UCLA MUSIC BIZ CLASS BACK IN SESSION

And then there’s the four professors at the helm of the NARAS-sponsored UCLA class, The Music Business Now: How It Really Works and the People and Events That Influence It, which returns to the Westwood campus for 12 sessions starting Wednesday, Sept. 23 through Dec. 16 at 39 Haines Hall, 7-10 p.m. To register and for more information, click here.

HITS Editor-in-Chief Lenny Beer, Doors, Janis Joplin, Peter Tosh and Gram Parsons estate manager Jeff Jampol, Universal Music Publishing EVP/Head of Creative Tom Sturges and Rhino SVP E-Commerce & International Catalog Strategy David Dorn, are all accomplished professionals in their field, and will share their experiences, as well as introduce a who’s-who of guest speakers.

The very first session, which gets underway this Wednesday (9/23), will be a managerial roundtable featuring Andy Gould (Rob Zombie), Simon Renshaw (Dixie Chicks), Rob McDermott (Linkin Park) and Jeff Rabhan (Kelly Rowland, Jermaine Dupri).

The class will deal with the massive changes the digital age has had on the entertainment industry, and indicate how to break acts in this new environment. Some of the most influential people in the business will address issues such as new artist development; branding and marketing; building and maintaining a fan base; new strategies for the Internet and wireless technologies; online and digital marketing; touring and merchandising; retail sales; music publishing; film, television, and games; radio and video promotion; and much more.

With personal relationships in this industry key, the list of guest speakers (subject to availability) include Irving Azoff, manager of Christina Aguilera, Van Halen, Guns 'N Roses, The Eagles; Jeff Kwatinetz, manager of R. Kelly, Ice Cube, Backstreet Boys, Korn; Jim Guerinot, manager of No Doubt, NIN; Michael Rapino, CEO, LiveNation; Jason Flom, President, Lava/Universal Records; Jody Gerson, Co-President, Sony/ATV Music; "Big John" Platt, President, Urban Music, EMI Music; Scott Francis, President/CEO, Warner Chappell; Courtney Holt, CEO, MySpace Music; Kevin Weatherly, Program Director, KROQ and JACK-FM; Nic Harcourt, Editor-at-Large, Music & Culture, Los Angeles Times; Rob Light, Managing Partner, Head of Music, CAA; and Amy Doyle, Senior Vice President, Music and Talent, MTV, among others.

Lenny Beer is the co-founder of HITS Magazine, where he has been editor-in-chief since its inception. He also co-owns The Management Company, which represents, among other artists, The Bravery, the Airborne Toxic Event, Kelly Rowland and Filter. His past positions include chart editor at Record World magazine and founding partner of MusicVision, an influential indie radio promotion and marketing company.

Jeff Jampol is President of JAM, Inc., manages rock legends The Doors, the Janis Joplin Estate, the Peter Tosh Estate, the Gram Parsons Estate, and electronica artists Infected Mushroom. He is the producer, along with Dick Wolf, of The Doors’ upcoming theatrical feature documentary, When You're Strange, and the producer of an upcoming Joplin theatrical feature documentary. He also serves as a consultant to managers, publishers and labels on heritage acts, and to artists' estates on catalog, publishing, licensing, branding, merchandise and marketing. He is a voting member of NARAS, where he sits on the Board of Governors of the L.A. Chapter.

Tom Sturges is EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, with signings including 3 Doors Down, 50 Cent, Foo Fighters and Chris Brown. He also is President of the L.A. Chapter of NARAS, an author (Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children), and founder of the Famous Father's Club.

David Dorn, SVP E-Commerce & International Catalog Strategy, for WMG’s Rhino Entertainment, oversees the digital future of Rhino's vast and historically rich catalog of recorded masters (Aretha Franklin, Ramones, Frank Sinatra and Led Zeppelin, among numerous others). He also oversees Rhino's International business and is a voting member of NARAS.

The course fee is $595 and students may register online here, by phone at (310) 825-9971 or at the Registration Office at 10995 Le Conte Ave., LA, CA 90024.

Current members in good standing of The Recording Academy are eligible for a 20% enrollment discount; call (310) 825-9971 and have your membership number ready when you enroll for the class, presented by UCLA's Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts Program along with NARAS.