Michael Prommer is the Founder and CEO of Defend Music, an independent music publishing company based in Los Angeles. Since launching the company in 2004, he has built it into a major player in rights management, representing over 15,000 copyrights and working with artists such as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Thee Sacred Souls. Defend’s catalog has been sampled by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Eminem, and its music has appeared in major campaigns, including the #1-rated 2023 Super Bowl ad for The Farmer’s Dog.Before Defend, Prommer co-owned and served as COO of XLR8R, an influential music publication, where he also founded a distribution company focused on European electronic music. He later joined Vice Media and Live Nation to help launch Live Nation TV as General Manager. A magna cum laude graduate of UC Berkeley in Economics, Prommer began his career at Bain & Company as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies. He brings that strategic background to Defend’s operations, pioneering fast, tech-forward licensing systems that prioritize artist revenue and rights protection—especially on platforms like TikTok, where Defend’s song “Love You So” became one of the most used tracks globally. Prommer is also active in industry advocacy, serving as a founding member of A2IM, a member of AIMP, and a former Governor of the Recording Academy’s San Francisco Chapter. Originally from Munich, Germany, he now lives in Sacramento, where he enjoys cycling, nonprofit work, and time with his family.