2024 Board of Directors Candidates
There are 16 seats available on the MPC board. Each board member will serve a term of two years, starting on June 4, 2024. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Melissa Cameron Passley - Kilometre Music Group
Melissa Cameron-Passley is an accomplished music industry professional with more than ten years of experience. Presently holding the position of Director of Creative & Operations at Kilometre Music Group, Melissa is responsible for overseeing the development and management of A&R, programming, partnerships, and operations. With a passion for cultivating strong creative and business relationships, Melissa works tirelessly to support both established and emerging writers, producers, and key music influencers.
With a multifaceted background in business, education, performance, and songwriting, Melissa has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by music creators. Throughout her career, Melissa has held various roles within the music industry, including faculty member at the non-profit Regent Park School of Music, tour manager, assistant artist manager, and booking assistant at United Talent Agency. In her role as Manager of A&R at SOCAN, Canada's largest Music Rights Organization, Cameron-Passley's dedication to Canadian talent and connecting creatives enabled SOCAN members to refine their craft by providing guidance and resources on their career journey.
Her work has contributed to the success of some of Canada's most significant global achievements, including chart-toppers The Weeknd, Jessie Reyez, Tate McRae, OZ (Drake, Travis Scott, Future), Murda Beatz (Migos, Drake), and Ging f/k/a Frank Dukes (Post Malone, Camilla Cabello).
Melissa’s reputation for developing and nurturing talent has made her a highly sought-after industry leader. In addition to her work at Kilometre Music Group, Melissa is an appointed member of the CCMA Board of Directors and co-chairs the Music Publisher's Canada NXTGen committee.
Stephen J. Dallas - Universal Music Publishing
Stephen J. Dallas is Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs & Digital Business Development, for Universal Music Publishing Group. In this role, Stephen is responsible for creating and exploring new digital business opportunities on behalf of UMPG’s songwriters and rights holders, negotiating and drafting content license agreements with third party digital service providers, setting digital strategy and policy initiatives for the company, handling the negotiation and drafting of core publishing deals, working with music publishing rights organizations, and coordinating and assisting with digital and core publishing litigation matters.
Stephen previously served as Vice President, Digital Legal Affairs & Business Development at Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., and prior to that, as Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, for EMI Music Publishing. Before EMI, Stephen was an Associate in private practice at law firms Thelen, Reid & Priest, LLP, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Stephen earned his J.D. from New York Law School, and a B.S. in Communications from Boston University.
Vince Degiorgio- CYMBA Music Publishing
Vincent Degiorgio is the CEO of CYMBA Music Publishing.
His company, CYMBA, is an acronym for ‘Crushing Your Music Business Apathy’ is one of the most pro-active, creative music publishing entities in Canada. With unprecedented global reach and a focus on the international market for recorded music and synch, it is home for writers and artists such as Shred Kelly, Oleyada, Barbra Lica, Logan Richards, and the JUNO Award-winning band, MONOWHALES.
Songs written CYMBA’s songwriters have been recorded in over a dozen languages and synchronized around the world. CYMBA’s writer/producer roster includes Daniel Adams and Davor Vulama. Aside from being president of the company, Vincent is also a songwriter. His work with Dutch pop star Caro Emerald recently eclipsed the two million album threshold. He has also co-written seminal classics like Love Inc’s “You’re A Superstar”. He most recently wrote four songs with Juno nominated Matt Dusk on his Jet Set Jazz album. Working on the major label side as an A&R executive at RCA Records Vincent signed N Sync to the label. He is currently on board of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Music Publishers Canada, where he now serves as treasurer after his six year term as Chair.
Amy Eligh - Arts & Crafts Music Inc.
Amy Eligh began her career in Publishing at Casablanca Media / Red Brick Songs in the Copyright and Royalties department, before moving into Creative – where she successfully stationed herself for over a decade before moving to Arts & Crafts Music.
