High success brings Navigating the Music Business program back for another semester

After such high success this summer, the Navigating the Music Business program is back for the fall semester.

The six-week long program is designed for anyone interested in the music industry, experienced or not. Members of the program will be able to explore the business side of music. With lessons ranging from roles surrounding an artist to legal contracts, students will become immersed in the music industry. 

Meetings are weekly where participants will learn from industry professionals and gain access to career opportunities.

The first meeting will cover “How the Music Business Operates” giving students a base knowledge of the music industry. Throughout the six-weeks students will partake in lessons such as “Record Label and Distribution Basics,” “Music Publishing Basics,” “Building an Independent Artist’s Toolkit,” and more.

Students will build a final project with everything they have learned to submit to Ogden Payne, founder of FTS (For the Students) and program leader.

An artist himself, Payne understood the struggles of getting a foot in the door with the entrepreneurial side of the music industry and wanted an accessible way for students to gain this knowledge.

“All of these programs I, first of all, couldn’t afford to go to and I didn’t want to move to those places,” Payne said. “I wanted to figure out ‘how do I do what I want to do from where I am without having to go into debt for it?’ That was really the big reason.

“That was 15 years ago and there are still students struggling today with that same issue. I wanted to create something that allowed students who want to learn about the industry to be able to do it affordably and quickly.”

This summer Payne hosted the first Navigating the Music Business program with Texas State University.

The summer program saw high success, capping out at 15 participants with more filling out applications. Students were highly engaged making the drives to networking events and conversing passionately with one another.

“You just see them blossom and come out of their shell,” Payne said. “I can’t explain what that feeling is like but that is what I love the most. What’s super rewarding is when these students either land jobs or their metrics for releasing a song are met. Just watching them report back to us and the smiles on their faces. That is the best gift in the world.”

After such a successful six-weeks, another program was in store.

Applications for the fall program are open and close Monday, September 29. On October 15 applicants will be notified of their acceptance with the program starting Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.

For the fall program, 16 students will be selected to learn from various industry professionals and gain hands-on education.

The $395 valued cost of the program will be covered by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for accepted participants. After acceptance into the program, students will pay a $25 registration fee.

For more information attend:

• Thursday, September 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Breaking Into the Music Business Info Session with Ogden Payne at the CIE Gathering Space, Alkek Library 3rd floor 350G

Here, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the music industry and the Navigating the Music Business program.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to gain incredible knowledge, hands-on education, and interactive live sessions.

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