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A Golden Opportunity

Nashville City Paper notes the opportunites ahead for Belmont University music business students to showcase their talents for a roomful of recording industry executives at the upcoming National Association of Recording Merchandisers convention in San Diego.

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers’ (NARM) membership list reads like a who’s who of the music industry, including major retailers, record labels and organizations such as Tower Records, RCA, Warner Bros., and Billboard Magazine.

These are the names that will be in the audience when the winners of NARM’s "Class Acts" contest perform at the NARM convention in San Diego in August.

Music students from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and Belmont University have been allowed to attend NARM’s annual convention and network with industry leaders for years.

Now NARM is allowing the best of the best from these universities to showcase their songwriting, marketing and performance abilities at the convention. Music business students have until April 15 to submit taped recordings of a vocal or instrumental performance, a marketing campaign or songwriting piece to a panel at the university level.

NARM judges will choose which individuals or groups will perform at the convention in front of potential future employers and notify them at the end of June.

MTSU and Belmont are two of a handful of universities that offer well-established music business programs outside the music school. Each school typically sends about 25 students each to the convention, where they have been admitted into all seminars, parties and events for about a seventh of what it costs professionals.

While students were able to network, they have never previously had a time during the conference to be the center of attention, according to Clyde Rolston, a professor at Belmont University.

"There’s an amazing amount of talent on this campus," Rolston said. "This gives them a chance to strut their stuff a little more in front of the professionals."

Posted by the Office of University Marketing & Communications, February 23, 2004

    Belmont University's fast-growing community of about 4,000 students comes from nearly every state and more than 25 countries. Belmont is committed to premier teaching with a focus on success in the real world. Our purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world's needs. With more than 50 areas of study, eight master's degrees and two doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon.

    Office of Marketing and Communications
    615.460.6645 Greg Pillon
    615.460.6646 Bill Hobbs

    Belmont University
    1900 Belmont Boulevard
    Nashville, Tennessee 37212
    615.460.6000
    www.belmont.edu