Within her role as Director of Publishing & Licensing, Amy pitches large-scale catalogue of songs for film, trailers, advertising, video games, and TV (US & Canada) as well as oversees the day to day within the department. In addition to pitching, Amy organizes showcases for clients / songwriters with TV networks, music supervisors, and advertisers. She also develops new writers, arranges co-writing sessions, coordinates and hosts song-writing camps, and scouts for talent.
At Arts & Crafts Music, Amy works with Broken Social Scene, Dear Rouge, Old Man Saxon, Marcus Paquin, Dan Mangan, bülow, Cary Brothers, Sarah MacDougall, David Vertesi, Jordan Klassen, Sylo and many more. Amy is also on the Board of Directors for Music Publishers Canada and the Chair of the FACTOR Board.
Jodie Ferneyhough - CCS Rights Management
In 2011, Jodie founded CCS Rights Management with a vision of a dynamic global independent company that puts artists and songwriters first, providing individualized attention and a full range of services to maximize income, elevate careers, and protect the value of their works.
Under his leadership, CCS has experienced continuous growth and significantly expanded its global reach and scope of services provided to a growing roster of award-winning and up-and-coming songwriters, artists, musicians, producers, and labels, as well as major corporate brands and other rights holders.
The company manages more than 150,000 copyrights and specializes in publishing administration, royalty collections, creative services, neighbouring rights administration, and music licensing for film,TV advertising, games and other media. CCS is also the exclusive, worldwide music publishing and neighbouring rights administration company for leading global children’s entertainment company Spin Master Ltd., including PAW Patrol, a top preschool series airing in 160 countries.
Gary Furniss - Sony Music Publishing Canada
Gary Furniss, President of Sony Music Publishing in Canada, has been responsible – along with the SMP team for the development and growth of SMP Canada.
SMP is home to great Canadian songwriters, LIGHTS, Tawgs Salter, Mother Mother, Intense, 254 Bodi, Tom Wilson, Liz Rodrigues, Pitt Tha Kid, Forest Blakk, Dax, Fefe Dobson, Anjulie, Joel Stouffer, and Peach Pit to name a few. Many are recipients of SOCAN, JUNO, GRAMMY, and Gold/Platinum Awards.
Advocating for music rights holders and support for music creators and publishers, Gary currently serves on the SOCAN Board of Directors, and the MPC Board of Directors. He was previously the Chairman of the CMRRA Board, Director of CARAS, and on the the CSHF Board.
As a previous CARAS Director, Gary has also contributed to the development of the JUNO Songwriters’ Circle – a very special Canadian songwriters’ highlight presented on JUNO weekend each year. Dedicated to music education and supporting the next generation of songwriters.
Sony Music Publishing is also home to the world’s best songwriters, with classic catalogues including The Beatles, Queen, Motown, Leonard Cohen, Randy Bachman, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and The Rolling Stones, as well as beloved contemporary songwriters such as Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Jay-Z, Maluma, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Sara Bareilles, Travis Scott, and many more.
Chris Giansante - Just For You Music
Chris Giansante is the Founder & CEO of Canadian-based independent and boutique music publishing company, Just For You Music.
A music industry veteran, Chris is the former SVP of Canada’s largest independent music publishing company, Anthem Entertainment (formerly ole), where he oversaw the company’s global finance and operations which included a team of over 60 professionals. While at Anthem, Chris was critically involved in over US$1-billion of successful transactions across a combination of corporate finance and M&A (e.g. music catalogues such as super-producer Timbaland, iconic rock band Rush, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, amongst many others), led operational integration of multiple company acquisitions, and the successful development and implementation of its leading-edge proprietary technology platform, Conductor, of which he is a co-inventor for the patent pending system.
Chris holds an MBA from the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor, a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Business Administration, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA). Chris is a Director on the Board of Music Publishers Canada and former Director of CMRRA, and Anthem Entertainment.
