Cardozo Law student Anika Kazi was recognized during Grammy Week as a finalist and runner-up at the Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Luncheon for a scholarly paper examining collective bargaining rights for songwriters in the streaming era.
Kazi, a 2L at Cardozo, earned the honor for her paper, The Missing Guild: Why Songwriters Need Collective Bargaining Rights in the Streaming Era, which analyzes the structural challenges songwriters face in today’s music marketplace. The annual ELI Luncheon, held during Grammy Week, brings together leading entertainment attorneys, industry professionals, and emerging voices in entertainment law.
In her paper, Kazi explores how songwriters operate within a marketplace shaped by concentrated buyers and statutory and intermediary licensing systems. She argues that existing systems of collective administration do not translate into meaningful bargaining power at the point where minimum terms are set, leaving songwriters at a disadvantage in the streaming economy. The paper also outlines a framework for reform aimed at better aligning songwriter compensation with modern market realities.
“I was excited to be recognized among such a strong group of finalists and to have the opportunity to represent Cardozo during Grammy Week,” said Kazi. “The luncheon was a great chance to connect with attorneys and industry professionals and to engage in important conversations about the future of songwriter rights.”
As part of the recognition, Kazi will participate in a mentorship session with a leading entertainment attorney. Her paper will also be published in the American Bar Association’s Entertainment & Sports Lawyer journal.
The ELI Luncheon served as a kickoff event for Grammy Week programming and highlighted the role of legal scholarship in shaping the future of the entertainment industry. Kazi’s recognition underscores Cardozo Law’s strength in entertainment law and its commitment to supporting students engaged in innovative legal research.
