Eighteen of Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication students spent their spring break immersing themselves in the heart of the music industry through Klein Global Opportunities’ (Klein GO) latest experiential learning program in Nashville. The weeklong trip, part of the new course Life and Work in Music City: Navigating the Entertainment Industry in Nashville, gave students firsthand insight into the careers, culture and connections that define one of the country’s top entertainment hubs.
With a mix of on-campus coursework and an intensive week in Nashville, the program provided a deep dive into the business and creative aspects of the music industry. Students representing majors in advertising, media studies and production, music technology and graphic design, engaged with top industry professionals, toured iconic studios and participated in networking opportunities that extended beyond the classroom.
A Growing Hub for Music Careers
“The big centers for the music industry had always been New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville, in that order, but over the last 10 years, the order has reversed,” said Jack Klotz, the academic director for Klein GO. Klotz also serves as the vice chair of media studies and production and director of the audio and live entertainment program.
He noted the order shift anecdotally, and his theory was supported by the Recording Industry Association of America, which identified Nashville as the top Music Industry Cluster city in the United States by far—7.8 music industry jobs for every 1,000 working-age people, compared to Los Angeles’ 2.8 and New York City’s 2.0.
“We’d always expected that some number of audio and live entertainment graduates might be interested in moving to Nashville in search of music industry work, but considering these numbers, it became a logical assumption that the number might be on the larger side,” Klotz added.
That growing appeal helped inspire the creation of the Klein GO Nashville program. Klotz and the GO staff, with invaluable support from Media Studies and Production Assistant Professor Ali Castellini, designed the course to blend experiential learning, professional development and cultural exchange. In preparation, students spent four on-campus classes reviewing industry basics and exploring the history of country music, its broader influence and the cultural landscape of Middle Tennessee.
“We wanted students not just to explore paths to relocating but also to consider aspects of the Nashville scene that could be scaled and imported to Philadelphia to bolster the music economy here,” Klotz added.
Behind the Scenes in Music City
The week in Nashville began with a historical walking tour of downtown, led by a working musician with a master’s degree in History, culminating in a discussion about life as a performer in the city’s famed “Honky Tonks” on Lower Broadway. A visit to the Tennessee State Museum helped students understand the historical evolution of the city before diving into the industry itself.
Exclusive Access
Throughout the trip, students gained exclusive access to some of the most influential spaces in the music business, such as:
- Sony Music Nashville, where students met with the regional vice president for sales and streaming and toured the label’s studios.
- Jack White’s Third Man Records, where they heard from co-founder Ben Blackwell and attended a live show at the intimate Blue Room venue.
- Universal Music Group’s (UGMG) East Iris Studios, where the group toured UMG’s cutting-edge studio complex and participated in a panel discussion with its 1824 marketing team, arranged by Klein adjunct faculty member James Donio, KLN ‘77.
- Blackbird Studios, which included a visit to this world-renowned recording space, and participated in a Dolby Atmos mixing evaluation and discussion
- Thirty Tigers, which featured a conversation with representatives from the independent music marketing firm and was highlighted by a discussion of alternative approaches to record distribution and marketing.
- Neon Coast and Nightly, where the group attended a panel discussion with artist management firm Neon Coast, set up by Adjunct Professor Donio and Nick Maiale, KLN’ 14, which included insights from the firm’s team and indie rock band Nightly. The visit was later featured in Nashville’s local industry publication Music Row.
- JBJ’s, where the team behind Jon Bon Jovi’s new Lower Broadway venue shared insights on venue management and the nightlife industry.
Students also explored the cultural side of the industry with visits to the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the National Museum of African American Music and Hatch Show Print, where Temple’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture alum Rosa Jeffiers, TYL ‘20, led their tour.
Real-World Takeaways and Career Connections
Beyond the scheduled visits, students made valuable professional connections that are already opening doors. Emma Fox booked a gig photographing the band Nightly when they perform in Philadelphia this spring, while Erin Schneider, a singer-songwriter, left the trip feeling creatively inspired, returning home with what she considers her strongest songs to date.
For Morgan Leese, an audio and live entertainment major, the experience was transformational.
“The Klein GO Nashville experience profoundly impacted my understanding of the music industry by helping me discover my place within it,” Leese said. “Being immersed in Music City for a week made me realize that everyone in this industry is on their own unique path.
I learned that it’s counterproductive to compare my journey to others. Instead, I now focus on pursuing opportunities that genuinely excite me and align with my passions.”
Leese noted that the trip solidified her career aspirations and helped her refine her approach to professional growth.
“Before the trip, I wasn’t sure what path I was on, but this experience provided clarity and direction,” she said. “I now understand that success in the music industry isn’t just about connections or financial gains, but about aligning my passions and skills with the industry’s needs while staying true to myself.”