WILL.I.AM Announced as Keynote Speaker at the GRAMMY Foundation's 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Luncheon & Scholarship Presentation

The GRAMMY Foundation®'s 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative® Luncheon & Scholarship Presentation will be held on February 11th in Beverly Hills, CA, and will feature GRAMMY®-winning artist/producer will.i.am as keynote speaker. The luncheon will also honor John T. Frankenheimer, distinguished entertainment attorney, partner and co-chairman of Loeb & Loeb LLP., and chair of the firm's music industry practice group, as the recipient of the 2011 Service Award. The honor is awarded to an attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to advancing and supporting the music community through service.

Other program participants include: Michael Reinert, ELI Executive Chair and executive vice president of business & legal affairs, Universal Motown Records Group; Ken Abdo, ELI Executive Committee Program Chair and top music industry attorney (Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, P.A.); Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation; and Bea Perez,Chair of the GRAMMY Foundation Board and chairman and chief marketing officer of Coca-Cola North America.

At the exclusive luncheon, a cash scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to the author of the winning paper, and $1,500 will be awarded to each of four runners-up. Additionally, all ELI finalists' papers will be published in a major legal journal and each winner will receive airfare, hotel accommodations, and a ticket to the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, as well as invitations to other GRAMMY Week activities.

THE WINNERS OF THE 2011 LEGAL WRITING CONTEST ARE:

WINNER
William Jacobson — Charlotte School of Law
"The Robot’s Record: Protecting The Value Of Intellectual Property In Music When Automation Drives The Marginal Cost Of Music Production To Zero"

RUNNERS-UP
Daniel Carillo — St. John’s University School of Law
"The Rejection of Recording Contracts In Bankruptcy: How Means Testing Changed The Landscape For Artists"

Jay Patel — University of Southern California Gould School of Law"The Economic Impact Of Strict Visa Requirements On The Entertainment Industry"

Brian Pearl — University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
"Recorded Music Is An Incredibly Tough Business In China — But, It Should Be Incredible"

Mahral Vadani — Chapman University School of Law
"Running on Empty: The Problem With Politicians And Stealing [Music]"

ABOUT ELI
The 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Luncheon & Scholarship Presentation, one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY® Week, a celebration that culminates with the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 13 and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Established in 1998 to recognize and further the connection between the legal profession and the recording community, the ELI program seeks to address legal issues confronting the music industry.

HISTORY
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage.

For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.

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Emily Smith
Rememba Entertainment