Billboard Magazine has once again named the Music Industry program (MIND) at the Frost School of Music to its prestigious annual list of the best programs of its kind.
MIND has been honored by Billboard, the highly respected trade publication of the music industry, every time they’ve published the list since 2011. The program’s two undergraduate degrees, for musicians and non-musicians; three master’s degrees, one on campus, one online, and one as a joint degreewith the University of Miami School of Law; faculty with extensive industry experience and connections; success in facilitating student internships at major companies; and a speaker series that exposes and connects students to top industry executives; are among the factors that have consistently made MIND one of the leading programs of its kind.
One of the program’s most valuable assets are its many successful alumni and their strong relationship to the Frost School. Professor Serona Elton, director of the MIND program, says the power of those alumni was brought home to her as she researched graduates to nominate as Frost School Centennial Medalists, who were honored at the campus-wide celebration of the Frost School and the University of Miami’s centennial last April. Close to half the medalists ended up being from the MIND program.
“I was so impressed and excited,” said Elton, who is also serving as the Vice Dean of the Frost School this year. “We found so many outstanding alumni.”
At the April 8 celebration, a panel of MIND Centennial Medalists filled the stage of Newman Recital Hall with successful graduates working with record labels, publishing, live performance, and other areas. As an alumna herself, and the fourth director of MIND since its launch in 1966, Elton, M.M. ’95, said she was filled with pride.
“The longevity of our MIND program, and the success of our alumni throughout the many decades, tells you all you need to know about us,” Elton said. “While providing current students with a best-in-class educational experience is top-of-mind for our faculty, how graduates turn that into a successful career is what matters most in the long run.”
MIND’s high-achieving alumni include Pablo Ahogado, VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing; Courtney Karnes Sneed, Director of Licensing at Capitol CMG/Universal Music Group, the world’s largest major music company; Brian Oliver, Head of Legal and Business Affairs at major event producer Rolling Loud; Michael Todd, AVP of Film & TV Music and Visual Media at ASCAP, a leading collective rights management organization; Randall Foster, Chief Creative Officer at Symphonic Distribution; and Jessie Allen, Managing Director, GRAMMY U, the Recording Academy’s membership organization.
That MIND alumni work in so many different areas demonstrates another of the program’s strengths, which is to teach about the music industry as a whole. “Over the span of a career, an experienced professional may change sectors,” said Elton. “In our curriculum, we explore the entire music industry ecosystem and how each piece of the ecosystem operates and connects with the rest. We have found that this approach prepares students for careers beyond their first job.”
That experience also fosters a loyalty to the Frost School that lasts long after graduation, says alumna Olga Cardona, M.M. ’07, a MIND faculty member and veteran former music industry executive, who was one of the Centennial Medalists on the April panel.
“We have a fantastic network of alumni who are always happy to come and give back,” Cardona said. “They had a great time here, and they are very grateful for the knowledge and the life lessons they learned at Frost. When we say #FrostBuilt, we mean it— that’s who we are.”
