Samford University School of the Arts Commercial Music Program will host the second annual How to Make it in the Music Industry with icons in the music business on Saturday, January 28 from 9 a.m. -  5 p.m. in Brock Recital Hall. Samford current and prospective students will have the opportunity to learn from leaders in the industry including past American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, American Idol producer Simon Lythgoe, tobyMac’s manager Philip Peters, drummer for the Zac Brown Band Chris Fryar, and Steve Schnur Worldwide Executive and President of Music for Electronic Arts (EA), the largest video game producer in the world and home to titles like Madden NFL, The Sims and Medal of Honor.

According to Steven Potaczek, director of the Commercial Music area, “The annual revenue of the global recorded music industry is $25.9 billion as of 2021 (with the US leading the stage in terms of the largest market). This number continues to grow, which equates to a significant growth in opportunity for those interested in the field. Simultaneously, there is an overwhelming amount of interest from prospective and current Samford University students in the music industry.”

As a result, Samford’s Commercial Music program launched a unique, one-day How to Make It In the Music Industry mini-conference in January 2022 that was well received. Potaczek joined Samford in the fall of 2019 to assist in the development of Samford’s Commercial Music program which now has 32 students. Potaczek has strong ties to the music industry as a recording artist and producer.  Students in Samford’s program can select from four concentrations in business, music production, performance and songwriting.  

“Students with a passion to perform, produce, engineer, market, or entrepreneurially manage and oversee the many business opportunities within the music field will benefit from attending this one-day event,” said Potaczek.