters Association of Washington.

Simson was elected President of the Washington, D.C. chapter of NARAS (Recording Academy) in April of 2004. He was elected to the Recording Academy Board of Governors in 1997 for the Washington, D.C. chapter, and served three years as a National Trustee of the Academy (1997-2000). Simson has also served on the Board of the Alliance of Artists and Record Companies (AARC), the Washington Area Music Association, Institute For the Arts In Science Education, Inc., Video Culture, Inc., the Takoma/Silver Spring Thunderbolts and the 20th Century Consort. He is a member of the Folk Alliance, the Country Music Association and an alumnus of Nashville's "Leadership Music."

Simson is currently an adjunct professor of Entertainment Law at American University's Washington College of Law, and taught Entertainment Law for two semesters at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law. He has also taught Criminal Procedure at Temple University's School of Criminal Justice, Free Press/Fair Trial at the American University School of Criminal Justice and has lectured frequently on entertainment law and business.