Still in Rotation: How Motown Legends Are Reclaiming Their Catalogs — and Their Legacy

At the center of this conversation is Paul Riser Sr., a legendary Motown arranger, Funk Brother and composer whose work has remained culturally and commercially vital for more than six decades, most recently featured in the trailer for the 2026 studio release Supergirl. He’ll be joined by representatives of other legendary artists and estates whose music is finding renewed life through film, television, advertising and sync — reaching new generations while generating meaningful new revenue.

Together they’ll explore the enduring value of classic catalogs, what it takes for artists and estates to reclaim ownership and control of their work, and how rights management and sync licensing can turn musical legacy into lasting cultural and economic value.

From Motown compositions powering contemporary blockbusters to iconic soul records finding new audiences on screens large and small, this is a conversation about keeping timeless music not simply alive, but in circulation, in culture — and creating value for the people who made it.