Mark Jowett - Nettwerk Music Group
Mark Jowett co-founded the Nettwerk Music Group in 1984 and since that time has focused on running the publishing division of Nettwerk, working with many writers from Canada and around the world. During this time Mark has remained active outside of Nettwerk, having been on the MPC board for some years. He has also been on the FACTOR Board, the A2IM Indie Board and is also on the SOCAN board.
He strongly believes in trying to bolster unity between the different facets of the music industry (whether publisher or label, writer or artist). With a united cause and alignment everyone should win.
Beyond his role at Nettwerk Mark plays cello in the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra and has an alter ego music project called Plain Mister Smith.
Rell Lafargue - Reservoir Media Management
As Reservoir’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Rell oversees all aspects of the company’s day-to-day operations in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, London, Toronto, and Abu Dhabi. When Rell joined Reservoir at its inception, the company represented four songwriters and 2,000 songs. Building on over twenty years of industry experience, Rell built the company’s infrastructure, assembled its Creative and Sync teams, established its administration systems, and developed the international network that oversees Reservoir’s copyrights to this day. Under Rell’s direction, Reservoir has grown to represent over 150,000 compositions and 36,000 master recordings worldwide.
Rell continues to spearhead Reservoir’s international and domestic expansion efforts, having overseen the acquisitions and integrations of the historic Shapiro Bernstein catalogue, TVT Music Publishing catalogue, First State Media Group catalogue, UK publishers Reverb Music and P&P Songs, and iconic record labels Chrysalis Records, Tommy Boy Music, and Philly Groove Records. Additionally, Rell was instrumental in signing Nate “Danja” Hills, one of the company’s first high-profile writer-producers, to the Reservoir roster.
Prior to his time at Reservoir, Rell was Vice President at TVT Records and TVT Music Publishing, where he worked with artists including Nine Inch Nails, Lil Jon, Snoop Dogg, Scott Storch, and Pitbull.
Rell was named a 2024 Billboard Power Player, as well as a 2023 Billboard Indie Power Player and a 2023 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player. Rell serves on the board of the International Confederation of Music Publishers, Mechanical Licensing Collective, and Music Publishers Canada, working to promote the interests of music publishers and their songwriting partners. He also previously served on the board of the Association of Independent Music Publishers—NY Chapter. Beyond his career in music publishing, Rell is an accomplished producer, performer, arranger, software consultant, and university lecturer. He holds a master’s degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries from the University of Miami.
Daniel Lafrance - Editorial Avenue
For the past forty years, Daniel Lafrance has been an active music publisher. Since 2000, he has been the General Manager of Editorial Avenue, a major francophone music publishing enterprise based in Montreal.
He was Vice-President of SODRAC from 1990 to 2008, Vice-President of MUSICACTION from 1992 to 1996, Secretary and Treasurer of ADISQ from 1985 to 1996, Founder and President of APEM/PMPA from 2003 to 2011 and Board Member of CMRRA from 2009 to 2019. Daniel Lafrance is now a Board Member of the following organizations: MPC, SOCAN, and SODEC’s “Commission du Disque, du Spectacle et des Varietes”.
He is an Honorary Member of ADISQ and has been recognized nine times as Publisher of the Year by this association. He also received the Christopher J. Reed Award in 2013 for his career achievements and two awards from SOCAN as publisher of the year in 2017 and 2020. Daniel Lafrance wrote two books on publishing released in 2018 and 2022.
Tom Leighton - Anthem Entertainment
Tom Leighton is Vice President, Licensing at Anthem Entertainment. With over 10 years of industry experience in both publishing and recorded music, Tom has extensive knowledge of the global music business, royalty collections, and technology platforms. During his tenure at Anthem Entertainment, he has worked across the industry to maximize royalty collections and reinforce the value of music on behalf of songwriters and artists.
