Intro MMF-US

Featured Speaker:

Sharon Tapper, Executive Director of the Music Managers Forum-US

Sharon Tapper is the Executive Director of the Music Managers Forum-US, the leading trade association for artist managers and self-managed artists in the United States. We serve the needs of our community through providing them with educational resources, networking opportunities and advocacy efforts on behalf of managers, self-managed artists and the community that supports them. The MMF-US is part of a larger global network, the International Music Managers Forum (IMMF). This organization connects more than sixty Music Manager Forums around the world (inc. Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa) enabling connectivity with artist managers across various business opportunities globally.

 Tapper started her career in the music industry in London in 1989 as Assistant Manager at Sarm West Studios, a studio owned and operated by Trevor Horn (Seal, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Michael Kamen and Sir Paul McCartney). After relocating to the U.S. in 1993 she worked in artist management. In Los Angeles she was Assistant Manager at Left Bank Management (The Cranberries, Meat Loaf and Richard Marx) and Assistant Manager at Gallin Morey Management (Lisa Stansfield, Neneh Cherry and Eagle-Eye Cherry). Upon relocating to New York she became Artist Manager at The Umbrella Group (CAKE, Bebel Gilberto, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Neneh Cherry and Grant-Lee Phillips).

 In 2003 she transitioned into music publishing. As VP Creative at Kobalt Music Publishing she was responsible for signing artists such as Slash, G. Love, The Dresden Dolls, Gomez and Harry Connick Jr. as well as publishers Arthouse, TVT, Red Bull Media, House of Hassle (now Rough Trade), Reservoir and Razor & Tie. In 2011 as SVP Music Publishing at Razor & Tie Music Publishing she and her team were responsible for many hit singles including four Country #1's, five times platinum certified "Home" performed by American Idol Winner Phillip Phillips, singles with Mary J Blige and Jessie J. In 2016 she founded Pivot Music Group, providing Business Development and Creative Services to Independent Music Publishers, both domestically and internationally.

 In 2008 elected to and served on the NY Chapter of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards), multiple terms as Governor & Secretary over a period of fourteen years. During this time, she served six consecutive terms as Chair or Co-Chair of the NY Chapter Advocacy Committee and continues to serve as active member of this Committee. In 2012, she Co-Founded the New York City Creative Community (NYC3) where for a decade music business professionals worked together to support and strengthen the NYC music community. Elected in 2018 she served four years on the NY Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP).