EXPERIENCE and BACKGROUND:
A graduate of New York University School of Law, Ms.Botti began her legal career at the New York-based firm Proskauer Rose where she specialized in Intellectual Property Law and Commercial Litigation. Thereafter she joined the in-house legal department for ABC Television Network where she worked as Director of Legal Affairs for "Cable and New Media," dealing with the Network's emerging cable channels (like ABC's SoapNet) and with all the issues related to ABC's websites.

 

In 2000 she joined Studios Studios, the production and distribution division of USA Networks, Inc and responsible for the production and distribution of such shows like Law & Order, Xena and Jerry Springer. In 2002, the company was acquired by Vivendi Universal, the owner of multiple entertainment assets such as Universal Music Group, Universal Theme Parks and of course, Universal Studios. Ms. Botti became VP Business and Legal Affairs for Universal Television with the primary responsibilities of negotiating and drafting domestic television licensing agreements for Universal's tv and film product and working on music issues related to television and new media. Ms. Botti has co-taught the "Music and the Law" course at NYU for 4 years and counting. She is also
a musician herself who most recently fronted and played guitar for the New York hard rock band SLUSHPUPPY.

 

Why I Decided to Work in the Music Industry:

Did I decide to work in the music industry? Actually I made a conscious decision NOT to work in the music industry (at least not the label side) after spending some of my first years of practice working on record contracts. Why? For several reasons: First since I was a musician myself and simultaneously pursuing my own music career, I found it personally very difficult to work on other musicians’ record deals. Quite frankly, I found that the musicians often had no clue what they were signing themselves up for, and that, even more surprisingly, they didn't care !! It was too
frustrating for me to represent the musician who didn't care (and had the record contract I so desperately wanted) and too distasteful for me to represent the Record Label that knew full well how to exploit the musicians apathy and desperation.
So, I went into the more "civilized" world of TV and Film.

 

What I Like Most About Teaching:

Besides helping to satisfying my unyielding "performing" itch, I also enjoy getting the chance to arm students in the program with real-world practicable music business knowledge. Knowledge is power!!! Moreover, our students are the future of the Music Industry and I enjoy challenging them to think out of the box regarding how the Music Business could run in the future. It is definitely an interesting time in the industry, and new creative thinking is going to be needed to help pull the industry out of its rut.

 

Class Tips for Students:

Go to your classes! Read everything you can get your hands on and listen to not only your teachers, but to your fellow students as well. This is probably the only time in your life where you have the luxury of making "thinking about the way things work and could work differently" a top priority. When you start working in the "real world" your days will be filled with more immediate challenges and daily routines.... and you will be "sucked into the machine" and become indoctrinated with the way things "are and have always been " -- so use your time wisely now and challenge everything!

Career Tips for Students:

Yes it's true that in the world of Entertainment much of it is about "who" you know. You will hear a thousand times that this business is about NETWORKING!!! However, getting someone's name off the internet or picking up the phone and cold calling them is not really the most appropriate way to go about getting contacts. Just because you know the name of the A&R person at Sony, does not mean you KNOW him or her. Try to really get to know these people before asking them to help you find a job..... Offer to help them in some way or just try becoming their friends. Things like the guest speakers can be invaluable to gaining access to these industry types, but just don't expect that they will be bending over
backwards for you just because you said "hi" to them after the class. Think of networking like dating.........Would you ask a first date to come over, clean your house and feed your dog while you were away? Get to know the person as a person....to me that is the most powerful connection.

 

Outside Interests:

Writing, playing and performing music -- piano, guitar and voice. (slushpuppyrocks.com)

 

 

Favorite Music: Rock and roll baby!