LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – SONA (Songwriters of North America), a prominent organization advocating for the rights of songwriters and composers in the United States (US), has announced significant developments in its leadership and expansion. Despite tremendous strides in how songwriters are paid for digital audio streaming, existential threats to their livelihood continue. In order to address the growing needs while maintaining their independent, by-songwriters-for-songwriters voice, SONA is announcing a major expansion in the SONA-verse structure, with the addition of new, key leadership positions as well as the creation of a SONA chapter in New York.
SONA (Songwriters of North America) and The SONA Foundation, sister organizations with separate Boards and missions, will now both be overseen by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Lewis and newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kellie Brown. Erin McAnally, a long-time creator and creator-advocate, steps into the role of Executive Director at SONA, where she will oversee advocacy, membership, and educational initiatives. Linda Bloss-Baum, an expert in policy and government affairs, has joined the Board, and Camus Celli will also join the Board to lead the new New York chapter and head SONA’s growth efforts on the East Coast.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with and build upon the strong foundation laid by such formidable advocates who work to protect and lift up songwriting as a profession. SONA provides a powerful nexus where advocacy, education, and songwriting meet, and the organization wholly aligns with so many of my life’s passions.” – Erin McAnally, Executive Director, SONA
Lewis is a two-time Emmy-winning and Peabody award-winning songwriter and composer, executive producer, and influential music creators’ rights advocate. Since co-founding SONA in 2015, she has served as its Board chair and Executive Director, helping to educate and empower songwriters to advocate for themselves while also leading SONA from its start as a small but passionate group of creators fighting for fairness to an accomplished, industry-recognized 501c6 trade association, as well as establishing The SONA Foundation in 2022, a charitable organization with the mission of supporting the health and wellness of songwriters and composers. She also serves on the ASCAP Board of Directors, the ASCAP Foundation Board, the LA Chapter of the Recording Academy, and the Executive Committee of the Music Peer Group at the Television Academy.
“SONA’s original co-founders and I believe, as we grow from a friend group of songwriters and composers advocating for our rights to an established, sustainable trade association and advocacy group, our most important, defining characteristic is that we remain creator-led. So, in selecting my successor, we looked for someone with a policy brain and a creator’s heart. I’m so happy and grateful to have found that unique combination in Erin McAnally. In addition, we have always imagined our growth would lead us to have a presence in DC and NY. It took eight years of hard work and growing pains to get here, but we are so excited to reach this goal! Welcome to the SONA-verse Camus and Linda!” – Michelle Lewis, CEO, SONA/The SONA Foundation
SONA remains a membership organization focused on providing advocacy, education, and community for music creators in the evolving music marketplace. The expansion and new leadership positions aim to strengthen SONA’s position as a vital advocate for the rights and well-being of songwriters and composers in the U.S.
