This fall four juniors in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business (CEMB) will take part in Creative Connection, a unique internship program designed to connect students with key music industry companies and help them establish familiarity and meaningful relationships with four different facets of the industry: publishing, administration, artist management and business management. Students will experience the different aspects of the music business by working with four different local companies: Creative Nation, Words and Music, Crush Management and The Kella Stephenson Company.
Jamie Stamey, CEMB Internship Coordinator, said, “This industry is full of individuals that are driven to provide experience and opportunities to up-and-coming professionals. Belmont and the Mike Curb College are fortunate and grateful to have relationships with these people for the benefit of our students.”
Creative Nation’s Julie Stuckey added, “(Creative Nation co-owner) Beth (Laird) and I have always taken a keen interest in getting to know the next generation of music business professionals. We wanted to develop a new internship experience that was an introduction to the industry for a group of elite Belmont juniors. They will have the opportunity to intern with four unique companies that will help the students find and develop their unique talents.”
Belmont students Markus Hwang, Jen Duke, Eric LaFontsee and Elle Hussey have been selected as part of the program and will intern with each company for three weeks before rotating to the next. Each semester will begin with a brief training camp at Creative Nation, and students will complete the program at a group meeting at the end of the semester at Creative Nation. Students will work on specific projects while interning with each company.
Duke is “so excited to be interning in the Creative Connection program,” and further notes, “Since I am getting experience working at four different companies that are focused in different areas of the music industry, I will get to learn how they all work together and obtain more knowledge about the industry.”
