After the abrupt departure of former music business director Scott Frederickson in May 2003, Loyola’s music business students are looking forward to a strong program under the new director, John Snyder. A Grammy Award-winning producer, Snyder was named Conrad N. Hilton Eminent Scholar in Music Industry Studies on July 8.
Snyder comes to New Orleans from Norwalk, Conn., where he is president of the Artists House Foundation, a non-profit music company that supports educational and artistic presentations for performers.
He has produced over 300 recordings with notable record label clients, including Sony, RCA, Columbia, Atlantic and Telarc. In addition to his success as an independent record producer, Snyder holds a juris doctor from the University of North Carolina and is a member of the New York Bar Association.
“Snyder’s arrival is a boost to the program. He has the experience and the recognition that we’ve all been looking for in the industry,” music business senior David d’Hemecourt said.
With hopes to positively impact students and the music business industry, Snyder said he believes the preparation and support of music business student to be critical.
“The best way for the music business industry to improve – and it is certainly in need of it – is for a new group of knowledgeable and motivated leaders to make a difference,” Snyder said.
As some music business students and Snyder would describe it, the music industry is in disarray. Snyder cited recent consolidations of major recording companies and the subsequent layoffs of workers in the business as evidence of a problem. Despite the imposing juggernaut of media empires, Snyder said he believes there are many breaks for students to be entrepreneurs and independents.
“I think there’s also opportunities for students who want to get on that bucking bronco of the music business and try to tame it – to try to make it work for artists. It’s something that needs to be done,” Snyder said.
Greg Heaney, music business senior and president of Loyola’s Music and Entertainment Industry Students Association, wants to collaborate with Snyder to generate new opportunities for music students.
“In the past the music industry studies program lacked a strong sense of professionalism and organization, so MEISA will be working with Mr. Snyder to establish a network of contacts between students and music businesses throughout New Orleans and the country to ensure job placement,” Heaney said.
Georgia McBride, music business junior, has already met with Snyder and applauds his efforts. McBride said that he is attentive to the wants and needs of students and is willing to do what it takes to accommodate them.
“Although he’s achieved very impressive accomplishments in the industry, it’s not what he talks about when he meets with students. Instead he wants to discuss what is important to us,” McBride said.
In addition to listening and generating job placement for music business students, Snyder said that more importantly he wants to instill in students that music is a powerful art and it enriches peoples’ lives.
Among his goals as director, Snyder said that he wants to develop an interdisciplinary relationship with the Loyola Law School to benefit those music business students considering legal careers.
His other goals include generating more masterclasses for music students, emphasizing the use of all forms of media and encouraging students and faculty to take advantage of musical and artistic opportunities in New Orleans.
He said that as a start to the music business program’s academic year, they will define their goals, analyze their procedures and methodology, review their results in terms of success and implement ways of improving.
“We’re going to train our students to be leaders and not just workers, and we’re going to train them to think with an entrepreneurial mindset. The three bywords of the program will be leadership, ethics and entrepreneurship,” Snyder said.
