Wasserman Music’s Entertainment Accelerator Experience Heads To Howard University

The second iteration of Wasserman Music’s Entertainment Accelerator Experience will be taking place at Howard University this spring semester. The 10-week course has spots for 30-60 students and runs from Jan. 25 to Feb. 24 and from March 13 to April 17.

Guest lecturers throughout the program include Wasserman Music’s Lee Anderson and Callender, SVP of Marketing Sam Alpert, Senior Director of Inclusion, Equity & Diversity, Lindsay LaBennett, Director of Social Impact Denise Melanson, as well as Broccoli City’s Marcus Allen and Brandon McEachern, Move Forward Music’s Arty Furtado, Brent Faiyaz’s manager, Ty Baisden, Essence’s Tanisha Jones, Saint Heron’s Diane “Shabazz” Varnie, Goldenvoice’s Rhea Roberts-Johnson, Big K.R.I.T. management’s Dutch, and producer and DJ Just Blaze. More guest speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We couldn’t be more excited to connect with the promising students at one of the country’s most prestigious schools to help set them on the path to launching successful music industry careers,” Wasserman Music EVP and Managing Executive, Lee Anderson, said in a statement. “We want to help grow the next generation of industry leaders to create a lasting impact on the music business.”

The curriculum includes lessons on what the role of a manager, agent, and tour manager entails, as well as talent buying, tour and show marketing, a producer/songwriter workshop, publishing, the role of a record label and more.

“Engaging with future leaders in the business is so important to me and Wasserman,” Wasserman Vice President Callender said in a statement. “We want to create access and opportunities to learn from some of the smartest people we know, to foster a meaningful and well-rounded understanding of our business for Howard students.”

The course is part of Wasserman Music’s partnership with Color of Change and follows the Music Accelerator’s successful program at Tennessee State University.

“We are excited to work with Wasserman on this Entertainment Accelerator because it will afford our students an opportunity to learn from industry professionals at the top of their respective fields and to get invaluable hands-on experience through internship opportunities with Wasserman and its industry partners,” Howard University professor Pat Parks of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts said in a statement.

Music Accelerator Program 2023 Class Curriculum
1/25 – Entering the Music Business: the good, bad and the ugly
2/01 – Role of a manager/management
2/08 – Agency & the role of the agent
2/15 – Tour Management
2/22 – Talent buying
3/15 – Tour/Show marketing
3/22 – Producer/Songwriter workshop
3/29 – Publishing
4/5 – Role of Record label and releasing music
4/12 – Final Workshop/In-class case study