the experts

Lisa  Whynot is a prominent entertainment lawyer known for her extensive experience in music law and her dedication to advocating for artists,  songwriters, producers, mixers, labels and music industry professionals.  Having spent 15 years in Los Angeles CA and now based in Toronto, Lisa  has established herself as a key figure in the music business, on both  sides of the border.

Early in her career, Lisa started her own  entertainment law firm and management company, where she honed her  skills and gained valuable experience working with up-and-coming  clients. Her deep understanding of the complexities of the music  industry quickly distinguished her as a top-tier music lawyer. She  joined the legal team at EMI Music Canada, before moving stateside and  being recruited by top entertainment law firms based in Los Angeles. 

In  her practice, Lisa handles a wide range of legal matters, including  contract negotiation, copyright and trademark issues, licensing  agreements, and royalty disputes. She is known for her strategic  approach and her ability to provide clear, practical advice that  empowers her clients to make informed decisions. Her clients include  emerging artists, established musicians, producers, mixers, songwriters  record labels, and music publishers, all of whom rely on her expertise  to navigate the complexities of the industry.

Beyond her  professional achievements, Lisa is dedicated to mentoring the next  generation of music industry professionals and artists; she frequently  speaks at industry conferences and participates in panels discussing the  evolving landscape of the music business.

Edwards Creative Law - Canada's Entertainment Law Boutique™

"We’re  entertainment lawyers who understand the business of creative  industries. We guide creators and business professionals as they  navigate the legal complexities of working with others—purchasing,  financing, creating, licencing, and protecting creative  properties, buying and selling creative services.

We  act for clients from across Canada and around the world – working in  Canada with Canadians. We advise on and structure their commercial  transactions, their employment and independent contractor relationships.  We incorporate and administer their corporations. And, if necessary, we  resolve their disputes."

https://edwardslaw.ca/our-people/entertainment-lawyer-lisa-whynot/

As  the CEO of The HOOK Sync Group, Michelle Allman-Esdaille has made a  significant mark in the world of sync licensing, breaking barriers as  the only Black female in Canada to own and operate her own sync agency  since 2020. Her leadership is not just about business; it’s about  creating opportunities and uplifting voices from underrepresented  communities. The HOOK Sync Group proudly represents artists, music  producers, composers, songwriters, and arrangers within the BIPOC,  LGBTQ+, and recognized-as-female communities, ensuring their talents are  seen and heard across the entertainment industry.

Under  Michelle's guidance, The HOOK Sync Group has secured impressive sync  placements, including spots on BET+, HGTV, TLC, VH1, Bravo, CNN and  more. These successes are a testament to her deep industry connections  and unwavering commitment to showcasing diverse talent.

Moreover,  Michelle is the creator of the Sync Music Production Accelerator,  developed through her education company Sustainable Creative Living. In  its third year, this groundbreaking program empowers Black producers to  create music for TV, film, commercials, and video games. Expanding on  this mission, Michelle is set to launch new sync-focused courses in  2025, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to thrive,  become competitive and proficient in the world of sync licensing.

Through  her visionary leadership and dedication, Michelle is not only  transforming the tangibility of sync licensing but also forging a more  inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for the music industry. Her  work continues to inspire and create pathways for the next generation of  diverse talent.

 Michael has placed thousands of songs in TV shows, films and documentaries,
seen and heard around the world. Michael has been working in the music/film/TV industries for 20+ years. 

Select TV credits:  Fellow Travelers, North of North, The Institute, Orphan Black Echoes,  The Handmaid’s Tale, Moonhaven, Altered Carbon, From, Beacon 23, Billy  The Kid, Circuits Breakers, Spinning Out, Ten Days In The Valley,  Vikings, Black Life: Untold Stories, Wild Cards, I Have Nothing, Houdini  & Doyle,

Mary Kills People, Degrassi, Private Eyes, Beauty and The Beast, Haven,
Queer As Folk

