NextGen ’25: How Music Biz Students Move Industry Forward

An oft-repeated phrase in the live industry is that this is a business based on relationships – and though there are many paths to break into the biz, including college programs and internships, it often comes down to who you know. Of course, having people skills, a positive attitude, passion and drive go a long way too.
Shiloh Gonsky, 22, grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and has been playing music since she was 6 years old. After being accepted to the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music to study classical guitar, she transferred into USC’s music industry program her junior year, telling Pollstar she’s “someone who believes it’s important to understand the industry you want to enter into.”

Gonsky notes that one thing she loved about the music industry program is that pretty much all of the professors are “actively working in the fields they’re teaching in.” Her favorite professors include producer, mixer, engineer Brian Malouf, who has worked with acts such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Madonna, Pearl Jam and who Gonsky says “got me super interested in A&R.” Gonsky also shouts out Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, explaining she “was in two of his classes and I basically got to see him plan the Warped Tour comeback.”

During her time at USC, Gonsky interned at New York recording studio East Side Sound as well as serving as a concert booking intern at White Mountain Agency and a music management intern at Reclaim Music Group. Gonsky also took on the role of co-executive director of USC’s FemFest Music Festival during the past year, with the 2025 event featuring headliner Sudan Archives with support from Hannah Jadagu.

In May, Gonsky graduated with a bachelor of science in music industry with minors in songwriting and classical guitar, and she landed a job in guest services at the 2,400-capacity The Novo in Los Angeles.

“I just love being surrounded by people who love live music and seeing behind the scenes … Depending on the show, I’ve directed traffic at the bottom of the stairs. I’ve collected tickets; I’ve manned the elevator. I’ve set up and broken down chair setups. I’ve shown people to their seats. It’s making sure that the audience is really having the most joyful experience they can while they’re there for the show,” Gonsky says.

Gonsky explains that she got the job at The Novo after talking to two of her supervisors who were tabling for the venue at a music industry career fair.

“Every opportunity that I’ve gotten, like an interview or a second interview has been because I was recommended for it by someone or because I know someone who knows someone. I have had no luck from just sending in applications. … it’s impossible to get anything unless you know someone,” says Gonsky, who is continuing to pursue her music career while working at Novo.

Over at the University of Montana, another student who seems to have an endless skillset and passion for the music industry is Marley Miller, 21, who will be graduating this semester as a double major in marketing and management. He’s also completed the university’s entertainment management certificate, which was recently approved as a full degree.

“The opportunities given to me all started at the University of Montana,” Miller says. “The entertainment management program opened the door to real industry work and gave me the confidence to step through it. Serving as the staffing director for ZooTown Festival and working with Show Imaging allowed me to gain hands‑on experience with large‑scale events and build connections that are helping me shape a career in the live business.”

Miller credits Show Imaging with helping him grow his confidence in fast-paced environments as he’s worked across “artist relations, operations, and production, doing everything from runner duties and dressing room setups to managing credentials and supporting production crews during load-ins.”

With ZooTown Festival – held at the Missoula Fairgrounds July 4-5 with a lineup headlined by Hozier and Kacey Musgraves – Miller hired and oversaw nearly 100 staff members across departments, including ticketing and parking, artist hospitality, VIP and backstage. He says, “It was a massive responsibility, but it gave me a front-row seat to how large-scale events function behind the scenes.”

Miller also produces and performs as an EDM artist under the alias Nomoredeath, with career highlights including recently opening for “Harlem Shake” producer and DJ Baauer.
Plus, Miller started a music tech company called StarSync Studio, which he describes as “building a real-time collaborative (digital audio workstation) – kind of like Google Docs for music producers.”

Up next, Miller hopes to continue his involvement with ZooTown and says he’s “always looking for new opportunities whether it’s working behind the scenes in live events, collaborating on innovative music tech, or performing on stage. I’m passionate about this industry from every angle and excited to keep building meaningful connections and experiences wherever I can.”

Outside of completing a university’s music industry program, there are many internships and opportunities from nonprofit organizations like Well Dunn and major companies in the live business like Live Nation, which partnered with the Black Music Action Coalition, in May for the return of the BMAC LIVE Accelerator Program.

“The Well Dunn organization has been influential in placing many of our interns and externs with such amazing organizations as the Dave Matthews Band, Paradigm Talent Agency, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science, Sixthman, Boston Calling, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, Bonnaroo Festival, Red Light, Superfly Presents, Big Hassle Media, C3 Presents and Outside Lands, to name a few,” says industry veteran David “5-1” Norman, who is the secretary of the board of Well Dunn and served as president from 2022 to 2024.

Norman – who has spent more than 40 years in the touring industry and is currently on the road with Cyndi Lauper as production manager and tour accountant – has long been passionate about helping the next generation get into the business and in particular folks who are underrepresented.

“During my tenure as President, we’ve extended our reach to HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) which is an underserved entity,” Norman says. “I’ve been lucky enough to lead classes at several colleges and universities and make sure that Well Dunn is on my docket when I speak. I also emphasize that the touring world needs more women in managerial positions such as tour managers, production managers, stage managers, riggers, tour accountants, etc.”

Norman points to Lauper as walking “the walk as far as DEI.” He says, “We have strong women in managerial roles – stage manager Erin O’Brien; head carpenter Warrior; video director Paris Visone; and FOH engineer Michelle Sabolchick. Our production director is African-American and myself as production manager. Our touring family consists of gay, straight, non-binary, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, etc. This tour reflects on the vision that Well Dunn envisions as well.”