CAREER CONSULTATIONS: 2026 GRAMMY U Conference

As Senior Director of A&R and Artist Relations at Round Hill Music, Amy Birnbaum brings over a decade of expertise and a deep passion for music to her role as the company’s longest-standing creative executive. She oversees catalog legacy preservation with some of the most iconic songwriters in history while signing and developing talent for Round Hill’s dynamic front-line A&R roster. Amy’s wide-ranging career has included working as an assistant to acclaimed actors Billy Crudup, Jeremy Piven, and Edie Falco, as well as performing as a long-time member and tour manager of Daptone Records’ gospel and R&B group Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, with whom she toured nationally and internationally. She has also produced Black History Month programming for Lincoln Center’s prestigious Songbook Series and is currently developing an original Broadway musical. Deeply committed to mentorship and industry advocacy, Amy serves on the RIAA’s Education and DEI Committees, volunteers as a mentor for the Grammy U Program, sits on the AIMP Young Professionals Committee, and provides guidance for the Trombone Shorty Apprentice Program and the NVAK Foundation. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Recording Academy’s Grammy Education Committee.

Based in New York City, Preston Rodie is the Senior Director of A&R at Sire / Warner Records, where he has been instrumental in shaping the careers of global talents since joining in 2018. Preston’s impressive roster includes Nigerian superstar Omah Lay, Platinum-certified Canadian rock band Mother Mother, and alternative sensations Roy Blair and Cavetown. Before Warner, Preston spent five years at RCA Records, contributing to the success of international breakout artists such as Nothing But Thieves and Amy Shark. His A&R journey began as an assistant on chart-topping projects for Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Pitbull, Walk the Moon, Elle King, and Bleachers. With a track record of identifying and nurturing diverse talents across genres, Preston Rodie continues to make his mark on the global music industry, earning a reputation as a champion for both emerging and established artists.

Taylor Hanson is a multi-GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur, and an Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee, from Tulsa OK. He has worked in the music industry for over 30 years, and sold more than sixteen million albums as a member of the pop-rock trio HANSON. He has also been a member of acclaimed power pop band Tinted Windows along with members, James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle), Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick) and the late Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). He is the co-founder of 3CG Records, Hanson Brothers Beer Company and The Hop Jam Festival. His advocacy and activism has included support for music and arts education in US schools, combatting HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, and international human rights. In 2014 Taylor founded Food On The Move, a non-profit focused on combatting hunger and food insecurity and working to end food deserts in Oklahoma and beyond. In November 2025 Taylor will also recieve his home states highest honor with his induction into the Oklahoma Hall Of Fame.

Lachi is a world touring recording artist and author, award winning music executive, globally renowned disability inclusion advocate, host of PBS series Renegades, and Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) National Trustee. Born legally blind, Lachi created the U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), collaborating on disability-inclusive solutions with the likes of Netflix, Live Nation and more, while bringing career opportunities to music creatives with disabilities. Her pop track Lift Me Up in homage to Judy Heumann peaked at #29 on U.S. Adult Contemporary radio. Named a USA Today Woman of the Year, an ADCOLOR Innovator and included on both the Billboard Pride and Forbes Accessibility 100 lists, Lachi’s cultural activism has landed her spots on national ads and TEDx stages, discussions with the White House, NPR, and the BBC, and features in People, TIME Magazine, Good Morning America and the New York Times.

Nikisha Bailey is a music executive, cultural curator, and innovator whose 15 year career has helped shape artists like Kehlani, Kevin Gates, Charlie Puth, and Bruno Mars. She has led A&R, operations, and marketing at Atlantic Records, APG, Nvak Collective, and Universal Music Group, earning Billboard and Forbes recognition. Now a Drexel University professor, she teaches artist management and entrepreneurship while serving as a Recording Academy Trustee and Women in Music Advisor. She also c0-founded Win Win Coffee, a mission driven coffee company advancing equity and transparency in global supply chains, partnering with major brands like Oatly and Warner Music Group to create lasting community impact.

Nick Cucci has more than 40 years’ experience in the music industry.  Besides holding senior positions at Rough Trade Records, Columbia Records, RCA Records and MTV, he was instrumental in creating and implementing marketing campaigns for Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Jessica Simpson, Dixie Chicks, Soul Asylum, Harry Connick Jr, Kate Bush, KISS, The Pixies, Lucinda Williams, Coheed & Cambria, and many more.  Before joining the Recording Academy’s New York Chapter, he was Executive Director of LifeBeat-Music Fights HIV/AIDS, a nationally prominent non-profit organization.  Nick is now in his 11th year at the Recording Academy.

