Program Description

About

Studio veteran Monica Tannian created Milk Money Consulting, Inc. after a several year stint managing Dallas Austin’s DARP Studios. She started the business to offer support services to the hardest working, least recognized craftsmen of the music business: engineers, songwriters and musicians. Monica got her start setting up band equipment, running lights and negotiating with club owners while managing Philly rock bands in the mid 80’s nights and working at the Bureau of Economics at the University of Delaware by day. Monica gave up the economics field when she found her niche as a studio manager at Kajem Recording. Tucked into an old school, blue blood suburb of Philadelphia, Kajem became an unlikely home for some of the biggest hard rock bands of the late 80’s, like Cinderella, Queensryche and Metal Church. Near the end of Monica’s time at Kajem, she met young up-and-coming producer Dallas Austin, who was recording the first Boyz II Men record. Several years later Dallas brought Monica in to reorganize and manage the faltering DARP (Dallas Austin Recording Projects) Studios. With her help, DARP Studios buoyed to the surface, fiscally and creatively, becoming one of the country’s top recording studios. Monica’s brainstorm for starting Milk Money was a desire to assemble a roster of good, capable engineers, and musician/songwriters to work with. Once she had her trusted crew, Milk Money started to offer its services to producers and studios. It has proven a successful venture. The Milk Money crew works with the best performers in the Industry and are routinely involved in Grammy winning projects. Monica balances her hectic business life with yoga and meditation which provide her an anchor of sanity. Monica also believes in service and has been working with her sister, Joyce, on a project called “Kenya: Water is Life.” to raise money to dig wells for much needed water in Kenya. Monica’s trusty Ridgeback, Coltrane is never too far from her side, gracing the studio and office with an air of dignity.

Stephen S. Sidman Esq. (Moderator)

Formerly Artist & Repertoire Director at TVT Records, Mr. Sidman established The Sidman Law Firm where he advises and counsels multi-platinum-selling and Grammy Award- winning recording artists, songwriters, record producers and mixers, as well as successful personal managers, corporate executives, record companies and music publishers, regarding transactions and various legal and business issues within the entertainment industries. In his practice he negotiates complex agreements throughout the entertainment industry (focusing on the music business), including product endorsements and a full range of agreements such as high-level recording, music publishing, record distribution, record producer, record mixer, guest and “side” artist deals, multi-artist furnishing, motion picture soundtrack agreements, music supervisor, personal management and talent agency deals. His practice includes copyright transfers, assignments, licenses (including master-use licenses, “sampling” licenses, synchronization licenses, “mechanical” licenses and the like) and registrations. Previously with Greenberg Traurig, Mr. Sidman also represents authors in the negotiation of book publishing agreements; advises and counsels celebrities and other public figures regarding various intellectual property issues and rights concerning the exploitation of their names and likenesses; advises industry-leading media, marketing and promotions companies regarding economic, business and legal issues related to the pursuit of new commercial opportunities and the establishment of new corporate ventures related to the entertainment, media and technology industries; and advises start-up technology companies regarding intellectual property licensing and business development strategies both within and outside of the entertainment industries. He is a member of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences; and Voting Member of the Country Music Association; a Member of the Board of Directors and Pro Bono Counsel for The Dallas Austin Foundation; a Member of the American Bar Association (Sports and Entertainment Law Forum); and a Member of the State Bar of Georgia (Entertainment and Sports Section). Mr. Sidman is included in the 2010 Best Lawyers in America, selected by Super Lawyers magazine (Rising Stars Edition, 2007 and 2009) and selected by Fulton County Daily Report as one of 12 Atlanta Attorneys On the Rise (August 2008).