PRS Explores
The panel discussion introduced NFTs - non-fungible token: a digital collectible bought and sold using cryptocurrency - and discussed the opportunities they could provide to PRS members. Members heard from industry experts and academics about how NFTs can be relevant to the music industry. They explored the career opportunities sparked by them for music creators, while also discussing the legal implications and possible risks.
Hosted by Nigel Elderton, Chair of the PRS Members' Council, along with Cliff Fluet (Partner at Lewis Silkin, co-head and founder of their Media & Entertainment Practice), Dr Hayleigh Bosher (Associate Dean / Senior lecturer in IP law at Brunel University) and Mike Walsh (UK Head of Strategic Partnerships at Serenade).
About the panellists
Cliff Fluet
Cliff has over 25 years’ experience operating at the cutting edge of Digital Media and advises companies globally on their legal and commercial strategies. After qualifying as a lawyer at global law firm CMS, he became in-house counsel at Warner Music, was seconded to the BPI and then Legal Director and Company Secretary for Capital Radio plc (now Global Radio). In 2006, Cliff was asked to Lewis Silkin LLP as a Partner and is Joint Head and founder of its Media & Entertainment Group. He specialises in Digital Media, Brand Entertainment, Technology, and Innovation as a part of its Creators, Makers & Innovators Division. Cliff sits on Lewis Silkin’s Board, responsible for innovation and new business models, and leads its Solutions offering to internal and external clients.
Cliff is also founder and Managing Director at Eleven, offering strategic and commercial advisory services. A regular contributor to Music Business Worldwide and a visiting lecturer at Berklee College of Music, Cliff is regularly asked to speak at conferences globally on a variety of hot issues in the industry. He is also Chair of the Trustee Board of The Ivors Academy Trust, the charity for songwriters and creators, and a Trustee of Help Musicians, the leading UK Music Industry charity.
Dr Hayleigh Bosher
Hayleigh is a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law and Associate Dean (Professional Development and Graduate Outcomes) at Brunel University London and an Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law consultant. Hayleigh's research looks at the legal regulation of music and the music industry. She is the author of Copyright in the Music Industry and producer and co-host of the Whose Song is it Anyway? podcast.
Mike Walsh
Mike is UK Head of Strategic Partnerships for eco-friendly music NFT platform Serenade. Mike is also a music and media consultant, and artist manager, with decades of experience in broadcast, digital, and music businesses. His clients include tech, artists, managers, labels, event and festival companies, venues, charities, D2C, music start-ups, digital rights management, professional coaching, podcasts, apparel brands and book publishing.
Mike oversaw record results for Radio X (previously XFM) where he was part of the management team from 2005, and worked with artists such as Coldplay, Radiohead, Kylie, Blur, Queen, Beastie Boys, Paul McCartney and Pet Shop Boys when at Parlophone Records in the mid-late 90’s. Mike gave first airplay to many artists from Adele, The xx, Mumford & Sons, Lana Del Rey and many others. As well as staging award-winning live events with household names of the likes of Florence and The Machine and Ed Sheeran, Mike has been a Mercury Prize judge for the past five years and is a member of the War Child UK music committee, Liverpool City Region Music board and on the Founding Music Committee of Brian Eno’s music meets climate change charity EarthPercent.
