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MusicDish At MIDEM: Columbia College Chicago, U.S.A.
Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Department , All Musical Styles
Company: Columbia College Chicago
Type: Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Department
Genre: All Musical Styles
Location: Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Website: aemmp.colum.edu
E-mail: professordale@hotmail.com
The Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Department (AEMMD) at Columbia College Chicago was founded in 1976, and offers specialized concentrations to prepare students for management positions in the visual arts, performing arts, media, sports management, music business, small business/entrepreneurship, and fashion/retail industries. Students may choose to focus on either non-profit or for-profit management. Each concentration combines conceptual and theoretical learning with practical experience, including a required internship.
The AEMMD started an innovative, first-of-its-kind practical experience for music business students when it launched its MIDEM: Foreign Distribution of Music course in which highly motivated juniors and seniors participate in MIDEM as music business professionals.
Professors and students participating in “MIDEM, The World Music Market’s 40th Edition” conference in Cannes, France,” include: Walter Dale, professor; Carolyn Albritton, professor; Johnique Smith, student; Caitlin Kerr, student; Jennifer Deluna, student; Ayanna Carter, student; Johnathan Newman, student; Katie Conlin, student; Tara Watkins, student; Sam Alpert, student; Brandon Starck, student; Jenniches Lindsey, student; and James White, student.
The students developed a “vision statement” for the MIDEM experience, which you can read here: aemmp.colum.edu/midem. The page also includes information regarding all of the artists that the students are representing at MIDEM, along with the students' contact information.
I wanted to learn more about this innovative class and discover for myself what the students were up to. I had the chance to speak with Professor Walter Dale and several of the students at their booth:
[MusicDish] Hello, Walter Dale. Please tell us about the students whom you brought to MIDEM as part of their Columbia College Chicago MIDEM course.
Prof Walter Dale These are music business majors, they’re not the musicians or the artists. They are the folks who want to do the business: they want to start the record labels, they want to run the venues, do the concert promoting, artist management, and so forth. They’re here to see where two-thirds of music business is conducted. Only a third of it is done in the United States.
[MusicDish] How long has Columbia College Chicago been bringing music business students to MIDEM?
Prof Walter Dale This is our fourth year. We brought our first group of students to MIDEM in 2003.
[MusicDish] How do the students react to their MIDEM experiences?
Prof Walter Dale It’s a broad range of experiences. This is the best group that we’ve had. They’ve all been working very hard. We’ve actually had real projects that they’re shopping. They enroll in the class; they meet five times during the semester where we teach them about MIDEM, and they practice pitching projects.
The students pick projects from real artists who are trying to get distribution for their finished product. They have to develop one sheets, marketing plans, websites, and then they also attempt to get appointments in advance. They research the companies from the prior years’ books, contact the companies, and make appointments. They come here and they’re shopping just like anybody who’s been coming here for 15-20 years. They get an unbelievable amount of real-world experience, and the opportunity to help their artist.
[MusicDish] How does the classroom help the students to make the most of MIDEM?
Prof Walter Dale We don’t want our students to come here as “MIDEM virgins.” This is your first MIDEM. You see people running around, they don’t know what they’re doing. They just heard about it and they came here, and it takes them a whole MIDEM to learn what to do. We try to bridge the gap in the class. While the students may not what be they call “virgin whores,” meaning that they’ve been here for years and years, they have a great understanding before they get here. They’re able to apply the knowledge that we give them in the classroom.
The students learn a lot about the music business here, but also about their own desires, their own love of the music business, because they meet real music people here. They see what the competition is like. It doesn’t matter that you’re just pretty or that you can just sing, you have to have the whole package, and they see the competition from around the world. This is especially important for those who want to start record labels or manage artists. They have a tremendous understanding of the fact that every artist out there thinks that they’re God’s gift to the entertainment industry. But these students will have a realistic view when they see the type and quality of material and artists that are here. They’ll also see some of the garbage that comes here, too.
