Rhodes College is proud to be recognized again as a top educator of the next generation of music industry leaders. For the fifth time in a row, the college’s Mike Curb Institute for Music has made Billboard’s annual list of Top Music Business Schools, which includes programs selected on factors including submitted information, industry recommendations, and alumni success.
In addition to performance, the Curb Institute involves students in all aspects of the music business, from sound editing and video production to marketing and community engagement to event planning and publication. It was founded in 2006 through a generous gift from the Mike Curb Family Foundation to foster awareness and understanding of the distinct musical traditions of the South and to study the effect music has had on its culture, history, and economy. The Curb institute is intentional about centering the historically rich and artistically vibrant city of Memphis in its students’ experiences, with courses offered including Music and Community in Memphis; Music Urbanism; and Songwriting in Memphis.
Students come to the Curb Institute from a variety of majors, minors, and life experiences, and include both performers and non-performers. The Curb Community Fellows Program has provided funding for students to work directly with local professionals and organizations such as Goner Records, Royal Studios, the Overton Park Shell, the Memphis Music Initiative, the STAX Museum of American Soul Music, and Grammy and Emmy award-winning author and filmmaker Robert Gordon. In addition, Rhodes offers two certificates in music industry studies in the areas of content production and arts entrepreneurship.
In recent years, the Curb Institute has brought to campus Grammy Award-winning artists Jason Isbell and Shelia E. to work with music students. Other Curb Institute projects include:
- Dredge, a zine and social media platform that looks at the broader arts scene in Memphis and on campus and its connection to the Memphis music industry
- The Audubon Sessions, a student-produced concert series held at 1034 Audubon Drive, Elvis Presley’s first purchased home in Memphis
- Curb Block Party, an annual outdoor concert for the campus community produced by Curb Fellows
Rhodes graduates who have participated in the Curb Institute’s music fellowship programs have received competitive graduate school placements and experienced noted successes in the music and entertainment industry.
“The continued recognition from Billboard is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our students,” said Dr. John Bass, director of the Curb Institute. “We are grateful to be included on this prestigious list of schools and for the opportunity to celebrate what our students do every day.”