Julie Swidler

Mondo is proud to welcome Julie Swidler as a 2026 keynote speaker, Friday, October 16, 2026.

As one of the most powerful dealmakers in the music industry, Julie brought a rare depth of insight and acumen to her view of the music business. As Sony Music’s Chief BLA and Legal Officer, she oversaw the company’s legal, business affairs, and governmental matters on a global level, yet approached all decision-making with a careful dedication to helping the music industry and its artists flourish and thrive over the long term. She advised the company’s labels and operating units on everything from strategic negotiations and artist contracts to litigation and joint venture operations.

Repeatedly featured on Billboard’s Women in Music and Power 100 lists, in 2016, Julie was the first label executive and woman to receive the Grammy Foundation’s ELI Service Award, given to music attorneys for advancing and supporting the music community through service. That same year she was honored by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts with its Champion of the Arts award. In 2018, when the Recording Academy wanted to put together a small task force to examine diversity and inclusion issues in both the recording academy and the recorded music industry at large, Julie was tapped to serve. In June 2026, Julie was a co-honoree at UJA’s Music Visionary of the Year event.

She started her career in the music business in 1988 at PolyGram Records as senior attorney, rising to assistant general counsel and vice president-assistant general counsel, North America, and head of Business Affairs for Mercury Records, before leaving to join Clive Davis at Arista and later J Records.

Julie holds a B.A. in political science from Union College and a J.D. from Cardozo Law School, where she was a member of the Cardozo Law Review. She is married with three children and resides in New York City.