Natalie Madaj - Warner Chappell Music Canada
With more than a decade of digital licensing experience across the National Music Publishers' Association, Global Music Rights, and Warner Chappell, Natalie Madaj leads Warner Chappell's Digital team with a focus on securing the best commercial terms for Warner Chappell's repertoire while expanding Warner Chappell's digital footprint on a global basis. Over the past year alone, Natalie has secured first-of-a-kind partnerships with Canva andTikTok while continuing to broaden Warner Chappell's direct relationships with major partners like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. As the world turns its focus to AI, Natalie also oversees new opportunities for licensing Warner Chappell's repertoire in new technology in order to create new revenue streams and exposure opportunities
Cormac McGee - ArtHaus
As a partner at ArtHaus Music, Cormac McGee works across the company's management, publishing and label divisions. He has played a key role in launching and growing ArtHaus Publishing, which has signed several writers/projects in 2023 including: Nicholas Durocher and Connor Riddell, the writing and production for TALK, with credits on the multiplatinum single “Run Away To Mars” and gold selling album Lord of the Flies and Birds and Bees; Serena Ryder's JUNO-winning album The Art of Falling Apart; Emerging Canadian writers and artists Cole Allen and Sabrina Bridgen. Cormac also helps lead the ArtHaus Community not for profit and its Art of Growth program: a holistic educational series supporting the development of young artists and entrepreneurs that has worked with over 300 creatives across Canada.
Prior to joining ArtHaus, Cormac led the Music Den incubator for music-technology entrepreneurs at Toronto Metropolitan University. At the Music Den, Cormac recruited and coached startup companies such as digital A&R tool Sodatone (acquired by Warner Music Group) and developed partnerships with international accelerators including Abbey Road Red (London), Universal Music Digital & Innovation (Los Angeles), and Music Innovation Hub (Milan).
Jennifer Mitchell - Red Brick Songs
Jennifer is the President of Red Brick Songs Inc.
Jennifer co-founded Casablanca Media Publishing in 2001 with Edmund Glinert and helped build Casablanca into a leading independent Canadian music publisher representing such publishers and songwriters as 20th Century Fox, Carlin America, Imagem, Barton Music, Strictly Confidential, the estate of Roy Orbison, Steve Miller etc.
More recently Jennifer founded Red Brick Songs Inc., representing such prestigious catalogues as ABKCO, Disney Music Group, Fairwood Music, Budde Music, Bucks Music Group, and the estate of John Lennon to name a few. Red Brick has also built an impressive roster of songwriters, including Charlotte Cardin, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Dan Davidson, The Fast Romantics, Cuff The Duke, and Jeen among others.
Jennifer is a Director on the Boards of SOCAN and Music Publishers Canada (where she also sits on the Executive Governance Committee), the Independent Music Publishers Forum, and from time to time, also sits on the advisory committee for the Ontario Media Development Corporation. She is a former Board Director of CMRRA and currently a member of a number of professional and industry organizations including the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, and the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Diane Pinet - Bloc-Notes Music
Diane Pinet is Founder and President of Bloc-Notes Music Publishing since 1987. She has vast experience in publishing and an extensive knowledge of the music industry, having touched on various aspects of the it (booker, show producer, etc). She is currently serving on the boards of SOCAN, SOCAN Foundation, MPC, NMC (Studio Bell), PAN M 360, and several other associations. Diane has participated as a panelist on many conferences, both internationally and locally, at events such as CMC Music , MIDEM , MaMa in France etc. Often referred to by its writers as innovative, Bloc-Notes Music is known for its privileged ties in Canada and abroad. Diane has won several Felix Awards (equivalent of JUNO Awards) for Publisher of the Year, SOCAN Awards, SOCAN Publisher of The Year 2021, 2022, 2023, and has received many gold and platinum records. Bloc-Notes Music’s repertoire of writers has written hits for the likes of Céline Dion, Faith Hill, Garou, Marie Mai, SOMMM, Dee Holt, and many others. It boasts music placement in ads such as Pepsi, Coke, Walmart, Nutella, etc. Bloc-Notes Music’s catalogue is extremely diverse with varying styles from electronic to pop, rock to hop-hop, French to English. Since its beginnings, the company’s roster has consistently topped the charts.
