rockandrollgeek
Apr 13th, 2007, 10:44 AM
SUGGESTION FOR INTERVIEW:
Contact:
Steve Levesque, Jennifer Malazarte (310) 860-9170
info@luckmedia.com or www.luckmedia.com
Famed Industry Veteran
KENNY KERNER
Celebrates 10 Years at Musicians Institute
* * *
Music Business Program Director's Career Includes Producing 18 Gold and Platinum Records
Plus Successful Stints as PR Executive, Artist Manager, Journalist/Editor
HOLLYWOOD - This year marks Kenny Kerner?s 37th year in the music industry and his tenth as an instructor at Hollywood?s Musicians Institute (MI) where he is Director of the Music Business Program (MBP). Kerner's varied career has included such highlights as discovering KISS, producing gold and platinum records for artists as diverse as KISS, Gladys Knight, Jose Feliciano and Badfinger, working as a publicist for Michael J. Fox and Jay Leno, and stints as an artist manager and music journalist.
After arriving at Musicians Institute, Kerner created many of the general business electives offered to students in other programs. Designing the music business certificate program itself was a five-year process. ?Before I designed this program," Kerner explained, "I checked out about 40 other music business programs at other schools and colleges. I wanted this program to be special; to have things that no other programs had to offer.?
First, he made it short and intensive - six months as opposed to the much longer programs offered by most schools. Second, he hired working industry professionals as instructors rather than academically-oriented faculty. ?Few, if any, other schools in the country have an active music business attorney teaching music business contracts, a successful personal manager teaching personal management, a record company A&R Rep teaching A&R or a former Billboard Editor reviewing the weekly music news," Kerner pointed out. "That?s one difference that the students notice immediately.?
And finally, he added a guaranteed 90-hour internship for every student(increasing to 120 hours in the fall), on-the-job experience that often turns into paid employment. Graduates from Musician Institutes MBP are currently employed at Warner-Chappell Music, The Firm, Sony/BMG, Universal Music Group and Rick Rubin?s American Recordings, to name just a few.
The program is still evolving. In 2006, while continuing as a stand-alone certificate, it was also combined with instrument studies to create an Associate of Arts in Performance - Music Business Emphasis degree. Beginning this October, MBP students will get to run their own record company, managing every step as they distribute artist CDs, handle marketing and promotion, book gigs and create websites. The program will culminate with a record release event for industry managers, agents and other label executives. "Here at MI, we are totally pro-active when it comes to giving the students a complete education," Kerner reflects. "I use the knowledge I accumulated over 37 years to make sure the students know not only how to play and perform, but how to earn a living in the business as well.?
Contact:
Steve Levesque, Jennifer Malazarte (310) 860-9170
info@luckmedia.com or www.luckmedia.com
Famed Industry Veteran
KENNY KERNER
Celebrates 10 Years at Musicians Institute
* * *
Music Business Program Director's Career Includes Producing 18 Gold and Platinum Records
Plus Successful Stints as PR Executive, Artist Manager, Journalist/Editor
HOLLYWOOD - This year marks Kenny Kerner?s 37th year in the music industry and his tenth as an instructor at Hollywood?s Musicians Institute (MI) where he is Director of the Music Business Program (MBP). Kerner's varied career has included such highlights as discovering KISS, producing gold and platinum records for artists as diverse as KISS, Gladys Knight, Jose Feliciano and Badfinger, working as a publicist for Michael J. Fox and Jay Leno, and stints as an artist manager and music journalist.
After arriving at Musicians Institute, Kerner created many of the general business electives offered to students in other programs. Designing the music business certificate program itself was a five-year process. ?Before I designed this program," Kerner explained, "I checked out about 40 other music business programs at other schools and colleges. I wanted this program to be special; to have things that no other programs had to offer.?
First, he made it short and intensive - six months as opposed to the much longer programs offered by most schools. Second, he hired working industry professionals as instructors rather than academically-oriented faculty. ?Few, if any, other schools in the country have an active music business attorney teaching music business contracts, a successful personal manager teaching personal management, a record company A&R Rep teaching A&R or a former Billboard Editor reviewing the weekly music news," Kerner pointed out. "That?s one difference that the students notice immediately.?
And finally, he added a guaranteed 90-hour internship for every student(increasing to 120 hours in the fall), on-the-job experience that often turns into paid employment. Graduates from Musician Institutes MBP are currently employed at Warner-Chappell Music, The Firm, Sony/BMG, Universal Music Group and Rick Rubin?s American Recordings, to name just a few.
The program is still evolving. In 2006, while continuing as a stand-alone certificate, it was also combined with instrument studies to create an Associate of Arts in Performance - Music Business Emphasis degree. Beginning this October, MBP students will get to run their own record company, managing every step as they distribute artist CDs, handle marketing and promotion, book gigs and create websites. The program will culminate with a record release event for industry managers, agents and other label executives. "Here at MI, we are totally pro-active when it comes to giving the students a complete education," Kerner reflects. "I use the knowledge I accumulated over 37 years to make sure the students know not only how to play and perform, but how to earn a living in the business as well.?