Story and photos by Serena Vasudeva
WMOT hosted its annual Raider Rewind Concert on Tuesday, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Recording Industry Program.
MTSU’s RIM program was approved in 1973, with the first degree awarded the following year. In 1983, the program had 368 majors. Today, that number has ballooned to 1,127.
Val Hoeppner, executive director of WMOT, said Raider Replay is run by the students in live sound reinforcement and live concert planning.
“[The students] literally put together a budget, made a deal with artists and put this show together top to bottom. Not only did they hire the artist and figure out the budget, they did all the stage work today and the sound work,” Hoeppner said.
WMOT supported students by promoting Raider Rewind on their frequency. The concert’s headliner, The Secret Sisters, has been nominated for three Grammys. Laura Rogers, a member of the Secret Sisters, graduated from MTSU’s Recording Industry program in 2009.
Rogers chose MTSU because of its proximity to Nashville and its affordability. During the concert, she explained that her time at MTSU propelled her career and shaped her music. She wrote the song “Tennessee Me” between classes in her tiny house on Ewing Boulevard. Another, “He’s Fine,” she wrote about a student she knew.
“I knew this town like the back of my hand and a few things have changed to make it a little bit unfamiliar for me, but once I got down here close to the school it all started coming back,” she said.
Earlier in the day, the sisters, Laura and Lydia Rogers, visited with RIM students to share advice and help them avoid career pitfalls.
“I didn’t make good grades here, I’ll tell you that. Your girl wasn’t on the dean’s list, but I had a good time,” Laura Rogers said.
Toward the end of the show, The Secret Sisters played a song off their unreleased fifth record “Paperweight.”
“Laura Rogers is an alumna, so it’s a great full circle moment to celebrate the program that really is putting people into careers in the music business at every level whether it be artists, live sound production, labels and artist management,” Hoeppner said.
The concert included two opening acts by students Josie James and Ana Grosh. Grosh, an audio production major, said her set list was inspired by the Secret Sisters’ catalog. She played songs such as “Missing Out,” which she released during her first semester at MTSU, and “Our Home,” which she wrote at 16.
James is a freshman majoring in commercial songwriting.
“I feel like I have endless support from both faculty and students. Professors are eager to answer any questions I might have and all the friends that I’ve made in the RIM program are such lights,” James said.
Professor Joseph Akins has taught audio production for 23 years. Over his career, he’s seen students graduate and become successful in the music industry. The program has also undergone many changes including the addition of classes in live sound, new studios, and the start of the songwriting concentration.
Akins explained that MTSU’s recording industry program is among the oldest in the U.S., established in the same year as those at Belmont and Miami University.
Serena Vasudeva is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
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