For the fifth year in a row, Billboard named the School of Music & Theatre Professions at Loyola as one of the top music business schools in the country. Garnering national acclaim for Loyola’s music industry department, the article placed a strong emphasis on student opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Just last week, Billboard released their annual list of the top music business schools in the United States, highlighting the importance of the ever-growing music industry and its novel generation. In the article, Billboard described the School of Music & Theatre Professions as a continually evolving curriculum.
In response to the nomination, music industry studies students were asked how they felt about it, as well as why they particularly chose Loyola’s music department.
“Since I came here I’ve been in awe of the music department,” said sophomore music industry studies major Remi Grady-Mullen. “The professors and curriculum are so amazing and I’m glad we’re starting to get national attention for it.”
When asked the same questions, freshman music industry studies major Amanda Riley relayed that “I chose to study music industry specifically at Loyola because I believe the program will allow me to be a well-rounded musician with a foundational knowledge of legal and business practices, music theory, and more.”
Riley went on to say that upon graduation, she believes she will be fully equipped for her future career, as Loyola is providing her with “the necessary tools.”
A key factor of Loyola’s nomination was attributed to Wolf Moon Entertainment, the College of Music and Media’s student-run record label that allows students to explore the world of music publishing, design, booking, general label operations, and more. Through these endeavors, Wolf Moon provides a way for students to generate their own income while learning about the industry.
About Loyola’s Billboard nomination, Grady-Mullen mentioned the record label specifically as a contributor to Loyola’s success.
“We’ve really leveled up this year with Wolf Moon Entertainment,” corroborating Billboard’s statements. They explained that “the hands-on work we get to do is where we do the most learning and where Loyola excels.”
Loyola’s investment in Gasa Gasa, a local music venue, was also cited as a reason for its acclaim. The partnership gives upper-level music students the chance to book, market, produce, and manage artists and their shows while taking a course designed around venue management.
On the program itself, Riley stated that “[through the Gasa U program] students can run a live music venue, and I honestly believe that no other university could compete with this amazing program.”
When asked about what makes Loyola’s music business department outstanding, Riley explained that “Compared to other university programs, we are given the opportunity to immediately immerse ourselves in the industry in order to gain real-world knowledge that we can use in our future careers and beyond.”
She continued by crediting the faculty, claiming that “[the faculty] truly cares about our success and they have faith in our ability to go out and be a positive change in the industry.”
The faculty was also highlighted in the Billboard piece, with shoutouts to Tavia Osbey—artist manager for Tank and the Bangas, now leading Loyola’s course in Music Management— and Sami Slovy, developer of CMM’s new class: The Business of Live Entertainment.
Music Business department Chair Jonathan McHugh sat down to talk about the Billboard nomination and the success of Loyola’s program over the years.
“It’s no surprise to me that [the nomination] is there, but it’s still always an honor to get [it],” McHugh said of his reaction to the piece.
Talking about the longevity of Loyola’s music business department, he stated that “We were one of the first programs to do this. This music business program has been operating for 25 years.”
He continued in saying that being part of the list is something that “we greatly anticipate,” and that “We love the fact that we’re on it and we love the fact that our program has been such a great New Orleans based way to get students out into the world.”
More on Loyola’s music program specifically, McHugh validated its educational value: “…the education that we try to give both on the music school side and on the music business side is second to none out there.”
