Title/Position: Associate Professor and Program Director, Music Business and Entertainment Industries
Profile:
What would you say are the outstanding highlights of your professional life?
Establishing ‘Cane Records as a self-sustaining student-run record company at the University of Miami
Managing the successful completion of a multi-million dollar project to implement a new artist royalty system at EMI Music, North America
Designing an approach to capturing and sharing information about contractual rights on a global basis for EMI Music
Working as part of a small music industry group to create the Global Release Identifier (GRid), a new unique identifier for releases of music over electronic networks
Leading the effort to obtain mechanical licenses for more than 40,000 recordings in order to enable EMI Music’s participation in the launch of iTunes
What do you hope to pass on to your students?
Knowledge about the music business and entertainment industry, both conceptual and practical, including an appreciation of and familiarity with the administrative demands of the industry and the understanding of how creative ideas must be combined with detailed planning and execution in order to achieve success.
Which music do you listen to in your car? (or What’s on your iPod?)
By far, the majority of music I listen to is by Prince. I also regularly listen to music by Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, Pink, John Legend, Nikka Costa, and Lenny Kravitz.
“Serona Elton is a ‘force of nature’ in only the most positive of ways. She is extremely knowledgeable and has the ability to push ideas and projects forward even in the most uncomfortable circumstances. Serona was able to come into our business as a consultant and worked hard to understand the needs of our business and how it works before plowing forward with recommendations…”
—Julie G. Swidler, Executive VP, Business & Legal Affairs, BMG U.S. Label Group
Career Highlights:
Serona Elton has broad experience in the music industry. She participated in the RIAA and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) project called the Music Industry Integrated Identifier Project (MI3P)—best known for developing a new unique identifier for digital music-based products called the Global Release Identifier (GRID), and served as chairperson of two sub-committees.
From 1995 to 2003 she worked for EMI Recorded Music, North America, where she held a number of positions:
Business Analyst
Senior Business Analyst
Manager, Royalty System Implementation
Associate Director, Royalties
Director, Business Analysis
Senior Director, Business Analysis
Vice President, Mechanical Licensing and Repertoire Data Services
Most significantly, during her tenure at EMI she played an integral role in the successful implementation of a
custom designed artist royalty system
design and launch of a global repertoire and rights project
development of new processes to support the digital distribution of recordings
Ms. Elton left EMI in 2003 to pursue other legal endeavors. In early 2006, she began consulting for music industry clients such as Sony Music Entertainment.
Serona Elton holds a BS in Business Administration, Major in Finance from the University of Florida (1993), an MM in Music Media and Industry from the University of Miami (1995) and a JD from Brooklyn Law School (2000) and is a member of the New York Bar (2001) and Florida Bar (2002).
Short Biography:
Serona Elton is associate professor and program director of music business and entertainment industries in the Department of Music Media & Industry at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Elton holds a BS in Business Administration, Major in Finance from the University of Florida (1993), a MM in Music Media and Industry from the University of Miami (1995) and a JD from Brooklyn Law School (2000). She is a member of the New York Bar (2001) and Florida Bar (2002). Serona Elton has broad experience in the music industry. From 1995 to 2003 she worked for EMI Recorded Music, North America. She held a number of key positions and was promoted to vice president, mechanical licensing and repertoire data services, playing an integral role in the successful implementation of a custom designed artist royalty system, design and launch of a global repertoire and rights project, and development of new processes to support the digital distribution of recordings. Ms. Elton left EMI in 2003 and since joining the faculty of the Frost School of Music, has continued consulting for music industry clients such as Sony Music Entertainment. Along with program director Rey Sanchez, she helped design the curriculum for the University of Miami’s new Master’s in Music Business and Juris Doctor degree.
