Making Music Happen Symposium
Making Music Happen Symposium: Working in the Music Industry Post-Grinnell
Thursday-Friday, March 6-7, 2014
A Grinnellink Event
About the Symposium
More than perhaps any other in recent history, the music industry has engaged in the act of reshaping and redesigning itself. The process of imagining a different structure and professional culture has elevated the value of individuals and companies who are able to demonstrate professional adaptability, a core tenet of what Grinnell students do every day.
This two-day symposium will bring to campus four Grinnell alumni who represent a variety of music-industry professions. Through the symposium events, these alumni will articulate the challenges and opportunities associated with careers in the music industry for liberal arts graduates. They will engage with the campus community through a panel discussion, one-on-one meetings, shared meals, and networking opportunities.
Symposium Schedule
Thursday, March 6, 2014
1–4 p.m. Rosenfield Center, second floor
Career Consultations (Student/Alumni Individual Appointments)
Students interested in meeting one-on-one with up to two alumni guests should call the Center for Careers, Life, and Service at 641-269-4940 to arrange a 20-minute appointment.
4:15 p.m. Rosenfield Center Room 101
Panel Discussion, moderated by KDIC station manager Daniel Kisslinger ’14.
Friday, March 7, 2014
9–11:30 a.m. Rosenfield Center, second floor
Career Consultations (Student/Alumni Individual Appointments)
Students interested in meeting one-on-one with up to two alumni guests should call the CLS at 641-269-4940 to arrange a 20-minute appointment.
Noon–2 p.m. Rosenfield Center Marketplace Pavilion (Whale Room)
Networking Lunch
Seize this opportunity to connect with and learn from these four active participants in the vibrant world of music. Sponsored by KDIC 88.5 FM, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, and the Center for Careers, Life, and Service.
Alumni Bios
Cameo Carlson ’93 (political science) - Head of digital business development, Borman Entertainment and former executive vice president of Universal Motown Republic Group
About Cameo… Cameo Carlson has been at the forefront of the digital music revolution from its earliest stages. From terrestrial radio to online radio to digital and mobile commerce, she has demonstrated an ability to stay one step ahead of the industry throughout her career. Her roles have included mobile, online, and digital sales, product development, and marketing for artists such as Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Amy Winehouse, Lil Wayne, and Jack Johnson. Carlson has been responsible for marketing and selling three of the ten biggest digital albums in history as well as breaking mobile ringtone records for first week sales, top-selling of all time, and number of multi-platinum sales. In September 2008, Carlson was named one of the top mobile executives by Billboard Magazine for her work at UMRG. Prior to her work at UMRG, Carlson worked as the editorial and label relations manager for iTunes, and the alternative and rock programmer for Spinner.com/Radio@AOL, where she earned two U.S. patents for her work in online radio. All of this from humble beginnings as the host of "Music to Solve Your Rubik's Cube" on KDIC from 1991-1993.
John Chavez ’05 (music) - Agent, Ground Control Touring
About John… John Chavez graduated from Grinnell College in 2005 with a degree in music and a concentration in gender/women’s studies. While at Grinnell he served on the Concerts Committee for three years, chairing the committee for two of those years. He participated in various music-related extracurricular activities including running Freesound, publishing The Creature magazine, playing in various bands, coordinating Music Haus, and working with the campus administration to establish a college-hosted, semi-permanent, on-campus rehearsal space for campus bands.
After graduating from Grinnell, John embarked on a career in the music business, first as an employee of the Olympia, Wash.-based Kill Rock Stars record label, then as the co-founder and sole employee of The Free Agency. The Free Agency was a boutique booking agency that was founded in 2006 and was folded into Ground Control Touring in 2008. Funding for his initial internship at Kill Rock Stars was provided by Doug Cutchins and the CLS (then, the Career Development Office), and he gained invaluable work experience as the Student Government Association Concerts Chair while at Grinnell College.
His work in music is the defining characteristic of his life. He is personally responsible for the income of over 100 professional musicians and relishes the fact that his personal tastes in music and actions have some sort of influence and impact on the larger music landscape.
Ken Braun ’77 (religious studies) - Producer, Sterns Music
About Ken… Before coming to Grinnell, Ken Braun had lived most of his life in Ghana. After graduating, he relocated to the most Ghana-like place in the U.S. he could think of, New York City where his editorial and writing jobs focused increasingly on music, mainly rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, salsa, and African pop. His articles appeared in Rolling Stone, The Beat, The New York Times, and other publications. In 1986 he returned to Africa, volunteering for three years with Habitat for Humanity in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and on returning to New York, he took a job in the Africa section of an international non-profit development organization. In 1993 he accepted an invitation to head the New York office of Stern’s Music, a British record company devoted to African music. He’s been with Stern’s ever since. Among his productions is a widely-reviewed and well-received series of retrospectives of the greatest Congolese musicians of the 20th century. Learn more about Ken's work in The New York TImes' Out of Africa, Passionately Packaged.
Andrew Ettenhofer ’00 (music) - Business development at Event Creative/Venue One
About Andrew… After graduating from Grinnell, Ettenhofer headed to Chicago where his first job was at the Sears headquarters, executing corporate A/V set-ups for meetings and events. Next he returned to Bloodshot Records, where he had interned during his senior year, to help build a system for tracking royalty payments. He then spent 13 years with the creative event firm, Fig Media, doing everything from deejaying private parties, to producing video projects, managing sales and production teams, and learning the art of sales and networking. In 2003 Andrew attended culinary school to enhance his love of food, and became a Le Cordon Bleu-certified chef focusing on gluten-free and other special diets. His other studies included postgraduate work at the Wright Institute in transformational leadership, team empowerment, and emotional/social intelligence. Last year he joined a new firm, Event Creative, as director of new business development and is responsible primarily for generating sales opportunities.