Syracuse University Announces The Martin Bandier Program Will Join The Prestigious Newhouse School

Syracuse University has announced that the Martin Bandier Program will move to the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where it will continue to provide an interdisciplinary curriculum in music business and media studies as well as the liberal arts. At the same time, the University will pursue changing the name of the program to the Martin Bandier Program for the Music Business and Entertainment Industries to accurately reflect its focus on the business of music as it functions in all media, particularly new media.

To back these changes, the Program's founder, Martin Bandier '62, Syracuse University alumnus and Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has agreed to make another significant gift that will support the Program over the next decade. The transition of the Program from its current home in the College of Visual and Performing Arts to the Newhouse School will ensure that non-performance students interested in pursuing a career in the business of music have expanded options through interdisciplinary studies at the university.

"Over the years, graduates of the Bandier Program have gone on to achieve very successful careers in all sectors of the music industry and I wanted to ensure that the program will continue to groom our future innovators - students that will lead the trends and growth across all entertainment industries," said Martin Bandier. "The Bandier Program is honored to join the Newhouse School, where it will continue to provide curricula that will prepare students for the ever transforming and growing music and entertainment industries."

"Both the communications and music industry fields are changing dramatically," said Lorraine Branham, dean of the Newhouse School. "At Newhouse, we are constantly developing new curriculum and investing in new technologies that allow us to prepare for and respond to these rapid changes. As with the students in our other programs, Bandier students will benefit greatly from this cutting-edge approach."

The gift will fund the Martin Bandier Program for the Music Business and Entertainment Industries Fund, which will be used at the discretion of the dean of the Newhouse School to develop the course of the curriculum, attract outstanding faculty, and provide support for both in- and out-of-classroom enrichment experiences. The Program's change of name will be subject to approval from the University Senate and the New York State Department of Education, as is the case with all existing degree programs.

The Bandier Program was founded by Mr. Bandier in 2006 and was recently listed by Billboard magazine among top music business schools in the U.S. As part of the Program, students study all aspects of the industry and have the opportunity to take part in internships at leading music companies in New York, Los Angeles and London. They earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in recording and allied entertainment studies.

Many of the Program's alumni have gone on to become successful executives at record labels, music publishers, management companies, live agencies and in other sectors of the music industry as well as landing roles in other entertainment industries. Its graduates include Andrew "Drew" Taggart, who is one half of the Grammy-winning duo The Chainsmokers.

Martin Bandier is one of the music industry's leading figures and the most successful executive in music publishing of all time. As Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he oversees the global business of the world's leading music publishing company, including talent and copyright acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and the development and implementation of the company's long-term strategic initiatives. He is also Group Executive, Sony Corporation. The Sony/ATV catalogues include some of the biggest names in music, including The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora, Sting, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among others. Its ever-growing list of chart-topping artists, writers and producers includes Avicii, The Chainsmokers, Drake, Calvin Harris, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Shakira, Ed SHeeran, Sia, Sam Smith, Stargate, Taylor Swift, Walk The Moon, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.

Mr. Bandier joined Sony/ATV in 2007 following a 17-year spell running EMI Music Publishing, which he took over in 1989 after his company SBK was acquired by EMI and which he turned into what was then the world's leading music publishing company.

While at Sony/ATV he has negotiated the acquisitions of both the Famous Music catalog, which includes scores for film such as The Godfather, Braveheart and Mission Impossible, and the Leiber & Stoller catalog whose hits include "Stand By Me", "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock".

Throughout his tenure the company and its songwriters have won numerous awards, including this last year when Sony/ATV was named Pop Publisher of the Year by BMI in the U.S. In February 2015 he became the first ever music publisher to receive the Grammy Awards' President's Merit Award for his work in the music industry, while at this year's Grammy Awards many of the company's songwriters were honored, including Drake, The Chainsmokers and songwriter/producer Greg Kurstin who won Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year for his work with Adele as well as the coveted Producer Of The Year award. Bandier has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, while among his many industry roles he serves on the boards of the City of Hope, ASCAP, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA).

Under his management, the company has enjoyed significant success on Broadway with Motown The Musical and the double Tony Awards winner Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, both of which have expanded into hugely popular U.S. tours and successful productions in London's West End.