Jeff Levenson is a label executive, writer-producer, and international consultant. His affiliations, past and present, include posts at Half Note, Sony, Warner Bros, Downbeat, Billboard and NY’s Blue Note jazz club. He currently produces the Herbie Hancock Competition and the Michael Brecker Competition, and has authored and/or produced events for the NEA, the US State Department, the White House, the New School for Social Research and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. His collaborations include projects with McCoy Tyner, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Franco Ambrosetti, John Scofield, Jack Dejohnette, Peter Erskine, Conrad Herwig, Kenny Werner and Bill Frisell, with production and/or supervision credits on 13 Grammy albums: 2 winners, 11 nominees. Levenson has served the Blue Note management team, advising on club programming and global development. He contributes to UNESCO’s International Jazz Day, and recruits partners for Jazzahead (Bremen), Taller de Musics (Barcelona), Unit Records (Zurich), and JAM MUSIC LAB (Vienna), for which he is Chief Liaison Officer. As a former Governor and Trustee of the Recording Academy (Grammys), his committees included Awards, Grants, Governance. He enjoys the company of musicians.

Sarah Weinstein is an accomplished publicity executive who has worked across music, film, technology, and beauty/fashion, representing recording artists and corporate brands. As principal of Sarah WD, she offers publicity services and handles Grammy strategy for several labels, distributors, and award-winning artists. Previously, Sarah held the position of SVP, Publicity at RCA Records and served as chief Grammy strategist for 18 years for the label. Most recently, she supported artist and label clients who received 58 nominations at the 68th GRAMMY Awards®. Current and past Sarah WD clients include The Orchard, Clive Davis and the Recording Academy’s Pre-GRAMMY Gala, AWAL, WME, Create Music Group, TeachRock, gamma., C•O•A•L MGMT (Collective of Artists & Leaders), and more.

Steve McEwan is a multi-Grammy award-winning British songwriter, artist, and musician. His songs have been recorded by country music artists including Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and Keith Urban. Outside of country, he has also written with rock and pop stars such as Kylie Minogue, Roger Daltrey, David Archuleta, James Morrison, James Blunt, Jackson Browne, James Bay, and James Arthur as well as rapper Eminem. His song "Cry" with Jon Batiste won best American Roots song and Best Performance at the 2022 Grammys and he also won overall Best Album for "We Are". In 2024, he won the Grammy for Best Song for Social Change for "Refugee" with the artist K'naan.

Toby Lightman, Governor of the Recording Academy's NY Chapter and co-chair of its Songwriting & Composing Committee, stands out for her soulful voice and fiercely relatable songwriting. Classically trained on violin and self-taught on guitar, she discovered her vocal gift at her high school graduation, quickly landing a major deal with Lava Records. Her debut album Little Things hit the Billboard Top 100, earning comparisons to Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, and Norah Jones, and led to performances on Letterman, Conan, and CBS Morning Show. Winner of the 2025 SONA Emerging Songwriter Warrior Award, Lightman releases her 10th studio album, Stars, on May 29th.

Jack DeBoe is a Brooklyn-based musician, producer, songwriter, and engineer known for his wizardly problem-solving skills and ability to unlock artists' full creative potential. His collaborative approach consistently elevates projects beyond expectations. His extensive creative portfolio features production and/or mixing credits on several Grammy-winning albums with artists such as Tyler, the Creator, YEBBA, Jon Batiste, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Meshell Ndegeocello. As a drummer, he has provided support to Lucius, Emily King, Lizz Wright, Nick Hakim, Megan Hilty, and many others. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Jack is the Composer and Music Producer for the Emmy winning the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He is responsible for producing, performing, recording, and mixing the show’s pre-recorded music, parodies, and short-film skits. Other notable contributions include scoring a short film with the academy-award-winning directing duo, Daniels, known for the acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once, and acting as Music Director for UK artist Little Simz. Jack also engages with the next generation of musicians as a part-time faculty member at the New School, where he teaches production and mixing techniques to both master's and undergraduate students.

Artist Development Sessions

Industry Sessions

Songwriting & Composing Sessions

Producing & Engineering Sessions