Meet our Panelists:
Kayla Steen
Kayla Steen is a Creative Sync A&R professional and artist with a passion for bridging artistry and opportunity. Currently at UnitedMasters, she curates music for film, TV, and brand placements while mentoring emerging artists through programs such as Sync Sessions—a one-on-one mentorship initiative Kayla launched in November 2024 to address the lack of education around music licensing—as well as Sync 101, Beats by Dre’s Beats Academy, and Save The Music. With a background spanning music licensing and brand collaborations, Kayla focuses on demystifying sync for independent artists and creating pathways for their work to reach global audiences. Recently, she earned her first music supervision credit on a major Peacock production, further solidifying her role as a champion for artists navigating the sync space.
James C. McKinney
James C. McKinney is Assistant Professor of Music Industry and Music at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. A practitioner-scholar with over 20 years of experience in the music and media industries, he has worked extensively as an executive manager, engineer, producer, songwriter, arranger, film scorer, keyboardist, vocalist, musical director, educator, and philanthropist. His creative credits span award-winning films, television, episodic series, and animation, including original scores for My Last Day Without You and S.O.U.L. of a Black Woman, which received acclaim at the 11th Charlotte Black Film Festival (2020). McKinney’s commercial scores have been featured by the Discovery Channel and Johnson & Johnson, and his work as a performer, co-writer, and co-producer has contributed to multiple GRAMMY-nominated performances.
In academia, McKinney integrates his extensive background in music production and audio technology with a forward-looking approach to creative scholarship. His teaching and research explore the intersections of immersive audio, multimedia composition, and experiential learning, fostering innovative recording practices and interactive storytelling techniques. Through his ongoing work in film scoring, VR environments, and multimedia production, McKinney advances new modes of artistic expression that bridge traditional and emerging technologies. A dedicated collaborator and thought leader in immersive audio and multimedia integration, McKinney continues to shape the dialogue between artistic innovation and educational practice. His interdisciplinary approach unites creative, technical, and pedagogical perspectives, empowering students and audiences.
Leah Streetman
Leah Streetman is a Music Supervisor, Producer and distinguished industry executive with specialized experience in the unique world of synchronized music for film, television + advertising, as well as the complex area of trailer music. Currently a freelance music supervisor for MGM+ (marketing) and other indie projects, she was previously the head of marketing music for all of HBO's Original Programming (Scripted & Documentary), such as: Euphoria, The White Lotus, House Of the Dragon, Insecure, Westworld, The Undoing, Bee Gees: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?, TINA, American Utopia and the Music Box film series. She was a producer on the award-winning music documentary, Sidemen: Long Road To Glory. Prior to HBO, Leah was Music Supervisor for EPIX Network (marketing), and led the sync team as Vice President of Film + TV Creative Music for Universal Music Group's Republic and Motown Records. While at UMG, she oversaw creative sync music in All Media (film, tv, advertising) for artists like: The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Florence + The Machine, Pearl Jam, Lorde, James Bay, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Prince, Black Sabbath and Amy Winehouse.
As a leading Film + TV music executive, some of Leah's previous speaking appearances include: SXSW Music Conference, Billboard Film & TV Music Conference, Sync Summit, Mondo.NYC, Live The Biz, NARIP, NYU Tisch Film Studies, Brooklyn College, Eckerd College, Trident College and Indie Grants sponsored by the South Carolina Film Commission. An advocate for uplifting women in music and entertainment, she volunteers as a Mentor with organizations such as: She Is The Music (founded by Alicia Keys) and the Guild of Music Supervisors, as well as university programs.