Bonny Dolan

Bonny Dolan : Managing Director/Executive Producer
bonny@commamusic.com

As executive producer and artist liaison of Comma, Bonny Dolan is that key figure between the advertising agencies and the music makers. At Comma, Bonny—working closely with six in-house composers—produces original music for ad campaigns. An expert at sourcing, securing and properly licensing music, she is also responsible for Comma’s expansion into music supervision. Since joining Comma in 2007, Bonny has transformed and energized the music licensing business with her personalized, streamlined approach.

For those looking to form a deeper brand/band relationship, Bonny curates and manages artist showcases and meet-and-greets specifically aimed at ad agency creatives and their clients. Reflecting her diverse musical taste, she has worked with several acts in this capacity, including Cyndi Lauper, Andrew Bird, Raphael Saadiq, Phoenix, Colbie Caillat, Lykke Li, Duran Duran, Eagles of Death Metal and the Swell Season. Indeed, Bonny has been a true pioneer in the world of branded entertainment.

In fact, while at Leo Burnett, where she was a VP, Bonny launched and founded the agency’s Artist-in-Residence program. As the program’s director, she was instrumental—an architect—in creating the modern model for artist/agency collaborations. She brokered deals between Kellogg’s and Collective Soul, McDonald’s and Cheap Trick, and others. It was also Bonny who organized the production of the licensing deal between Allstate and the Beatles (“When I’m Sixty-Four”).

Because of her insight, knowledge and pioneering spirit, Bonny has been quoted in numerous publications, including Billboard, Crain’s Chicago Business and the Wall Street Journal. Additionally, she is an in-demand speaker at advertising and music conferences around the world. Bonny also sits on the Recording Academy’s Midwest Board of Governors.