Tami LaTrell is a multi-platinum songwriter and powerhouse music business executive, newly elected National Trustee for The Recording Academy’s Atlanta Chapter. She’s penned songs for GRAMMY winning legendary artists including Whitney Houston (Whatchulookinat), Monica (Anchor), Keyshia Cole (Fallin Out), and SWV (All About You, Let’s Make Music), among others. Her first major publishing deal was signed with EMI Music Publishing in 2002 under the leadership of then-Chairman and CEO Jon Platt — and today, Tami remains an established veteran writer under EMI/Sony Music Publishing.
After nearly two decades crafting hits, Tami retired from songwriting in 2018 to pursue her bigger mission: serving and protecting music creators. She founded The Mezzo Agency, a full-service music administration company that provides catalog management, metadata enrichment, royalty collection, label services, and music licensing/clearance for songwriters, artists, and producers.
Since its inception, Mezzo has recovered over $3 million in unclaimed royalties for creators such as Billboard-charting rapper K Camp (Blessing, What’s On Your Mind), multi-platinum producer El Jefe (Queen Naija, Flaujae, NLE Choppa), Hip Hop Legend Erick Sermon, GRAMMY-winning writer Corte Ellis (Missy Elliott, Britney Spears), Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner El Puma, the estate of the late Rev. Paul Jones (I Won’t Complain), Kim Burrell, Travis Malloy, David Frazier (Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, Ricky Dillard), Spotless (Akon, Wizkid, Timaya), and many more who trust Mezzo to protect and monetize their catalogs.
As an unwavering music advocate, Tami facilitates publishing and copyright workshops at Mezzo’s Atlanta headquarters and has helped push critical legislation like the Music Modernization Act alongside The Recording Academy and the late Congressman John Lewis. She’s spoken at institutions like Georgia State University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Berklee College of Music, SAE Atlanta, Spelman College, and Morehouse College, and is a frequent expert panelist at music conferences, podcasts, and retreats.
Honors & Affiliations
National Trustee – Recording Academy
Vice President – Recording Academy (2 Terms)
Top 100 Music Publisher – National Music Publishers Association (3rd Year)
Association for Independent Music Publishers (Los Angeles) – Member
Buckhaven City Lifestyle – Featured
Ebony Magazine’s C-Suite Series (sponsored by Cadillac) – Main Feature
Chicago Tribune’s Top 20 African American Entrepreneurs To Watch – Featured
Bloomberg Law – Contributor about Song Clearance and Licensing
Rock The Bells – Contributor about Song Clearance and Licensing
Ebony’s Black Women To Know In PR, Tech & Digital Media – Featured
Education
Magna Cum Laude, HBCU Graduate – Texas Southern University
Copyright Law Certification – Harvard Law
Goldman Sachs Executive Entrepreneurship Certification – Babson College