Media School Day brings music industry to OU
By Kristin Nehls, Staff Writer
May 2, 2008 | 9 a.m.
After recently undergoing a name change from the School of Telecommunications, the newly-deemed School of Media Arts and Studies at OU is welcoming a fresh beginning with an entire day of events surrounding the record industry.
Ohio University’s annual Media School Day will take place this Friday, May 2 with a series of events beginning at 11 a.m. and ceasing at 2 a.m. Saturday. After receiving acclaimed success in the past, this year is the first year that Media School Day will be focusing primarily on the recording industry aspect of the school.
By focusing on the recording industry, the Media School's faculty hopes to draw attention to the music production and recording facet of the school. The music industry is being revolutionized in the job market and is gaining popularity in the school, according to faculty members.
The day's first event, which begins at 11 a.m., features a panel of Media School alumni who will be speaking to current OU students of all majors about the changing atmosphere of the recording industry. One of these guests, John Bioindolillo, is the General Manager at Dave Matthews' ATO Records, located in New York City. Bioiondolillo has assisted in album production with rock artists such as Radiohead, My Morning Jacket and Ben Kweller, among many other popular artists.
Other guests include Ted Keys, a member of Abercrombie and Fitch’s new music division; Colleen Griffiths, president of The Undiscovered Radio Network; and Josh Antonuccio, the co-owner and producer at 3 Elliot Street Studio right here in Athens.
The most highly anticipated guest for the day is Ken Scott, the legendary producer and engineer who boasts the impressive resume of working with such artists as The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, George Harrison and a plethora of other highly acclaimed musicians.
Scott will be hosting a two-hour, individual presentation at the Athena Cinema at 2 p.m. Friday. Indulging the audience in a track-by-track analysis of some of his most well renowned recording, Scott will also be discussing his career in the fast-paced, demanding life of the recording business.
Opportunities to meet Scott and the other panelists will be hosted at WOUB’s Radio Studio A at 4 p.m., coinciding with the debut of the Rupert Neve Designs recording and mixing console, a recent addition to the School of Media Arts and Studies. OU’s Media School is the first American academic institution to have a console of such a high caliber, and students who attend the meet and greet will be offered demonstrations.
Bringing this day together was not a simple task, as coordination involved Scripps College of Communication students of all different disciplines, ranging from public relations to audio production. Additional support comes from Brick City Records and OU’s most identifiable music-related organization,ACRN.
One of the underlying themes of Media School Day is the idea that media production will not serve as merely a series of jobs within a student’s life. The faculty of the Media School try to convey this idea to students at all times.
“Rather, it is a calling, a drive, that with hard work and persistence becomes a career," said Assistant Professor at the School of Media Arts and Studies Eddie Ashworth. "Many successful new media companies are the brainchild of small creative teams of highly motivated and creative individuals… these teams evolve out of relationships formed in college."
Media School Day supports OU students, both inside and outside of the School of Media Arts and Sciences, who utilize the components of the school that this celebration highlights. Proof of this lies in the final event of Media School Day: a showcase of regional and local musical talent to be held at The Union.
Debuting in Athens at this show will be West Virginia-based act Jeff Ellis with Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls. Local bands Russenorsk and Kaslo will also be performing in celebration of the recording industry and the efforts of OU students and faculty alike who are integrating such an industry into their everyday lives. The free show will also serve as a release party for Kaslo's latest six-song effort, Ohio EP, which will be available for download free of charge starting Friday on the band's Web site.
Most compelling, however, is the aspect of the show that includes music recorded by Media School students, alumni and faculty, as these recordings exemplify the progress and success of the recording industry that Media School Day is trying to convey to the community.
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All Media School Day events are free. For a full schedule of the day's events, click here.