Accomplished music manager and producer Peter Jenner spoke to students about his music industry career Tuesday evening.
The lecture focused on how Jenner’s initial vision to start a successful record label changed when he formed Blackhill Enterprises, a rock music management company, with one of the world’s most iconic music groups.
“I saw this band and asked them, ‘Do you fancy being on our label?’ No, they said, but we need a manager,” Jenner said.
The band was Pink Floyd.
He told students it was the band’s “character, energy and unique sound” that caught his attention, and stressed to students the importance of originality in the music business.
“Looking back, the most successful artists don’t sound like other people,” he said. “You don’t need another David Bowie, we’ve already got David Bowie.”
With over 40 years of experience in the industry, Jenner offered advice to prospective students who may one day follow in his footsteps.
“When going into the studio, know exactly what you’re going to do because it makes the process a lot easier,” Jenner said. “Also, don’t pay the artist’s bills.”
The lecture was part of the Department of Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel’s Speaker Series, an ongoing series to bring recording industry leaders to campus.
Keel said that by bringing speakers to MTSU, students have the opportunity to get an inside look into the industry, one that isn’t always covered in textbooks.
“What’s great about MTSU is that we study the history of the music industry and we also bring in the people that made it,” Keel told Sidelines after the event.
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