Select Film credits:  Bride  Hard (Rebel Wilson), Crisis (Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly, Armie  Hammer), Arbitrage (Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon), Sharp Corner (Ben  Foster, Cobie Smulders), Firestarter (Zac Efron, Gloria Reuben), We  Forgot To Break Up (Lane Webber, Daniel Gravelle, June Laporte),The  Baker (Ron Perlman, Harvey Keitel, Elias Koteas), Some Other Woman  (Amber Crew, Tom Felton, Ashley Greene), Big Gold Brick (Andy Garcia,  Megan Fox, Emory Cohen), Castle In The Ground (Alex Wolff, Imogen  Poots), Firecrackers (Michaela Kurimsky, Kareena Evans), The New  Romantic (Jessica Barden, Hayley Law), The Kid Detective (Adam Brody),  The Weekend (Sasheer Zamata), Little Italy (Hayden Christensen, Emma  Roberts, Danny Aiello), Love Jacked (Amber Stevens West, Omar Epps), The Other Half (Tatiana Maslany, Tom Cullen), Across The Line (Stephan James)

Select Special Projects:  JUNO Awards 2025, Highlight reels for CTV’s Olympic Broadcasts  (Vancouver and London); curating the Canadian Music Café during The  Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF); licensing + administration  for: The National Music Centre (Calgary), Canadian Museum of Human  Rights (Winnipeg), Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Michael has been asked to moderate and speak on panels around the world: Poland, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Miami, New York, Cannes, Calgary, Halifax, Toronto. Michael  is the past president and founder of the Guild of Music Supervisors,  Canada, is an avid Toronto Maple Leafs hockey fan and loves chocolate.

 instinctentertainment.ca 

 Kim Temple is President of High Priestess Publishing and Director of Sync & Licensing at Six Shooter Records. With expertise in song and score rights and royalty management, creative sync, and songwriter development, she is passionate about advocating for creators' rights and fair compensation for artists. Songwriters on her publishing roster include: NYSSA, Skye Wallace, Lana Winterhalt, Witch Prophet, SUN SUN, and Jesse Northey. Label roster includes: The Dead South, Tanya Tagaq, Boy Golden, William Prince and July Talk.  

Kim is also Senior Manager, Programming and Industry Relations at  Music Publishers Canada (MPC), a non-profit membership-based  association. Through cross-sector collaboration MPC strives to educate creative industries about the inherent value of a song, including how to license music for film, television, ads and gaming. As a music publisher with expertise in rights and royalty management, creative sync, and songwriter development, Kim is a passionate advocate for creators' rights and fair compensation for artists. She manages the  Women In The Studio National Accelerator for women-identifying, non-binary and gender non-conforming producers. 

  Cody Partridge is a multi-award-winning Music Supervisor and President of Pear Tree Music Supervision. With over a decade of experience in the industry, his 200+ credits help demonstrate his versatility in navigating music clearances and placements over all forms of media. Cody prides himself on being the 'Indiana Jones of Music Clearances',  constantly finding hidden gems, and never allowing rights holders to go undiscovered. His main objective is to assist a production in creating the project that they envision, and he is happy to facilitate the needs in both a creative and/or administrative capacity as each specific project requires. He is adept at navigating Union implications when placing any affiliated recordings, assuring clients a sound and complete experience in all aspects of authentic music use, regardless if the desire is recognizable or yet to be discovered. Cody is on the Board of  Directors and the Vice President of the Canadian Guild of Music  Supervisors, helping to support and evolve the community of music supervision. 

 Amy Eligh began her career in Publishing at Casablanca Media / Red Brick  Songs in the Copyright and Royalties department, before moving into  Creative – where she successfully stationed herself for over a decade  before moving to Arts & Crafts Music. Within her role as Director of  Publishing & Licensing, Amy pitches large-scale catalogue of songs  for film, trailers, advertising, video games, and TV (US & Canada)  as well as oversees the day to day within the department. In addition to  pitching, Amy organizes showcases for clients / songwriters with TV  networks, music supervisors, and advertisers. She also develops new  writers, arranges co-writing sessions, coordinates and hosts  song-writing camps, and scouts for talent. At Arts & Crafts Music,  Amy works with Broken Social Scene, Dear Rouge, Old Man Saxon, Marcus  Paquin, Dan Mangan, bülow, Cary Brothers, Sarah MacDougall, David  Vertesi, Jordan Klassen, Sylo and many more. Amy is also on the Board of  Directors for Music Publishers Canada and the Chair of the FACTOR  Board. 

