KENNESAW, Georgia | October 25, 2022
Kennesaw State University Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program (MEBUS) has once again captured the attention of Billboard magazine, ranking among the top college music business programs in the world for the fourth consecutive time.
In the recently published report on The Best Music Business Schools in 2022, Kennesaw State has been ranked among the top 38 music business programs in the world alongside other preeminent programs such as Berklee College of Music, New York University and Abbey Road Institute in London. KSU’s MEBUS program was launched in 2010.
“We are honored that a program as young as ours has, once again, been recognized by Billboard,” said Keith Perissi, Executive Director of the MEBUS Program. “From the beginning, we have been dedicated to creating opportunities to prepare our students for careers in all facets of the entertainment industry. This recognition is an honor for our program, our university, and our program’s namesake, Joel Katz.
The Billboard ranking is based on entertainment industry recommendations, alumni information, and specific program details. In acknowledging MEBUS and the other programs, the publication noted, “These are young men and women who manage all aspects of on-campus record labels, develop career-launching business plans, engage in l data analysis and benefit from on-campus speakers who represent the highest levels of the music industry, whether artists or executives.
Part of the Michael J. Coles College of Business, the 24-credit MEBUS certificate program teaches students to thrive in the fast-paced world of film, television, and audio production, as well as artist, location, live event management, and l entertainment entrepreneurship. In 2020, MEBUS expanded to include an 18-credit minor undergraduate degree.
Billboard praised the MEBUS program for providing students with a real-world entertainment experience, specifically highlighting the MEBUS Mixer events held each semester at MadLife Stage and Studios in Woodstock, Georgia. During this event, 25 student artists perform on stage for an audience of 250 guests. , with MEBUS students managing the planning and execution.
“The mixers are produced by our associate director, Danny Howes, with students assisting in all aspects of production,” Perissi said. “It’s a way for our student performers, managers, promoters and audiovisual producers to learn all aspects of production and directing.
Mentorship from working professionals is also an essential part of the MEBUS program. Classes are taught by entertainment industry executives, professional actors, and Grammy-winning artists and producers. Among the teachers are MadLife production manager and chief engineer Steven Morrison, who teaches on-site audio production, and attorney Amy Oraefo, who runs a course on entertainment industry law. MEBUS students are also working with the Coles College Dean’s Office to produce a new podcast project.
“The experiences that come with being on this program are one in a million,” said MEBUS student Sammy Fodroczi. “It’s such a gift to be able to step straight into the industry alongside so many incredibly talented professionals and gain valuable insights from them. The opportunities offered by this program have prepared me for so many amazing jobs in the music and entertainment industry, and I feel like this program has been one of the biggest investments I’ve made in my future.
Billboard’s recognition of MEBUS also highlighted the treasure trove of musical memorabilia provided to the program by legendary entertainment industry attorney Joel Katz. Autographed photos, platinum records and musical instruments from artists like Michael Jackson, James Brown, Whitney Houston and many more – all Katz clients – have transformed the MEBUS building into a museum of the history of music.
The MEBUS program continues to grow each year as partnerships with the entertainment industry create opportunities for students and the new minor degree in Music and Entertainment Business opens the program to a wider range of students. .
“We pride ourselves on being an interdisciplinary program,” Perissi said. “Entertainment cuts across all majors and disciplines. In this way, we are a microcosm of the entertainment industry.
–Patrick Harbin
Photos of Gabby McMahon
Related stories
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global connections, and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from across the country and around the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated (R2) doctoral research institution, placing it among an elite group of only 6% of US colleges and universities with R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.