ACM@UCO To Support Growth of State Music Industry With Business Development Center & Advisory Board

May 23, 2011

Media Contact: Adrienne Nobles, Director of Communications and Marketing, University of Central Oklahoma, (405) 974-2103, anobles@uco.edu

ACM@UCO TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF STATE MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND ADVISORY BOARD

Having mastered the art of growing music talent, the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) moves on to nurturing the state’s music industry through its Business Development Center (BDC) and its newly-appointed Advisory Board.    

“The BDC has been a part of our plan from the beginning.   Through it, we’ll address the next phase for the artist after graduation – getting a job or a record deal – by fostering the network and resources they need to succeed,” said Scott Booker, ACM@UCO CEO, who also manages Grammy award-winning band The Flaming Lips.           

The BDC Advisory Board includes Booker, the BDC manager Derek Brown, ACM@UCO COO Susan Wortham, who serves as the non-voting facilitator of the board, and the following business and community leaders:  

Jonathan Fowler - General Manager, Fowler Volkswagen; Founder, Norman Music Festival

Chip Fudge - Chairman, Claims Management Resources

David Holt - Senator, Oklahoma State Senate

Steve Kerr - Attorney, Kerr Law Firm

Robin Roberts-Krieger - Executive Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce

Richard Ogden - Attorney, Mulinix Ogden Hall Andrews & Ludlam, PLLC; Regent, Regional University System of Oklahoma

Cindy Scarberry - Executive Director, Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma

Justin Sowers - Owner, Guestroom Records

W. Roger Webb - President, University of Central Oklahoma

The ACM@UCO’s BDC has four main focus areas in its mission.  Through its initiatives, the board hopes to grow the music industry in Oklahoma, provide business incubation assistance for ACM@UCO students and alumni, provide experiential opportunities for students and alumni and become an “A&R” (artist and repertoire) source and training location for major and indie record labels.

To achieve these goals, the BDC plans to develop a networking pool of investors and sponsors; develop incentives for music industry-related businesses; provide grants to alumni seeking to start a music industry-related business; provide office/workspace for start-up businesses; create internship opportunities and exchange programs for students; promote students and alumni to industry leaders; host an annual music conference; and open an International Music Embassy housed at the ACM@UCO, among other initiatives.             The ACM@UCO opened its doors to its first class of students in August 2009 at its new facility on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma Hardware Building in Bricktown on Flaming Lips Alley.  This past fall, the academy more than doubled its enrollment, expanding to another floor of the building and opening the ACM@UCO Performance Lab, also in Bricktown, and recently graduated its first class of 90 students.           

Based on the successful model from the original ACM in Guilford, England, the ACM@UCO is an innovative music program unlike any other in the U.S., offering an industry-based, “real world” educational experience for those interested in a career in contemporary music.        

The ACM@UCO offers two-year associate degree programs in bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, music production and vocals.            

For more information, visit www.acm-uco.com.

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