September 7, 2001 UNT Inhouse publication: Program combines business, music, journalism

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Program combines business, music, journalism

Often musicians starting out find they must be their own managers and marketers, says David Shrader, professor of music and interim vice president for development. But their training rarely covers the business side of a music career.

"Most musicians have to be business people to make it, but rarely do they get any kind of background in business before they start their careers," says Shrader. "It's a lot easier nowadays to make your own CD, but how do you market it?"

To solve this problem, UNT's Murphy Enterprise Center has developed a new music, arts and media entrepreneurship program in collaboration with the College of Music and the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism. The center is part of the Department of Management in the College of Business Administration. The first project of the new program will be an innovative workshop in "Music, Media and Management." The workshop convenes three weekends for three graduate credit hours.

The workshop will also be the first requirement of a 12-hour graduate certificate in arts entrepreneurship to be offered by the university. Other credits for the certificate may eventually be earned through web-based courses.

The first workshop is this month and will address the needs of musicians learning to manage and promote their music and of entrepreneurs interested in the music industry. It also meets the needs of journalists hoping to become music reviewers by providing a background in music appreciation.

Business, music and journalism faculty members teach this seminar, which will also include panels of leaders in arts, business and media professions.