[MusicDish] Walter, how many years have you been coming to MIDEM?
Prof Walter Dale With students for four years, but I’ve been attending MIDEM for fifteen years. I came to MIDEM when you still contacted companies by fax and mailed product before the Internet got active. The music industry has changed tremendously. MIDEM stays viable as a necessary tool, and I’ll continue to bring students as long as there is music and there is music business.
[MusicDish] That’s terrific – thank you so much, Walter, for talking with MusicDish at MIDEM.
Prof Walter Dale Thank you very much. We hope to see you here next year.
[MusicDish] I’m speaking with student Brandon Starck, a senior at Columbia College. Brandon, what is your career goal?
Brandon Starck My goal is to be a producer – I have a focus in production, but I’m also very much into sales and promotion and PR.
[MusicDish] Why did you enroll in the MIDEM: Foreign Distribution of Music course?
Brandon Starck I actually had a class with Walter Dale, the professor, last year and he told me about MIDEM. I jumped on it – I love to travel and I love music, and I’m trying to get into the business. There’s no better way than the front door, as opposed to the back door.
[MusicDish] I understand that you are promoting an artist at MIDEM as part of the class. Who are you promoting?
Brandon Starck I’m here promoting Larry Heard , a.k.a. Mr. Fingers, the legendary house artist out of Chicago. He’s outstanding. He’s doing some remix work for a couple of artists and a few labels, doing some deals. We’re trying to find some segue work, too, some commercial stuff, maybe for television.
[MusicDish] How has your experience at MIDEM been so far, Brandon?
Brandon Starck It’s excellent, outstanding. I’ve never been in a realm with this many people with the same business, same mindframe, same goals, same passion. So it’s really just exciting – an outstanding opportunity. I’ve made a lot of contacts. I feel like we’re the next generation. People need to meet us anyway, because we’re going to be taking all of the steps of people who are dropping off. I think it’s really important to be here and I love the networking capabilities and possibilities we’re presented with.
[MusicDish] Brandon, do you have a website or myspace page where people can contact you?
Brandon Starck I do not. I’ll be getting one soon – I’ve been so busy preparing for MIDEM, plus I’m a student and I work fulltime. I do promotions for a clubs in Chicago. But is someone wants to get in touch with me, they can e-mail me at Brandon.Starck@myoasis.colum.edu.
[MusicDish] Thanks very much, Brandon, and good luck.
Brandon Starck Thank you!
[MusicDish] I’m speaking with Columbia College Chicago student Johnique Smith. Johnique, what is your major at Columbia?
Johnique Smith My major is music business with a focus on talent development.
[MusicDish] Are you still hoping to get into the talent management field after your experience here at MIDEM?
Johnique Smith Yes, I do.
[MusicDish] What are you shopping a MIDEM?
Johnique Smith Right now I am personally representing a hip-hop artists by the name of H2 , out of Chicago.
[MusicDish] How can people contact you about your artist?
Johnique Smith I can be e-mailed at rockboat1996@yahoo.com .
[MusicDish] What kind of appointments have you had?
Johnique Smith Most of my appointments have been made through our booth. And, just running into people and asking them what type of music do they like, and if we have that, I pitch those artists, too.
[MusicDish] Any possible follow-ups when you leave MIDEM?
Johnique Smith We have a number of leads that we will follow-up when we get back to the states, and hopefully they will turn into great opportunities for us as students and for the artists that we represent.
[MusicDish] So the next time that you return to MIDEM, you will be coming as a professional rather than as a student?
Johnique Smith Yes, that’s my goal and my hope, at the next MIDEM to have my own booth or to share a booth with the artist, too, to present him as a larger package.
[MusicDish] Are you graduating this year, Johnique?
Johnique Smith Yes, I graduate this semester, and hopefully I pursue something in the music business.
[MusicDish] We’ll hope to see you again, Johnique.
Johnique Smith Thank you.
[MusicDish] Best of luck to all of the students and their artists at MIDEM!
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