UGA’s inaugural music business networking event brought professionals to students
Tour Stop: Nashville was held on March 23, 2018, providing University of Georgia students with a platform to learn and network with industry professionals and UGA alumni without stepping foot off campus.
The event was hosted in Studio 100 of Grady College, and all UGA students were invited to purchase a ticket and join in on the opportunity. Attendees of the event were provided with breakfast, lunch and an inside look into several aspects of the ever-changing landscape of the music business in Nashville.
“I am thrilled that we were able to offer this opportunity to students,” said Kim Landrum, lecturer in advertising at Grady College and the event’s primary organizer. “We knew the concept was different but hoped that by bringing Nashville to Athens, we could provide students with a meaningful experience free from travel and expense.”
Tour Stop: Nashville consisted of four informational panels led by professionals from a diverse set of careers in the music industry. These panels covered entertainment law, technology, student networking and promotion. John King, a country music singer/songwriter and UGA graduate of the music business program, was featured as a keynote speaker to present his tale of climbing the music industry ladder.
More than 100 student attendees were given the chance to interact and network with the professionals at the conclusion of each panel. Live music was provided between panels by music business students. As Landrum put it, “As an organizer, the best part of Tour Stop was watching and listening to the organic dialogue between students and professionals that took place in between panels. The energy in the room was palpable and I feel certain students left with a better understanding of the industry as a whole.”
Tour Stop: Nashville is a student-oriented forum designed to bridge the gap between students and the music industry.