BIO

Matthew Covey is an American arts lawyer, activist and music industry professional whose work focuses on international cultural exchange and the legal challenges facing performing artists. Through his work with Tamizdat and CoveyLaw, he has helped artists and cultural organisations navigate immigration requirements and access opportunities across international markets.

Covey’s career spans several areas of the music and arts industries, including touring, talent buying, artist management and booking. His experience working across these fields has informed his approach to artist mobility, particularly the barriers that immigration policies can create for musicians seeking to perform internationally.

He is a founding board member of Tamizdat, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to legal research, education and advocacy relating to international cultural exchange and US-bound artist mobility. The organisation works to address visa-related challenges that can prevent performing artists from entering the United States for professional engagements.

In 2015, Covey established CoveyLaw, a Brooklyn-based law firm that serves the legal needs of the international arts, nonprofit and business communities. The firm provides legal services across areas including immigration, entertainment and business law, supporting musicians, performers, talent agencies and other creative industry professionals.

Beyond his legal practice, Covey contributes to international discussions on cultural policy, immigration, equity and the movement of artists across borders. He serves on the board of On the Move, an international network focused on cultural mobility, and Voices of a People's History of the United States, an organisation that uses performance and education to highlight underrepresented perspectives in history.

Covey has also participated in music and arts conferences around the world, sharing his expertise on the legal and practical considerations involved in international touring and cultural exchange.

His participation in the 2026 edition of the Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES), taking place in Johannesburg from 28 to 31 October, brings this expertise into conversations about the development of sustainable music ecosystems and stronger international cultural partnerships.

Through his work in law, advocacy and the music industry, Covey focuses on addressing structural barriers that affect artists' ability to work internationally and participate in global cultural exchange.