As AI-generated music floods the market, the music industry faces unprecedented questions about creativity, copyright, and compensation. But behind every evolving technology and headline debate are the lawyers, often musicians themselves, who navigate the space where art and law converge.

In this episode of Brand & New, guest host Rudy Gaines sits down with two leading intellectual property practitioners whose personal and professional lives are deeply connected to music: INTA Past President Mei-lan Stark, Executive Vice President and Chief Counsel for IP at NBCUniversal (USA) and Rick McMurtry, Founding Partner at M|C Law Group (USA). 

From childhood music lessons to high-stakes licensing negotiations, both guests share how their lifelong connection to music has shaped their careers, protecting creative works. Together, they trace the soundtrack of the industry’s evolution, from the era of Napster to today’s AI-driven soundscapes, exploring how innovation challenges what it means to be both creator and protector. 

This episode was recorded live during INTA’s 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California.

Resources: 

About Mei-lan Stark

About Rick McMurtry

About Rudy Gaines

Related Brand & New Episodes:

• The Beat of IP: A Conversation with The Opposition™ Band
• Certifying Human Music in the Age of AI

INTA's 2026 Annual Meeting