Neville Quinlan - Peermusic Canada
Neville Quinlan, Managing Director of Peermusic Canada, has worked in all fields of music publishing since 1999; holding positions in Copyright and Royalty Administration, Creative Management, and International Relations. Peermusic Canada represents many of Canada’s top artists and writers, including The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Lido Pimienta, Death From Above 1979, Hawksley Workman, Kathleen Edwards, July Talk, The Dead South, Arnold Lanni, The Jerry Cans, Corey Hart, Brendan Canning, Royal Wood, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Girl on a Horse catalogue, and Hannah Georgas; as well as sub publishing many international stars and catalogues such as Tom Waits, the Wise Music catalogue, Big Deal Music, Beggars Music, Sugar Music, Modern Works, Mothership Music, Megatrax, and Four Jays (Harry Warren). Neville is the chair of the CMRRA publisher’s committee, a board member of Music Publishers Canada, and is a past board member of SX Works, SOCAN and the SOCAN Foundation.
Daniel Rosen - Monstercat Inc.
Daniel Rosen is currently the Head of Business and Legal Affairs at Monstercat, Canada’s largest independent electronic music record label. Prior to joining Monstercat in 2021 (for the second time), Daniel practiced as a corporate lawyer on Bay Street, and at two boutique entertainment law firms in Toronto. Daniel’s first tenure with Monstercat was from 2014-2016 as Head of Publishing, where he successfully built the company’s publishing business from scratch.
Daniel is a music industry veteran who has seen the industry from several different sides, including as an artist manager, music producer and audio engineer, performer and DJ, music licensor, and educator. He gives back by volunteering as a juror with FACTOR, giving lectures on legal topics to young professionals (including most recently at Western Law as their Adjunct Entertainment Law Professor), and he previously volunteered as a board member at The Theatre Centre in Toronto during the pandemic.
Outside of music, Daniel is a certified yoga instructor, hockey player, and avid Crossfitter. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife Anna, two kids, Sophie and Jonah, and dog, Maui.
Pierre Tremblay - Hyvetown Music
Pierre Tremblay is President of Hyvetown Music Publishing and has over 30 years of wide-reaching experience in the music industry.
In 2008, he co-founded Hyvetown Music Publishing with Janice Staub with the goal of creating a writer-friendly boutique publishing house. Since then, Pierre has travelled extensively with a strong focus on global markets to pursue new opportunities for Hyvetown’s growing roster of writers. Recent cuts for Hyvetown writers include Beyoncé’s “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and Dua Lipa’s “Training Season”. Pierre has also made it his mission to export the talents of Hyvetown writers to Asian markets where he has found success in the K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop worlds.
A bilingual native to Montréal, Pierre began his career in the music industry while attending Queens University, becoming Director of Campus Entertainment Bookings. From 1991 to 1995, Pierre was a talent booker for MCA concerts in Montreal and Toronto when he was promoted as Director of West Coast Operations in Vancouver. From this position, Pierre oversaw Western Canadian arena and theatre tours for the likes of Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Barenaked Ladies, and Sarah McLachlan.
In 1997, Pierre joined Nettwerk Music Group as Senior Vice President of Management. During his 12 years at Nettwerk, Pierre was the lead manager for many top acts including Barenaked Ladies, Billy Talent, Moist, and Shawn Hook.
In 2009, Pierre left Nettwerk to launch Hive Management, a global artist management company which he still runs today.
Pierre served as a CARAS Board Member from 2002 - 2008, and was appointed co-chair of the JUNO TV and Talent Committee during his tenure. He has worked with various global relief efforts during the entirety of his career, including Oxfam’s initiatives in Africa.