SCHOOL’S IN FOR WINTER

Darned if we know, but if anyone can steer you through the morass that is the record biz circa 2008, it’s Lenny Beer, Jeff Jampol and Tom Sturges, three veterans who will be teaching the above-named class at UCLA, starting Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 7-10 p.m at 39 Haines Hall, for a total of 12 sessions through March 26.

This year, the Recording Academy will co-sponsor the course in conjunction with UCLA Extension’s Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts Program, under the auspices of NARAS President/CEO Neil Portnow and West Regional Director Lizzy Moore

“This is one of the best opportunities available to learn about the music industry,’ says Sturges, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group. “For some, the class will be an introduction to a brave new world. For others, it will be an opportunity to learn more about the business they love, to break new ground, to make new connections, to grow and develop new skills and new relationships. For a few, this class will confirm their worst fears and poor career choices earlier in life.”

Join the best and the brightest in the music business together with the next generation of artists, executives, manager and marketers, with panels, guest speakers and lecturers involving the students in a dialogue focused on where the music business is going in the digital age.

The course provides a perspective that allows the student to learn from and network with some of the most influential executives in a business where personal relationships are crucial.

Among the topics: new artist development, branding and marketing, building and maintaining a fan base, Internet and wireless strategies, touring and merchandising, retail sales, music publishing, film, TV and games, as well as radio and video promotion.

Among the scheduled guests are Capitol Music Group’s Jason Flom, IDJ’s Steve Bartels, UMPG’s David Renzer, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino, the Recording Academy’s Neil Portnow and Lizzy Moore, KROQ’s Kevin Weatherly, managers Irving Azoff, Jeff Kwatinetz, Jim Guerinot and Andy Gould, VH1’s Tom Calderone, CAA’s Rob Light, noted music supervisors Alex Patsavas, Bud Carr and Nora Felder, EA Videogames’ Steve Schnur and Activision’s Tim Riley, among many others.

Lenny Beer is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of industry trade journal and website HITS magazine and owner of the Management Company.

Jeff Jampol manages the Doors and the estates of Janis Joplin and Gram Parsons, as well as Israeli electronica artist Infected Mushroom. Jeff sits on the Board of Governors at the Recording Academy as a voting member.

Tom Sturges is the EVP Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, who oversees the company’s L.A. aned N.Y. offices, with signings including 3 Doors Down, 50 Cent and G-Unit, Eve and Blink-182. He also serves as a voting member on the Board of Governors at the Recording Academy.

To register or for more information, go to UCLA’s website here.