Lauren Davis, a veteran music business attorney, has been promoted to associate chair of New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
Davis joined the institute’s full-time faculty in 2006, teaching courses on the legal and business aspects of the music industry, including intellectual property law. She has also lectured on social entrepreneurship and advancing equity and inclusion in music. As the director of professional development at CDI, she oversees the professional planning and Senior Year Professional Development courses for graduating students.
With 33 years of experience as a music and entertainment attorney, Davis has represented high-profile recording artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, and music companies. She has also served as the faculty senator on NYU’s Faculty Council for six years, advocating for faculty interests.
Nick Sansano, chair of the Clive Davis Institute, praised Davis for her unwavering support and inspiration to students since the institute’s inception.
“Her music business and legal expertise, and her academic focus on policy, rights advocacy, and gender equity in the music industry has influenced and directed the professional lives of so many of our students and alumni,” he said. “Her willingness to take on the role of Associate Chair, deepening her contribution to the development of our curriculum and mission, is a huge win for our program.”
Davis expressed her excitement about her new role, stating it has been a privilege to teach and prepare future industry leaders over the past 18 years, adding that she’s “excited to roll up my sleeves, work with Nick Sansano as chair, and help steer the Clive Davis Institute’s growth and expansion in the years ahead.”
Named after the iconic music executive, the program offers a distinctive BFA that blends business, creative and intellectual exploration as part of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The CDI marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year and is a fixture in Billboard‘s annual list of top music business schools.
