Jonathan Newkirk Appointed Dean Of Entertainment Industries

MUSICIANS INSTITUTE APPOINTS
JONATHAN NEWKIRK AS DEAN
OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY STUDIES

College of Contemporary Music Also Launches Career Development Initiatives for Fall 2014

Musicians Institute, the College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, has appointed music industry veteran Jonathan Newkirk as the Dean of Entertainment Industry Studies for the Fall Quarter of 2014. In his new position, Newkirk will oversee the school’s four Industry disciplines: Audio Engineering, Music Business, Independent Artist and Guitar Craft. While continuing in his role as the Audio Engineering Program Chair, Newkirk will also help to develop a variety of curricular materials for MI’s recently announced blended learning initiatives, which pair hands-on classroom instruction with digital delivery of multimedia content.

“I’m honored to take on this new position and contribute to the latest chapter in MI’s continued growth,” said Jonathan Newkirk. “In my work, I’ve learned first-hand that having a diverse range of skills is necessary to develop a successful career in the music industry. So I’m dedicated to providing our students with those skills while overseeing the School of Entertainment Industry Studies.”

“I’m incredibly pleased to welcome Jonathan to the next phase in his distinguished career with this important new position,” said Donny Gruendler, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Musicians Institute. “This is an exciting period for our college, which is experiencing a renaissance that all of our students are benefitting from.“

In addition, MI’s recent announcements include incorporating the school’s Career Development department into the Office of Academic Affairs. This will create a range of new educational offerings that prepare students for today’s unique employment challenges, while providing mentorship in the “soft skills” of basic computer use and business writing. Under its new guidance, Career Development will expand its teaching of EPK creation, resume and bio writing, and social media as a tool for business and networking.

Before his tenure at MI, Jonathan Newkirk earned an Executive MBA from the University of Southern California, while serving as Executive Director of the Power Chord Academy, a nationwide summer rock n’ roll camp for aspiring teenage musicians. For ten years prior, he presided over Studio Atlantis, a commercial recording studio located in Hollywood. The facility housed such multi-platinum artists as Janet Jackson, Motorhead, Snoop Dogg, Usher and American Idol contestants; as well as such record labels as Interscope Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Sony Records, Capitol Records and Universal Records. Soundtracks recorded at the studio included the Sex and the City, About a Boy, and Rush Hour II movies. Newkirk himself has also engineered for clients such as Slash, Roger Daltry of The Who, Dishwalla, Carmine Appice and Epitaph Records.