Serona Elton serves as Head of Educational Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC). In this role, Elton directs The MLC’s efforts to engage future members of the music industry currently studying music business and related subjects at colleges and universities.

Elton is also the Vice Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, as well as a full professor and Chair of Music Industry at the school. In 2023, she was named Music Business Educator of the Year by the Music Business Association. She is also a Yamaha Master Educator.

Elton has worked for or with many top music companies including Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group, as an expert in licensing and royalties. She is co-author of the book Music Business Handbook and Career Guide (13th edition), and has contributed to news stories for NPR’s Marketplace, CNN.com, The New York Times, Billboard and other outlets.

Elton serves or has served in leadership roles in The Recording Academy, CMS, MEIEA, AMS, the Copyright Society, and the Florida Bar EASL section. She is an alumna of the Leadership Music program and a licensed attorney in New York and Florida.