12 Colleges and Universities, 1,000+ Students Join Music Biz Academic Partnership Program in First Year
September 15, 2015 – Twelve colleges and universities along with more than 1,000 students have already signed up for the Music Business Association’s (Music Biz) Academic Partnership Program, which provides support and exclusive opportunities for schools, students, and faculty members who are fostering the future of the music industry through music business, technology, and entertainment law education. The program has been in effect for the past year. The colleges and universities that have joined the program are:
- Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
- Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
- Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey
- New Jersey City University (NJCU), Jersey City, New Jersey
- New York University (NYU), New York, New York
- University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, Texas
- William Paterson University, Paterson, New Jersey
(Statements from the institutions are included below.)
“Music Biz is thrilled with the robust response that the Academic Partnership Program has received over the past year and are proud to count all of these incredible institutions as members,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “As an Adjunct Professor at Monmouth University, I’ve seen firsthand how essential a balanced educational experience can be for those pursuing a career in the music business. It is imperative that we ensure the future prosperity of the music biz by providing support for those who are training the next generation of industry executives. Our Academic Partnership Program helps accomplish that.”
All students and faculty members at affiliated schools who are involved in a music business, technology, or entertainment law program automatically become Music Biz members, giving them exclusive benefits such as access to research, whitepapers, and infographics; complimentary registration to the Common Ground Webinar Series; discounts to the annual Music Biz convention as well as Music Startup Academy and Entertainment & Technology Law Conference events; and eligibility to apply for scholarships through the Scholarship Foundation. Last year, more than $50,000 in financial scholarships and prizes was awarded to 24 students, including 11 from Academic Partnership Program members including Belmont University, Berklee College of Music, Ferris State University, New Jersey City University, University of Miami, and William Paterson University.
Music Biz is once again inviting students from Academic Partnership Program members to volunteer at Music Biz 2016. Last year, 15 students from Belmont and MTSU took the opportunity to do just that at Music Biz 2015. They learned valuable music industry lessons and skills, while connecting with top executives at all three major labels as well as top publishers, managers, artists, entrepreneurs, and startups.
Music Biz is also partnering with Academic Partnership Program member William Paterson University and its Music Biz 101 radio show and podcast, hosted by Steve Marcone and David Kirk Philp, to bring a group of students to this year’s Music Biz 2016 convention in Nashville from May 16-18. They will record interviews with prominent conference attendees that will then be edited by students and broadcast on the university’s radio station, WPSC: Brave New Radio. Budgeting, routing, and the booking of interviews will also be handled by William Paterson University students, providing valuable hands-on experience for the university’s music business scholars.
To learn more about the Music Biz Academic Partnership Program, contact Evelyn Dichter at 856.596.2221 or evelyn.dichter@musicbiz.org or visit https://musicbiz.org/about/members/academic-partners
Statements from Academic Partnership Program Members
Belmont University
“The students, faculty, and staff of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University are extremely grateful for the many benefits, scholarships, and real-world opportunities that are made available through the Academic Partnership Program. In addition, we applaud the Music Business Association for providing access to a variety of industry resources that support student and faculty research and compliment our academic mission of developing graduates with the critical thinking skills needed to lead and succeed in our unique and dynamic profession.”
- Doug Howard – Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
Berklee College of Music
“Music Biz has done a great service to academia with the establishment of the Academic Partnership Program, and we’re happy to be a part of it. Through the program, we are able to bring scholarly elements to our curriculum, offer networking opportunities to our students and faculty, and receive a host of other benefits that bolster our mission of career preparation for the music industry. I commend Music Biz for creating this important support system for music business education.”
- Don Gorder – Chair, Music Business/Management Dept.
Drexel University
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students in the Music Industry program. Partnering with the Music Business Association is another way we’re continuing to strengthen our dynamic educational environment, where students get to experience what it is like to work in the ever-changing music industry.”
- Marc Offenbach – Assistant Professor, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Ferris State University
“The Music Biz Academic Partnership provides incomparable experiential learning opportunities for students who aspire to a career in the music and entertainment industry.”
- Daniel Cronk – Coordinator, Music Industry Management Program
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
“This is such a wonderful opportunity for our students and faculty to receive in-depth research on the latest industry trends and information on cutting-edge technology. By creating this nurturing and inquisitive community, Music Biz is making a tremendous contribution to the canon of music business knowledge nationwide and enhancing the education of a generation of music business students. We are delighted to be part of this impressive partnership.”
- Beverly Keel – Chair, Department of Recording Industry
Monmouth University
“A big part of the Music Industry program here at Monmouth University is incorporating practical, hands-on components for students. This partnership gives our students access to the many great resources and industry forums of the Music Business Association. Music Biz understands the importance of connecting and educating industry professionals. They bring together the players that are shaping the music business. Through this program, they are making their resources available to the next generation of music industry professionals. This partnership is another way we’re creating links to the music industry.”
- Joe Rapolla – Chair, Music & Theater Arts Department / Program Director, Music Business & Entertainment Media Program
New Jersey City University (NJCU)
“The NJCU Music Business Program has been greatly enhanced by our partnership with Music Biz. Our first experience with the organization was at the Music Startup Academy’s Shark Tank in NYC, in which entrepreneurs pitched their real music business plans to a panel of experts and the audience. My students were suddenly rocketed into the world of make-or-break business and left the event with a whole new appreciation of the risks and rewards in our industry. You can’t get that in a classroom! The Common Ground webinars are required watching in our program, introducing students to a broad array of new ideas and important industry players. The support of the Music Business Association for educational programs is the missing link between academia and the workplace. I encourage all schools to join!”
- Andrew Schwartz – Coordinator of Music Business and Adjunct Faculty
New York University (NYU)
“Music business education is dependent not only on a robust classroom curriculum, but also on real-world experience and, to a much larger degree than many other industries, personal networking. The Music Biz Academic Partnership Program gives NYU students the ability to more easily integrate these two approaches, allowing our students greater opportunities to gain practical info on the music industry and meet important contacts that can help them land their first jobs.”
- Larry S. Miller – Director, Music Business Program
University of Miami
“We were thrilled when the Music Business Association decided to create their Academic Partnership Program! The program enables us to expose all of our music business students to the benefits that come with membership in the Music Business Association, at an affordable price. We constantly remind our students how important it is to attend industry events and network with professionals, and membership in Music Biz provides them with ample opportunity to do both.”
- Serona Elton – Chair, Department of Music Media and Industry / Director, Music Business and Entertainment Industries Program
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
“I am looking forward to the additional educational support and hands-on and networking opportunities that our UTSA students will enjoy for many years to come thanks to the Music Biz Academic Partnership Program. Our students have a passion for music and a focus on developing their marketing skills applicable to the music business world. I can’t wait to have many of them volunteer at and take part in the Music Biz 2016 Conference.”
- Dr. Stan Renard – Assistant Professor of Music Marketing
William Paterson University
“We’re very excited about being a part of the inaugural partnership and the opportunity to have our students attend the Nashville convention and hopefully make lasting connections with industry heavyweights.”
- Stephen Marcone, Ed.D – Professor of Music / Coordinator of Music and Entertainment Management Programs
