Summit 2015, Austin TX
Monday & Tuesday, March 23-24, 2015
Session 3: Monday 2:00 IPO Room
Moderator: Jennifer Fowler
Kim L. Wangler
Associate Professor, Director of Music Industry Studies
Appalachian State University
Courtney Blankenship
Assistant Professor, Director of Music Business, School of Music
Western Illinois University
Gender Equality and Perception of Women in the Music Industry
This research project
examines the current status of women in the music industry. We will be
looking at both quantitative and qualitative data as to the realities
and perceptions of the contributions of women in a variety of roles in
this field. IRB consent has been given to undertake an interview
process of women (and later men) in the industry from a wide array of
companies. We will also be undertaking a survey sampling of current
students’ perception. This research is intended to provide valuable
information for teachers to share with their students as they prepare
them for careers in this field.
Carey Christensen
Assistant Professor, Mike Curb Chair in Music Industry Studies
California State University, Northridge
From the Classroom to the Workplace: Common Obstacles in Music Industry Internship Administration
Internships are
critical forms of experiential learning that often serve as the
capstone experience in many Music Industry degree programs. Internships
are intended to connect theory with practice and help the student
transition from the classroom to the working world. Ten common
obstacles in music industry internship administration are identified
and discussed from both the academic and worksite supervisor
perspective. Overcoming these obstacles is critical to achieving the
student’s learning objectives while meeting the common and, at times,
divergent needs of the academic and worksite supervisor.
Successful internship administration requires both the academic and worksite supervisors to work together to assess the viability of the internship offering, adopt a team teaching mentality, and understand the inherent differences in intern relationship dynamics. Together, internship supervisors must work through common worksite-related obstacles including remaining patient as the intern progresses up the learning curve, helping inexperienced worksite supervisors move beyond their instincts of teaching the way they were taught, stopping the cycle of intern abuse common in the music industry, and ensuring that the worksite supervisor is actually spending enough time with the intern to enable them to achieve the internship learning objectives. Internship supervisors must also work together to navigate student-related obstacles such as students forgetting that the internship is still an academic course, failing to connect their classroom academic knowledge to their worksite experiential learning, and failing to use the internship learning agreement to focus and guide the internship experience. Recommendations for overcoming these obstacles are offered to make the music industry internship a positive and rewarding experience for all concerned.
Successful internship administration requires both the academic and worksite supervisors to work together to assess the viability of the internship offering, adopt a team teaching mentality, and understand the inherent differences in intern relationship dynamics. Together, internship supervisors must work through common worksite-related obstacles including remaining patient as the intern progresses up the learning curve, helping inexperienced worksite supervisors move beyond their instincts of teaching the way they were taught, stopping the cycle of intern abuse common in the music industry, and ensuring that the worksite supervisor is actually spending enough time with the intern to enable them to achieve the internship learning objectives. Internship supervisors must also work together to navigate student-related obstacles such as students forgetting that the internship is still an academic course, failing to connect their classroom academic knowledge to their worksite experiential learning, and failing to use the internship learning agreement to focus and guide the internship experience. Recommendations for overcoming these obstacles are offered to make the music industry internship a positive and rewarding experience for all concerned.