With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it only made sense to showcase the matriarch of Comma Music, Bonny Dolan. Within Comma, and the industry itself, Bonny fills the roles of Managing Director, Executive Producer and “a mother at heart.”
Get to know her a little better. Trust us, you want to.
How did you get into the music business?
I was going to go back to school to get my Masters in Psychology, but I took a year off. I got a job answering phones at Universal Recording in Chicago and I never went back. From there, I worked in recording studios and “jingle companies” all over Chicago. I had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented people.
Then I moved to Los Angeles where I worked for Soul Train, managed a recording studio and worked for a music company before coming back to Chicago.
I’m so fortunate to have been able to do so much at so many different levels of music.
With your experience in so many facets of the music industry, where do you think you’ve made the biggest impact?
I love music, I love working in music. And in Chicago, when it comes to working with music, it’s going to be in advertising.
While I was at Leo Burnett, I was a part of implementing the program “Artists in Residence.” It was kind of the start of music licensing. Collective Soul came to Burnett, they were there for a 3-day showcase—the first of its kind, really. Collective Soul licensed a song. The Wall Street Journal wrote about the program, and it all took off. Music licensing wasn’t “selling out” anymore.
What is the biggest shift you’ve seen in music licensing and advertising?
The last few years, actually. When I started, it was “we want you to write this piece for this spot.” Now, it’s “let’s go to this library for this spot,” or “let’s see if we can get this Top 40 song.” Music in advertising has stepped away from original music, and licensing tracks has become more popular.
Experiencing this shift throughout my career–and continuing to work through this shift, it’s been really amazing to see how catalogs, like Comma’s, have been able to evolve and remain at the forefront of the music licensing industry.
You’ve moderated and participated on quite a few panels, Bonny. What has been your greatest takeaway from those experiences?
Learning about the passion that so many people have for music. Artists, composers, producers, audio engineers, everyone in this industry loves music. It’s the greatest professional intersection: work and passion.
How did you balance motherhood and a career in the industry? And what would you say to working mothers, and women in general, who feel like they have to choose between work and family?
It was difficult, but I did it. I love my job. I love my kids. It’s a delicate balance. But in my world, my kids always came first. Never at the cost of my job. But you have to prioritize . . . And get a good bottle of wine.
Last Thoughts: I’ve learned so much from so many people in this business. It’s important to return the favor, pass it on. I think kindness and respect are essential, and they can be your best assets, too. I always try to be fair and help people. And of course, I try to mother everyone. I’m just a mother at heart–who loves music.