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University offers music industry course |
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
by LAUREN LAWSON
News Reporter
Appalachian State University now plans to offer a course through the Hayes School of Music that will give students insight into the inner workings of the music industry through collaboration with Appalachian’s student-run record label, Split Rail Records.
“The course is required for music industry majors and there is an application process for any student in a different major,” said Bryan A. Chisholm, a junior music industry major and the class’ president.
The class, titled The Practicum in Record Company Administration, is a one credit hour elective
course, said Josh T. Jarman, a junior public relations major and intern for the college of fine and
applied arts.
 “Do It to Julia,” a band signed to student-run record label Split Rail Records, practice in the Hayes School of Music. Photo by Alisha Park
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“The class is made up of four main groups - marketing, artist and repertoire, legal, and finance,” Jarman said.
He said while it is strictly for experience in the music industry field, all majors are encouraged to enroll
in order to bring diversity and knowledge in different areas to the record label.
“Students do hands-on work for the label such as distribution, contracts, helping to sell and promote in
stores and online, as well as do work in studios,” Chisholm said.
Sophomore music industry major Adam L. Nieting plans to take the course next semester and said
while it’s required through his curriculum, he has always been interested in the field.
“We get to work with bands on projects such as promoting and record work,” Nieting said.
Jarman said Split Rail Records was founded by a group of students in fall 2006 in order to sign student
bands and produce their albums while also providing a beneficial and educational experience for
Appalachian students.
“In this course we get to take the things we’re taught in class and put it to use while also learning more.
It’s like doing an internship while in school,” Chisholm said.
He said the previous class president went on to work in the legal department of MTV thanks in part to
her experience with band contracts through this course.
“While the class meets once a week, a lot of the time we spend entire weekends pulling all day shifts
working in the studio and other areas for Split Rail,” Chisholm said.
Currently, the two bands signed to Split Rail are Do it to Julia and Defending Brooklyn.
Both bands play at local music venues and Defending Brooklyn plans to release its first album near the
end of April, Jarman said.
The course is open to all Appalachian students and is listed as MUS 3531 for class registration.
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