After working as a musician, producer, composer, and arranger to some of the most well-known artists in the nation, Assistant Professor Jamar Jones is now giving an insider’s look at the music industry to students working toward one of UTA’s new degrees—a BA in Music Industry Studies.
The degree includes not only core courses in music, but also classroom work that focuses on the business and production side of the industry, including record label studio management, digital music technology, accounting, and even law.
“The music industry is growing, and it’s ripe with career opportunities and pathways,” says Dan Cavanagh, chair of the Department of Music. “Having a degree in music industry studies is a career boost and more attractive than simply receiving a business degree and then working in the industry.”
The Music Department’s Studio 301 is UTA’s on-campus recording studio and features the latest recording tools and technology. Jones anticipates graduates will have the know-how to manage artists, run record labels, and produce albums—just as he has done for many famous performers, including Patti LaBelle, Jamie Foxx, and Jill Scott.
“Students should feel like being at UTA is just like walking into a studio in L.A. or New York or Nashville,” says Jones. “I want to put UTA on the map as a place that educates and trains music industry professionals.”
