As a push for added curriculum offerings for the University of Arkansas, the Department of Music will offer two new classes on music industry for Spring 2020.

These online courses can be taken by any student on the UA campus as well as students outside of the UA system. The classes offer insight into the music industry from two vantage points, including the history and trends of the music industry business world and a practical course on contempoary commercial songwriting. Both courses are 8-week classes offered through U of A ONLINE.

21st Century Music Industry — Learn From Music Legend Al Bell
MUTH 477V:902 (3 credits)

Legendary music industry executive and Arkansas native Al Bell offers a course on the inner workings and trends of the music industry. Bell, former chairman and owner of Stax Records and former president of Motown Records Group, current CEO of Al Bell Presents who has sold over 70 million albums and a GRAMMY Trustees Award winner, offers a class that will cover an historical overview of the music industy while discussing the current changes in the field.

Centered on the the insight that music training on a college campus is an asset, Bell's course offers ways to incorporate technical knowledge of the field with university credentials. From the mechanics of royalties and contracts to publishing and broadcast, the class will help students understand the field as music majors or not. 

Contemporary Commercial Songwriting
MUTH 477V:901 (1 credit)

This hands-on class will be taught by U of A music faculty member Jake Hertzog and multi-platinum selling professional songwriter Kenny Lamb. As a well-respected songwriter, producer, and artist manager, Lamb began his career as a Warner/Chappell Nashville and New York staff songwriter and producer. His songwriting credits, artist development, and collaborations include 'N SYNC, Justin Timberlake, Rhett Akins, Building 429, Little Big Town, The Backstreet Boys, Take 5, Barret Baber and more. 

In the course students will learn to compose songs in contemporary styles while learning to assess technical elements of song: lyrics, melody, form, production, and style. Students will understand various methods of demo creation for songwriters and develop understanding of the processes by which songs are marketed to various music industry agents.

For more information on the classes, please contact Professor Jake Hertzog, Jazz Area Coordinator in the Department of Music.