Nashville Songwriters Association Launches Program at Nashville State
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is launching a comprehensive six-week course starting on February 11, 2025, at Nashville State Community College’s White Bridge campus in West Nashville.
The course, focused on the business side of songwriting and music industry careers,
will also be available online.
“NSAI is excited to partner with Nashville State on this six-week program,” said Bart Herbison, Executive Director of NSAI.
“We applaud TBR Chancellor Flora Tydings, Nashville State President Shanna Jackson and their teams for exploring innovative and affordable ways to bring knowledge about songwriting and associated music industry careers to students. Some of the very top industry professionals will be part of this journey only adding to its potential.”
“These courses, with industry experts providing aspiring songwriters and musicians personal experiences, insider information, and the chance to network is extraordinary,” said Nashville State’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education’s Executive Director Joseph Johnson.
The course, running from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each week, will cover a range of topics:
Session 1:
Professional Songwriting 101, An Overview
Guest Lecturer – Kaylee Rose - Songwriter-Artist/Social Media Star
Hit Songwriter Q and A and Performance
Session 2:
Songwriting – The Craft
Guest Lecturer - Hall of Fame songwriter Tom Douglas
Session 3:
Songwriter and Artist Income Streams
Guest Lecturer – Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment - Manager of Luke Bryan
Session 4:
Publishing and Record Deals
Guest Lecturer -Mike Molinar, President of Big Machine Music
Pursuing A Record Deal -- Margaret Tomlin, Vice President, A&R at Sony Music Entertainment
Session 5:
Songwriter Support Jobs
Session 6:
A Day in the Life
Hit Songwriter and Signed Artist Story (two special guests)
Performance
The Tennessee Board of Regents supports this workforce development initiative, emphasizing the importance of the music industry to the state's economy and cultural identity.
“This innovative partnership, developed through TBR's Center for Workforce Development, brings together Nashville State and the Nashville Songwriters Association International in a way that exemplifies what makes Tennessee's workforce development special – the ability to harness our state's unique cultural strengths and turn them into career opportunities,” said Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.
“By bringing together industry leaders to teach the next generation, we're not just offering a course – we're opening doors to careers in one of Tennessee's most iconic industries. This is workforce development at its most innovative and exciting!”
The course has a nominal fee: $145 for NSAI members and $245 for non-members (which includes a one-year NSAI membership). Space is limited, so interested individuals are encouraged to register early.
For those interested, register by clicking here.
