(San Antonio, TX, November 2, 2005) ­ Students may now earn a degree in Music Business from San Antonio College. Although many classes toward the Associates of Applied Science degree are already offered at SAC, the first program-specific course - Survey of Music Business - was offered beginning in the Fall 2005 semester, with an initial full-class enrollment of 18 students. Now, following recent approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), other program-specific courses will be phased in and students can follow a formal degree plan.

SAC¹s Music Business program, administered by the Radio, Television and Film department in cooperation with the Music department, will prepare students for careers in areas such as management of bands, orchestras, soloists, music studios and venues; concert booking and music publishing; as well as related businesses of distribution, promotion, retail sales, and arts administration. Program graduates (having completed the two-year program) will be competent in management techniques, advertising, entertainment law and ethics, and music recording, theory and history.

³Industry demand is the real driving force to establish this program,² said Fred Weiss, program coordinator and faculty member in SAC¹s Radio, Television and Film department. ³There are more jobs opening for music dealer sales persons and music distributors than there are educated people to fill the demand. We want to educate our students for the field and help them to fill those in-demand jobs.²

According to Weiss, the Texas Music Office lists 609 music-related businesses with 2,952 permanent and 2,497 contract employees just within Bexar County. Further, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts a 28 percent increase in jobs in the ³arts, entertainment and recreation² industry by 2012, as compared to a 16 percent increase for all industries.

An Advisory Committee of local industry professionals helps guide the program by reviewing and approving the curriculum. Members represent music retailers, music licensing and music publishing entities, music performers, record labels, radio broadcasting and education.

In addition to basic courses in English, math, speech and sociology, SAC Music Business students will become well-versed in management and marketing, music, audio production and multi-track recording. In line with the new program, SAC will add new courses in Music Publishing, Entertainment Law, Record Industry, Live Music and Talent Management, Concert Promotion and Venue Management.

In order to graduate from the program, students must complete an internship so they may apply and refine their skills in the workplace.

For more information or to apply for adjunct teaching positions, contact Music Business Program Coordinator Fred Weiss in SAC¹s Radio, Television and Film Department, (210) 733-2793 or visit www.ksym.org, click on Radio-TV-Film, then click on Music Business.