The Center For Music and Arts Entrepuenership

NorthStar Entertainment's Sheryl Northrop has worked in the music and media industries for more than two decades, spending time at both major and independent record labels and running her own entertainment PR firm, The Baker/Northrop Media Group established in 1997. During her career, Northrop has worked in both print publishing and PR. She has represented entertainers and music artists in many genres including rock, pop, blues, country, Americana, jazz, children's recordings and other entertainment entities including books, theatricals, events and corporate clients. She worked in the media departments at I.R.S. Records, RCA Records and All American Music Group prior to starting The Baker/Northrop Media Group. Northrop launched NorthStar Entertainment in 2005. Her highly regarded PR firm, The Baker/Northrop Media Group, remains as a division of the new company that also includes artist management and consulting divisions.

Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, shares his opinions on major-label pop music marketing and grassroots independent marketing, and what the future will hold for each.

Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, assesses the role of the live album in an artists career, and what they can do that a studio recording cant.

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell gives advice to emerging artists on how best to exploit traditional and new methods to build the dedicated fan base that will be your launch pad to widespread success.

Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, discusses with a group of students at Loyola University, New Orleans the benefits and risks that independent labels face when choosing whether to enter a distribution partnership with a larger company.

Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, talks about the need for record labels and the industry at large to return to the practice of letting new artists have time to develop. He also touches upon how "singles driven" today's music consumer has become, and the effect of that mentality on record companies.

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell gives his thoughts on why artists and other music industry players must make an effort to know every aspect of the music business, as well as the opportunities you give up and the risks you assume when you dont.

Producer John Snyder talks about working with Scrapomatic and explains his vision for the Artists House label.