Survey of the Music Industry
Survey of the Music Industry is an essential course for music majors at any university. VCU’s course addresses the subjects of copyright, business organization, music production, management, recording, freelancing, grants, taxation and non-performance careers. The course is an elective for music majors and required as part of the Jazz Studies program.
“The most beneficial, real-life class I’ve taken in my four years. … It should be required of all music students.”
— Music business class member
Though this course is not jazz-centered, many of the students’ final projects can be related to jazz careers, addressing such subjects as becoming a tenured professor, starting a music technology school in Richmond, presenting a concert, promotional packets, hosting a festival, music promotion, recording and touring, professional bassist career, commercial jingles, getting a demo picked up, booking agent as a career, opening a recording studio, film scoring and recording producer as a career.
At VCU, you’ll learn how to take care of business.
Guest speakers
From left, VCU clarinet alumnus Victor Goines and
former saxophone student Steve Wilson.
In additional to the instructing faculty member, the class has received first-hand expertise and advice from such established professionals as Charles Gavin (attorney), Charles Chambliss (attorney), Jimmy Bland (Plan 9 Music), Clarke Bustard (arts columnist, Richmond Times-Dispatch), Peter McElhinney (music columnist, Style Weekly), Peter Solomon (jazz host and operations manager, WCVE-FM Radio), Al Regni (saxophonist and freelance musician, VCU faculty), Russell Wilson (pianist and freelance musician, VCU faculty), Susan Greenbaum (freelance musician), Joel Katz (executive director, Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts), Marc Baylin (president, Baylin Artists Management), René Marie (vocalist and freelance musician), Carlos Chafin (owner, producer and composer, In Your Ear Studios), Butch Taylor (owner, producer and composer, In Your Ear Studios), Adam Lacy (owner, producer and composer, The Project Studio), Nathan Kahn (symphonic negotiator, American Federation of Musicians), David Fisk (executive director, Richmond Symphony Orchestra) and Julia Rogers (certified public accountant, Biegler and Associates).
NARAS Grammy panel sparks VCU
Music business students previously enjoyed discounted admission to an event that provided a lot of energy to the local music scene.
VCU Music hosted “Demo Review Panel and Contest: A Grammy Professional Workshop,” presented by the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. The event was co-sponsored by the VCU Department of Music, BMI and Punchline and Omega recording studios.
“This class gives me the tools to take matters into my own hands.”
— Music business class member
NARAS, which hosts the Grammy Awards, was pleased to receive nearly twice as many attendees as it had expected and presented three hours of music business experts discussing what makes a great demo recording, as well as judging ten demos on site. The panel included Dave Lowery of Cracker, local recording artist Susan Greenbaum, Richmond Times-Dispatch’s music writer Melissa Ruggieri, Punchline’s Brian Muldoon, Deep South Records’ Andy Martin, Spot Studio’s Kelly Jones and XM Radio Unsigned Channel’s Billy Zero, introduced by VCU Director of Jazz Studies Antonio García and NARAS D.C. Executive Director Daryl P. Friedman.
The winner of the demo contest was Pennyshaker (formerly Tabula Rasa), with its composition “All I Want.” The group won eight hours of studio time with Lowery, an on-air interview and radio airplay with Zero, and two hours of consulting time with area entertainment attorney T. Craig Harmon.
