RIANNA SEELIG
Staff Writer
The music industry students recently received exciting news: A Bachelor of Science in Music Industry was officially approved.
Previously, the area of study was only offered as a concentration associated with the School of Business. According to the Campus Report, this is “believed to be” the only program of this nature in all of Western New York, and is one of merely a handful of schools offering the degree.
While certificates prove beneficial in strengthening one’s academic prestige, they do not allow a great deal of course-related opportunities. Concentrations give one the ability to claim a specialization, but with the new degree, students can now potentially contribute more than two year’s worth of courses to their study.
Despite not having an established degree program per se, the music industry students have been actively participating in both on-campus and off-campus events. The program is a mixture of coursework, internships, on-campus activities and events involving industry-leading guest speakers.
The 160 students have done everything from running the Music Industry Club, the Sound System Club, and the Fredonia Radio Station, to designing and carrying out unique charity events.
They have acted as an integral part of the annual Campus Battle of the Bands and performance-oriented social gathering, “Life is Art.” The events feature various creative outlets to spread community and campus awareness of the Arts.
Most notably was the not-for-profit WhyHunger event, “Music to Nourish Philanthropy Dinner.” The Students, in conjunction with the White Inn and several philanthropic donors, raised over $3,000 for the WhyHunger Campaign.
The Bachelor of Science degree is one of the most popular degree programs in the world. It is perfect for students with science-oriented minds with a knack for problem-solving and critical thinking.
The degree is representative of the mindset of many music industry students. Furthermore, the music industry degree relies heavily on Interdisciplinary methods of teaching and learning, ensuring the students complete their degree well-rounded and prepared for their field.
The B.S. will revolve around five core courses: The Business of Music, Music Copyrights, Music Contracts, Student Record Label and Music Marketing and Promotion. Courses will also include aspects from other areas such as economics, business, computer science, and accounting.
After graduating with a degree in music industry, a student is prepared and qualified for a range of jobs including jobs with MTV, Sony, NBC, CBS, The Fender Music Foundation, Universal, Live Nation and any major record company.
In the Campus Report, Armand Petri (the music industry coordinator) feels the new degree program will be exceptionally beneficial to both the campus and prospective students.
“It definitely brings recognition, prestige and room for growth,” he said. He continued by highlighting the great deal of experience students will now be equipped with post-graduation.
Gabby Carr, a junior music industry major, showed nothing but excitement for the new program, identifying the most beneficial aspects of the new opportunity.
“Knowing we have our own degree program means that we’ll be able to add more classes specific to the music industry like Copyright Law and our Student Record Label, which have been the most informative classes I have taken here,” she said.
With 160 students, the program is already thriving, and they hope the changes encourage even more success and growth in the future.