Students Receive VIP Tour of Warner Music Group

The Arts Management class Managing Artists, taught by Professor Maria Guralnik, had the unique opportunity to visit the Warner Music Group offices on Broadway near Times Square at the end of spring semester 2025.

They received a warm welcome from  alumni Lily Thrall ’14 (Arts Managment) and Angela Galli ’19, (Arts Management + Economics) as well as Ashley Pimenta from Element1 Music.

The students gleaned a behind the scenes view from three key players, each with their particular but instrumental role in the music business.

• • Galli is Senior Manager for Content Protection and Antipiracy at the multinational entertainment conglomerate Warner Music Group.
  • Thrall is President of Creative Operations for Atlantic Music Group, overseeing copyright and licensing of creative assets for major record labels.
  • Pimenta is General Manager and Head of Marketing for Element1 Music, where she uses data-driven strategies to help artists grow their audiences and succeed.

Each generously shared how they found their footing within the music industry—not always a linear path—as they fielded questions.

• • How to reconcile your creative artistic integrity with the expectations of a powerful commercial industry?
  • What managers look for in aspiring artists?
  • What are strategies for launching a music career?
  • How important is social media presence for succeeding in a highly competitive market?

Among the indispensable recommendations these thriving professionals impressed upon students.

Be on time and always honor deadlines!

Music industry projects build on a complex constellation of players, deliverables, and timelines. Success depends on collaborative workflow, and any missing link will throw off a cascade of touchpoints downstream.

They left the students with inspirational advice.

Seize and embrace any opportunity, small or large, as you move towards your future aspirations.

There is something to learn from every experience, and you never know where professional engagements or contacts might lead, no matter how insignificant they seem at the time.