Adrienne LaBelle is the Co-Founder of Wavepool Sync, a sync licensing agency based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, colonially known as Vancouver. Wavepool is dedicated to championing independent artists and helping them to build sustainable careers by representing their songs for sync licensing  opportunities, helping to place their music in films, television,  advertising, and beyond. Adrienne first got involved in the sync world  via Mint Records, where they co-managed the label as well as the sync licensing department. During their time at Mint, they helped to secure  placements for Mint artists in popular shows such as Yellowjackets and  Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, as well as indie films Door Mouse and Infinity  Pool, to name a few. Since moving on from Mint, Adrienne has joined forces with Hasan Li to create Wavepool, a new sync agency looking to grow and build lasting relationships with artists, composers, and music supervisors alike. 

Jordan Howard serves as the Creative Director and Global Head of  A&R at CCS Rights Management (CCS)and Daytripper Music Publishing,  where he leads the development and signing of emerging and established artists, songwriters, and producers. Since taking on his role in 2014,  Jordan has played a pivotal role in placing songs from CCS and  Daytripper songwriters on all major streaming platforms and has secured major placements with brands like Apple, Shure, Schweppes and The  Olympics. With an impressive track record in A&R, Jordan has worked alongside CCS Founder and President Jodie Ferneyhough for over a decade,  contributing to the company’s remarkable growth. Under their leadership, the CCS roster has earned 6 Juno Awards, 8 CCMA Awards,  multiple Grammy nominations, and numerous gold and platinum  certifications.

In addition to his A&R work, Jordan is actively involved in the Canadian music industry as a member of Music Publishers Canada. He serves on the events committee and co-chairs the NxtGen task force, which provides support and mentorship to the next generation of music publishing executives through
education, networking, and industry access.

This piano teacher turned composer and recording artist took an old Heintzman upright piano, customized it with a fine red felt, and quietly rose to the top of the neoclassical and minimalist realm as an independent artist. His recordings, collaborations, and compositions have earned him a veritable plethora of streams with editorial playlist placements on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora Radio, Deezer, Youtube Music, Yandex, and Amazon Music. To date, his music has been streamed almost 100 million times on the world’s biggest platforms, and his music has recently become one of the fastest growing piano collections in the realm of advertising, TV, and Film through his signing with American sync giant Musicbed.

Jesse’s journey with the piano began in a quiet rural home at his mother’s old upright piano when he was just a young boy, sitting and playing while he let his imagination wander. He’s extremely grateful to be doing the exact same work today.

Jesse’s musical works are a reflection of his keen sense of emotional intelligence. He possesses the remarkable ability to translate complex human emotions into musical notes, bridging the gap between what words alone cannot convey. His compositions often serve as mirrors to our innermost feelings - whether it’s the melancholy strains of a rainy day, the euphoria of a new birth, or the solemnity of life’s most challenging trials and tribulations. What sets Jesse Brown apart is his unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of modern classical music. He seamlessly blends traditional classical elements with contemporary recording techniques, creating a unique and accessible sound that resonates with diverse audiences. His music is not bound by the confines of time or culture, making it relevant and relatable to listeners of all backgrounds and ages. 

 Andrea is Creative Saskatchewan’s Director of Programs. She leads a team of Program Advisors who assist interested applicants in navigating Creative Saskatchewan’s programs, from setting up an account to apply for programs, to final reporting for successful applicants. 

Andrea and the Program Team are also responsible for developing and adjusting programming year over year and attending industry events to network with stakeholders. 

A true bookworm herself, Andrea is a skilled proofreader and editor, volunteering for the Saskatchewan Book Awards, Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, and The Malahat Review. 

Andrea holds a BA in English and certificate in Public Relations from the University of Regina, a certificate in Entertainment Law from the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, and has taken courses in Publishing from the Toronto Metropolitan University. 

“Creative Saskatchewan’s programming helps creative entrepreneurs to make a living with their art, expand their creative and business practices, and utilize the services of other Saskatchewan service providers, industry associations, vendors, and creative professionals…I also really enjoy consuming the work our recipients produce!”