Monika Chmielewska, Legal & Business Affairs at Third Side Music

Monika Chmielewska is a young lawyer working in the Legal & Business Affairs department at independent music publisher Third Side Music. She handles negotiations for synchronization requests (for film, TV, advertisements, promos, trailers, and video games worldwide), sample and interpolation uses, and works made for hire. Amongst other things, she was involved in negotiations for high profile projects such as Colin Stetson’s original score for Hereditary (A24), and Sofi Tukker’s feature in Apple’s iPhone X campaign.

Prior to joining the TSM family, Monika interned at a boutique law firm in Montreal specializing in intellectual property and entertainment law. She simultaneously took a class at Harvard on US Copyright Law. Monika graduated from Laval University with honours and a scholarship for excellence in the IP Law Course. She also published an article on the impact of 3D printing on IP law in a renowned French Canadian legal publication.

What is your favourite part about your job?

Being surrounded by tons of creative people (artists, creative licensing people, music supervisors, etc.)

What was your first job in the music industry?

The one I have now ! (does picking songs once a week for a small segment at my college radio station when I was 19 count?)

Who is your role model?

My parents

Favourite non-music-related pastime?

Gardening (very relaxing to shop for a new plant and then repot it and everything)

Who are your musical heroes?

David Bowie (because Labyrinth)

Go-to Karaoke song?

Sia - Chandelier