Featured Alumni

Innis College | Faculty of Arts & Science

Erika Savage

Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1995

Erika Savage is a former hip-hop dancer. It was good training for the hot-button issues she faces today as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles.

Erika Savage is the in-house counsel at Interscope Geffen A & M Records, a division of Universal Music Group. She handles negotiations for such stars as Lady Gaga and Feist.

“There are a million issues that come up throughout the course of an album cycle,” Savage told U of T Magazine. She represents the record company in discussions with artists’ lawyers on everything from videos to album art to iTunes downloads.

She is also helping to pioneer a new kind of recording contract, which has created some controversy. It is the “360” or branded agreement, which gives the record company a percentage of the artist's future entertainment-related income such as touring, merchandise and/or endorsements. Savage says such contracts are inevitable given the current state of the recorded music business which has been deeply hurt by illegal file-sharing. “Everyone keeps saying the music industry has to adapt, and this is one way we’re adapting.”

After graduating with a U of T degree in Women’s Studies, Savage became a member of PhemPhat Entertainment, a non-profit organization formed in 1995 which provides education and mentoring opportunities for young artists. As part of PhemPhat, Savage co-founded a female dance company, PhemPhat Dance Agency, which tried to combat negative perceptions of female hip-hop dancers and encourage the music industry to treat them respectfully as artists. She later got her law degree from Osgoode Hall.

"The standards at U of T are incredibly high. So when you feel like you’ve done well there, you know that that’s a stamp of approval you can be really proud of."

Being at U of T, she says, allowed her “to listen to all these great bands, even at the pub. It was great, a really exciting time for me.”

 

Published Nov. 28, 2013

Related Alumni

Ryan Pyle

New College | Faculty of Arts & Science

Ryan Pyle decided to venture to the land he learned so much about in his Chinese history and politics classes.The trip transformed him.

Jeffrey Skoll

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

As the first full-time employee and President of eBay, Jeff Skoll helped lead the company's successful initial public offering.

Bill Reeves

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering | School of Graduate Studies

Bill Reeves can be immensely proud of the award-winning movies he helped create as a co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.

Margaret Atwood

Victoria College | Faculty of Arts & Science

By mid adolescence, Margaret Atwood knew she wanted to be a writer. The world is thankful she came to that awakening early on.

Sophie Milman

Victoria College

Sophie Milman was half way through U of T when she realized she was more singer than student. Now, she’s at the top of her class.
See all featured Alumni

Don’t miss out!

Update your contact information to be the first to know about exclusive offers. This makes it easy to tell us when your email has changed.

Update my information

Special discounts

Did you know that U of T alumni get deep discounts on attractions, sporting events, car rentals and more? Check back often for new offers.  

Find the latest deals
Close