When Music Meets IP: A Conversation with Mei-lan Stark and Rick McMurtry

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

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When Music Meets IP: A Conversation with Mei-lan Stark and Rick McMurtry is an episode from Brand & New by INTA.

This episode is 34:34 long.

This episode was published on Dec 19, 2025.

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