Pleas e join the Harvard Law School Recording Artists Project for our 2026 Sympos ium\, an all-day event full of speakers at the intersection of music\, ente rtainment\, and law: musicians\, entertainment/music lawyers\, managers\, a nd record label founders.
Starting at 6:00 PM\, we invite y ou to join us for a cocktail reception.
Current Schedule:
9 AM - 10 AM:From Nirvana to MGMT: Managing Alternative Music’s Evolution
Speaker:
From working with Nirvana\, Sonic Youth\, Hole\, and Si ouxsie and the Banshees\, to signing and developing artists like Beck and E lastica\, and now managing acts like MGMT\, Mark Kates has been a central f igure in alternative music since before it even had a name.
In this conversation\, Kates will reflect on decades at the forefront of artist development\, offering insight into the relationships\, deal structu res\, and strategic decisions that shape enduring music careers—and how the role of the manager has evolved alongside the industry.
10 A M - 11 AM: Solidarity in the Streaming Era: Ho w an Influential Indie Rock Musician Became the Leader of Music’s Labor Mov ement
Speaker:
From Galaxie 500 (an influe ntial indie rock band with music featured in the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower) to the forefront of today’s fight for musicians’ rights\ , Damon Krukowski has lived through the music industry’s most dramatic tran sformation. In the decades since his work helped shape the sound of indie m usic\, the way artists get paid has been fundamentally upended\, replaced b y a streaming economy where millions of plays can translate into only penni es.
Now\, as a co-founder of the Union of Musicians and Al lied Workers (UMAW) and a leading advocate behind the proposed Living Wages for Musicians Act\, Krukowski is helping lead one of the most significant efforts to reform the economics of music in the digital age. This conversat ion will examine the realities of streaming\, the legal frameworks that sus tain it\, and what it would take to build a system that fairly compensates the artists behind the music.
11 AM - 12 PM: The Voice of a Movement: Patrick Flynn on Becoming a Pillar of Punk
Speaker:
As the frontman of Have Heart (one of the most influential bands in modern hardcore)\, Fiddlehead\, and H ow Much Art\, Patrick Flynn has become a defining voice in the hardcore sce ne and beyond. From early 2000s basement shows to a 2019 reunion performanc e that drew over 8\,000 fans (widely considered one of the largest hardcore shows in U.S. history)\, his work has helped shape both the sound and etho s of the genre.
In this conversation\, Flynn reflects on t he evolution of the scene\, the values that sustain it\, and the challenge of balancing life as a musician\, educator\, and community leader.
12:30 - 1:15 PM: The Lawyers Behind the Music
Speakers:
Behind artists like Ethel Cain\, 100 gecs\, Animal Collective\, and major media companies navigating high-stake s copyright disputes are the lawyers who structure deals\, protect rights\, and shape the legal contours of the music industry. From negotiating recor ding and publishing agreements to litigating cases involving copyright\, de famation\, and emerging technologies\, their work touches every part of the business.
This panel brings together leading practitioner s to discuss the realities of music law today\, including dealmaking\, liti gation\, and the challenges posed by streaming\, digital media\, and new te chnologies.
1:15 - 2 PM: The Manager Behind Mitski\, Lucy Dac us\, Father John Misty\, & More
Speaker:
From guid ing the careers of artists like Mitski\, Lucy Dacus\, Father John Misty\, a nd Guster to building globally recognized acts from the ground up\, Dalton Sim has spent decades shaping what sustainable success looks like in the mu sic industry. His Boston-based management company has helped artists move f rom self-released projects to worldwide audiences while maintaining a stron g sense of identity and independence.
In this conversation \, Sim will discuss how artists build careers that last: navigating the pre ssures of the streaming era\, fostering direct relationships with fans\, an d making strategic decisions that extend far beyond the initial breakout mo ment.
2 - 3 PM: Writing the Music We Hear Everywhere: Creativ ity\, Rights\, and Revenue in Songwriting
Speakers:
From Grammy-nominated proj ects and collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder\, Eric Clapton\, an d will.i.am to Billboard-charting songwriting and c ompositions for film and television\, this panel brings together creators w ho have worked at the highest levels of the industry. Their careers span ge nres\, mediums\, and decades of music-making.
This discuss ion will explore the craft of songwriting alongside the legal and business frameworks that shape it\, including authorship\, publishing\, collaboratio n\, and the realities of writing music across industries from pop to film a nd television.
3:00 - 4:00 PM: The Label Behind Your Favorite Bands: How Run for Cover Records Defined a Generation
Speakers:
From launching the early careers of bands like Modern Baseball\, Tigers Jaw\, Title Fight\, Tu rnover\, Citizen\, Basement\, and Pinegrove to working with artists like Al ex G\, mewithoutYou\, Balance and Composure\, Superheaven\, and MJ Lenderma n\, Run For Cover Records (RFC) has become known for signing artists before they break and supporting them long after. The Boston-based label has deve loped a global following and a reputation as a true tastemaker.
Join the founder and label manager for a conversation on discovering talent\, structuring artist-friendly deals\, and building a label that bala nces credibility\, community\, and long-term success in today’s music indus try.
4:00 - 5:00 PM: From HLS to the Music Industry: Alumni P erspectives
Speakers:
From negotiating music licensing deals for major streami ng platforms and film/TV projects to advising on transactions involving eme rging technologies like AI\, NFTs\, and digital media\, RAP alums are worki ng at the cutting edge of the music and entertainment industries. Their wor k spans law firms\, in-house roles\, and complex\, high-value deals across the creative economy.
This panel will offer an inside look at careers in music law\, with speakers reflecting on their paths from Har vard Law School to practice\, the realities of their day-to-day work\, and practical advice for students seeking to break into the field.
Speaker:
As co-founder of Secret ly Group—the independent powerhouse behind labels like Jagjaguwar\, Dead Oc eans\, and Saddest Factory Records—Darius Van Arman has helped build the in frastructure supporting artists such as Bon Iver\, Mitski\, Phoebe Bridgers \, Japanese Breakfast\, Sharon Van Etten\, Faye Webster\, MUNA\, and more. For over three decades\, his work has helped define what independent music can achieve at a global scale.
In this conversation\, Van Arman will discuss the evolution of the indie label model\, from artist dev elopment to global distribution and digital licensing\, and the ongoing eff ort to secure fairer deals and greater transparency for independent artists in the modern music economy.