MIC: Business of Music Panel - Oct 9

Business of Music Panel 

When: Monday, October 9, 2023 - 5:00-6:15 pm CT

Please join us for a Q&A session where panelists Wofford Denius (Attorney, Eisner, LLP), Jonathan Eshak (Co-President, Mick Music), Margaret Galton (Promoter, C3 Presents), Dan Goscombe (Managing Director, Cal Financial Group), and Kevin Shivers (Partner, WME) discuss their career trajectories, the scope of their work, and their views on the current state of the music industry.

This event will occur in person only. If you plan on attending, please fill out this form. 

Speaker Biographies 

Wofford Denius (Attorney, Eisner, LLP)

Wofford Denius is an entertainment industry attorney specializing in music law.  He lives and works in Los Angeles, and has been Of Counsel with the dynamic and prestigious law firm Eisner, LLP since 2015.  Wofford grew up in Austin, Texas.  Early in his music career, Wofford drew upon his Texas roots, making numerous trips from Los Angeles to Texas to become integrally involved in the Austin and Dallas music communities.  Wofford continues to have close ties to Texas and the Texas music industry.  As a result, Wofford has a large Texas based clientele.

His current practice consists of representing recording artists, songwriters, record producers, managers, and record and publishing companies in all facets of the music business.  He routinely prepares and negotiates recording agreements, songwriter, co-publishing, publishing administration and foreign sub-publishing agreements, management agreements, merchandise agreements, master and synchronization license agreements, purchase and distribution agreements, producer and production agreements, live performance agreements, and foreign sublicensing agreements. 

Some of Wofford’s past and present clients include ‘Pushmonkey’, ‘The Nixons’, ‘The Old 97s’, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tish Hinojosa, ‘The Flatlanders’, Dillon O’Brian, Bob Schneider/’The Ugly Americans’/’The Scabs’, Ben Taylor, Maia Sharp, Pam Rose, ‘Blue October’, Alissa Moreno, Sara Hickman, Rob Gordon/W.A.R. Records/United Interests, Erv Karwelis/Idol Records, ‘Reckless Kelly’, Rob Baird, Kevin Wommack d/b/a Loophole Management/Traffic Music, iD4 Events, Rainmaker Records and Artist Management, and ‘The Strange Boys’, ‘Los Lonely Boys’ (BMG/Shelter Records), Tanner Usrey (Atlantic Records), Nolan Taylor (Atlantic Records), ‘Wavedash’ (Fader Records).

Wofford began his entertainment law career in 1990, training under Owen J. Sloane, Esq., a pioneer in the music law practice, who has practiced entertainment and music law for more than thirty-five (35) years, representing clients such as Elton John, Lindsey Buckingham, ‘Jane’s Addiction’, ‘INXS’, Rob Thomas/Matchbox 20, Chris Daughtry, The Zappa Estate, Doris Day and the Bing Crosby Estate.  Wofford resumed his association with Mr. Sloane in 2001, and currently works closely with Mr. Sloane at Eisner, LLP in the preparation and negotiation of contracts and agreements in all facets of the music business relating to many of Mr. Sloane’s clients’ music business legal affairs.

Wofford is current a director of The Cain Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation.  He has also served as a director of the Texas State Bar Entertainment and Sports Law Section (1993-1997), a director of Southern Union Gas Company (1984-1990), and an organizer and director of Heritage National Bank (1983-1987).

As a President and Director of The Cain Foundation, Wofford founded the Wofford Denius Music Industry Internship Program through the University of Texas Moody College of Communication, and endowed scholarships for the University of Texas Moody College of Communication “UTLA” Program in Los Angeles.

Wofford earned his law degree (JD) from Southern Methodist University and his BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He is licensed to practice law in California and Texas, and is a member of the California and Texas State Bar Associations and the Texas State Bar Entertainment and Sports Law Section. 

Jonathan Eshak (Co-President, Mick Music)

Jonathan Eshak is a co-owner and partner at Mick Music. Based in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Nashville, Mick is an artist-forward boutique management firm currently representing more than 20 acts. In his capacity as a partner, he oversees the entire roster at the company as well as strategic initiatives to most effectively navigate a rapidly changing music industry.  

Before joining Mick in 2004, Jonathan held positions in A&R at both ATO Records and Universal Music Publishing. He’s also on the advisory board of the Moody College at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mick Management’s roster includes The Backseat Lovers, Caamp, Carly Rae Jepsen, David Gray, Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers, The Marias, My Morning Jacket, Ray Lamontagne, Sharon Van Etten amonst others.

Margaret Galton (Promoter, C3 Presents)

Margaret Galton is a Promoter and Talent Buyer working on Festivals and Concerts at C3 Presents. In the past fourteen years she has had the privilege to work on accounts such as: Austin City Limits Music Festival, Two Step Inn, Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater (Indoors and Outdoors), Live Out Festival, C3 Concerts in various Austin venues and all throughout Texas, Longhorn City Limits, Auckland City Limits, Sydney City Limits, Austin Food and Wine, Nickelodeon SlimeFest, and The White House Easter Egg Roll. 

Nominated IEBA Talent Buyer of the year 2018 and 2019

Spoken on panels at Pollstar, SXSW, Venues Now and Frontfest (FKA BabeFest)

2022 Pollstar Women of Live Honoree

Dan Goscombe (Managing Director, Cal Financial Group)

Born and educated in New England, Dan started his career in the record industry and quickly moved into business management with film/TV, live promotion and touring clients. After stints in New York City and Denver, Dan moved to start and lead Cal Financial Group’s Nashville office in 2014. Dan thrives in strong client bonds with a sustainable, hands-on approach to both business and personal endeavors.  His current clients includes touring artists from a variety of genres, Film/TV actors, Music Festivals, and Record Labels. 

Kevin Shivers (Partner, WME)

Kevin Shivers is a partner in WME’s music department and co-run its hip-hop division, representing leading artists in the hip-hop and urban genres, in addition to athletes and digital creators. His roster includes Snoop Dogg, Tyler the Creator, Babyface, Jazmine Sullivan, Kali Uchis, Kid Cudi, Lil Baby, and Solange among others.

Shivers joined the William Morris Agency in 2008 and transitioned to WME following the agency’s merger with Endeavor in 2009. Shivers focuses on positively influencing the next generation of emerging leaders in music, guiding the careers of many groundbreaking artists. He’s been named to Pollstar’s Impact 50 list andBillboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players List. 

Shivers is a graduate of the University of Texas and serves on the Austin Moody College of Communication’s advisory board. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.