Welcome back to the MMBC Newsletter!

We hope the start of the semester has been treating you all well!

While you’ve all been tackling classes, MMBC has been busy planning some amazing events for the months ahead.

Stay tuned for the latest updates and news from all corners of the music industry!

📍Los Angeles, CA, USA

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📍Culver City, CA, USA

📍New York, NY, USA

📍Los Angeles, CA, USA (or Remote)

If it wasn’t clear that Chappell Roan was here to stay, kicking off her VMA debut in chainmail armor and firing a flaming bolt from a crossbow cemented her growing legacy.

In her VMA performance, Roan transformed into the iconic Joan of Arc and embodied the medieval heroine as she sang ‘Good Luck Babe!’ which she released in April earlier this year. The single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first top-ten hit (and certainly not her last). At the end of the award show, Roan walked away with Best New Artist and left behind a spectacular performance people will be talking about for years to come.

Roan’s success this year is nothing short of organic. Starting in 2015, Roan released music with labels and independently built the following she has today by opening for Olivia Rodrigo, headlining her tour, and performing at major festivals such as Coachella. Seven songs have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Roan herself reached number three on Billboard’s Artist 100.

The Missouri native’s debut album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,’ which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, captures everything from her journey navigating her sexuality, messy situationships and exciting relationships, and feelings of homesickness as she leaves her home. Although a 2023 release, songs like ‘Red Wine Supernova’, ‘Pink Pony Club,’ and ‘Hot to Go!’ have found their way onto everyone’s playlists. ‘Hot to Go!’ in particular has people of all ages, genders, and sexualities dancing and singing along to the song whenever it plays from their speakers.

Roan continues to redefine what it means to be a pop artist. Not only is she serving astonishing performances and consistent vocals, Roan is becoming an icon for queer women around the world. Additionally, she is unafraid to set boundaries between herself and overzealous “fans,” or match energy with obnoxious photographers on red carpets. Roan’s commitment to being unapologetically herself is exactly why she’s having the success she is, and exactly why we might be seeing a new pop legend in the making. A Femininomenon, if you will.

From October 4th-6th and 11th-13th, artists including Chris Stapleton, Dua Lipa, Tyler, The Creator, and Kehlani will hit one of the 9 stages at Zilker Park in Austin, TX for unforgettable performances at Austin City Limits. The festival was first inspired by the PBS series of the same name and has since grown into being one of the largest music events in the US, bringing in musicians from a variety of genres. Along with a plethora of music, attendees will also have the opportunity to try great eats and drinks throughout the park at local food trucks, a Tiki bar, and the Aperol Spritz Piazza. Then there’s even Austin Kiddie Limits which hosts fun activities and performances for young music-lovers. 

Co-founded in 2020 by Kygo and Myles Shear with the goal of “bringing the dream of the tropics to lush locations around the world”, Palm Tree Music Festival is the perfect spot for EDM and Tropical House lovers. The festival takes place from October 5-6th in Dana Point, CA, and features Martin Garrix, OneRepublic, Calvin Harris, and The Chainsmokers.  In addition to the music, the Palm Tree brand offers a range of stylish merch—from crew hats to jewelry and even golf wear—ensuring fans can fully embrace the festival’s tropical, laid-back spirit.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a free annual festival held at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It was started by philanthropist Warren Hellman who wanted people to enjoy bluegrass music without paying high ticket prices and fees. Since its creation, the festival has expanded to include music from genres such as folk, country, rock, and indie and attracts an estimated 750,000 people over its three days. This year it will take place from October 4-6th and will feature artists including Abby Posner, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and Alice Gerrard.

In addition to an array of fantastic music festivals, October is packed with live performances from some of the biggest names in music. Artists like Cyndi Lauper, Billie Eilish, Justin Timberlake, and Pink are all touring this October and making stops in Michigan! Be sure to get your tickets before they’re gone and keep an eye out for more updates on exciting November events in our next newsletter.

Atlantic Music Group (AMG), a division of Warner Music Group (WMG), has entered a new chapter of leadership, impacting teams at Atlantic Records, 300 Entertainment, and 10K Projects, while divisions like Elektra, Roadrunner, and Fueled by Ramen remain unchanged. On October 1st, Elliot Grange took the reins as CEO, announcing a newly refined leadership team designed to enhance cultural relevance and elevate creative talent.

Elliot Grange’s Leadership Team:

Snoop Dogg has officially signed a major publishing deal with Reservoir, based in New York, covering his entire catalog of hits, future releases, and the catalog from his iconic label, Death Row Records. This deal follows Snoop's acquisition of Death Row Records’ catalog in 2022 from MNRK Music Group. After removing Death Row's recordings from major streaming platforms, Snoop reintroduced them earlier this year in February.

With albums like The Chronic, Doggystyle, and All Eyez On Me under Death Row’s belt, this new deal allows Snoop to revitalize the label's legacy, ensuring its music continues to resonate with future generations.

Meet Sammy, a senior in MMBC and last year’s co-president! Over the summer, Sammy took her love for the music industry to new heights with an exciting internship at AEG Presents in New York City. During her time there, she had the incredible opportunity to work closely with the Music Touring department, where she developed tour marketing strategies for high-profile artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Def Leppard, and Journey. But her experience didn’t stop there—Sammy also contributed to projects involving global partnerships and sponsorships for AEG’s festivals and regional venues in New York.

Her summer at AEG Presents was an incredible experience, allowing her to gain firsthand knowledge of the live entertainment industry’s behind-the-scenes work. Sammy quickly picked up ticketing, booking, venue operations, and marketing skills while working alongside seasoned professionals who shared their wealth of experience. These insights deepened her understanding of the industry's functions and helped solidify her passion for this career path.

Sammy’s commitment to MMBC continues, as she steps into her new role as the club’s advisor. She is excited to offer guidance and help with any of the club’s needs. Additionally, she will be interning this fall at 740 Project in the Music Marketing Department.

Next up is Cole, a senior in MMBC and also former co-president of the club. This summer, Cole had the exciting opportunity to return to Republic Records as an intern, working specifically with the A&R and Marketing teams for the IMPERIAL Music division. IMPERIAL is a unique team to work for, operating as an independent distributor while benefiting from the resources of a major label, providing Cole with a rare and valuable perspective on both sides of the business.

Cole learned about such a wide variety of topics from some of the most talented professionals in the industry. Projects he assisted with ranged from artist research, vinyl production, and independent distribution deals, all the way to international marketing and touring efforts. Cole believes the UMG internship program is phenomenal in ensuring all of its participants are amply exposed to the other labels and business units that make up the company; equipping interns with a holistic understanding of the industry by the time they are finished. 

In addition to his professional achievements, Cole is also passionate about his creative endeavors. He runs Common Ground, a creative collective made up of some of his talented friends, to amplify the music and arts scene in Ann Arbor. Through hosting a variety of events—such as concerts, art galleries, and exhibitions—Common Ground has become an influential force in the local creative community. Both Common Ground and the MMBC have provided Cole with incredible creative outlets and learning experiences during his time at the University of Michigan.

Donations to the Michigan Music Business Club are always welcome and greatly appreciated.

All monetary gifts are put towards funding our wide range of events, including concerts, speakers, and other professional and creative development events.

MMBC has brought an accomplished lineup of musicians, agents, producers, publicists, lawyers, and composers to speak and perform for the club and the greater Michigan community. To pay the generosity of others forward, many of our events have raised money for charity and local Ann Arbor businesses. Regardless of the amount, all donations help our organization continue to bring authentic and memorable experiences to fans and aspiring industry professionals here at the University of Michigan.