MODERATORS

Rene Merideth | Co-Founder and COO | Exploration

Rene Merideth is the Co-Founder and COO of Exploration, a digital rights management company for songwriters, music publishers, artists, and small labels. She is also a consultant for several other songwriters, publishers and new media companies around the globe. Prior, she was the Director of Licensing/Head of West Coast Licensing for BMG Chrysalis and Bug Music, and Manager, Mechanical Licensing for Windswept Holdings.

Ms. Merideth started her career in the country churches of Southern Missouri as a roadie for her grandfather’s gospel music band. She worked with various acts of all genres in the St. Louis area until she headed off to college receiving a B.A. in Music Business from Belmont University in Nashville. While working across many aspects of the industry, she found her niche in artist management and music publishing.

Moving to Los Angeles, she started with Windswept Publishing and survived two high-profile mergers to become Head of West Coast licensing for BMG. Over the years, she has worked on music by artists including Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Kings of Leon, KISS, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Eminem, Pink, and Pete Townshend among others.

In 2012, she founded her consulting firm, Red Dragon Management, with the goal of educating artists/songwriters and helping the newcomers have a voice in the industry.

Ms. Merideth received Certified status from YouTube in 2013. Additionally, she is a member of NARAS, ASCAP, AIMP, Women’s International Music Network, Women in Music, Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and is a Board member for the California Copyright Conference.

Catharine Wood | Engineer/Producer/Owner | Planetwood Studios, LLC

Catharine Wood is an established Los Angeles-based composer/producer and studio owner. She launched her versatile career engineering on high-profile commercials — including the first Apple iPhone spot. As a mix/mastering engineer, she has delivered over 500 (both original and client) commercially released songs airing on many major networks. Catharine is a Grammy® Voting Member, P&E Wing Member and holds positions on the L.A. Recording School’s Professional Advisory Committee and the California Copyright Conference Board of Directors. Her facility, Planetwood Studios, LLC specializes in production and composition services for the Film and TV Industries.

PANELISTS

Michelle Lewis | Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Music Creators’ Rights Advocate

Ms. Lewis is a fierce New Yorker now based in Los Angeles, where she is a singer, songwriter, composer, and music creators’ rights advocate.

From her early career as a recording artist signed to Irving Azoff’s Giant Records, to her first radio hit, Cher’s “A Different Kind of Love Song” in 2002, to the 2014 worldwide #1 single “Wings” by the British girl group, Little Mix, Ms. Lewis brings authenticity, musicality and heart to a diverse array of music projects.  

For the last decade, Ms. Lewis has branched out into the world of songwriting for animated television, most notably as a Peabody Award-winning composer of all original music for Disney Junior’s hit show, “Doc McStuffins” and as an Emmy-nominated songwriter for the beloved Nickelodeon series “Bubble Guppies.” She has over a half-dozen TV themes currently airing, including, “Doc McStuffins,” “The Loud House,” “Muppet Babies,” “The Harvey Street Kids,” “Mutt and Stuff” and “DC Super Hero Girls.”

In 2014, Ms. Lewis co-founded the non-profit, Songwriters of North America (SONA) in response to the ever-increasing complexities and disparities in digital royalties paid to songwriters and composers. And most recently—through her roles on the ASCAP Board’s Legislative Committee, representing SONA and as one of the leaders of the #MusicArmy of songwriters, artists, composers and producers—she was an instrumental force in the historic passage of the Music Modernization Act, which was signed into law in October of 2018.

Ana Ruiz | Co-Founder and CEO | Drive Music Publishing

Ana Ruiz founded Drive Music Publishing, Inc. in 2013. As the CEO, she manages client acquisitions and global partnerships. She is a consultant for various high-profile catalogs, business management and law firms. Her company provides unique data-driven publishing administration, which has enhanced income collection for all their clients. Drive Solutions, the consulting arm of Drive Music Publishing, works with catalogs of all shapes and sizes to enhance, correct, and increase in value in today’s music industry. She feels it has become increasingly important to know how to track growth and potential of these very valuable works.   

Prior to DRV, Ms. Ruiz was Manager of Music Services at Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman, LLP, one of the largest business management firms specializing in the entertainment industry.  For over nine years, she represented the publishing and independent labels of many well-known legacy clients. 

Ms. Ruiz is a proud member of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), California Copyright Conference (CCC), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS).

Questions? Email us at questions@theccc.org