NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new partnership between Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville and MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry will allow students to submit two of their songs directly to Sony/ATV’s creative team.

Troy Tomlinson

Sony/ATV will then select a number of students to perform two more songs at a live showcase.

“We are constantly searching for new writers and writer/artists,” said Troy Tomlinson, president and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville. “The ‘All Access’ program is designed to make access to industry professionals easy and rewarding for talented students.”

After the live performances, Tomlinson said, the Sony/ATV team may extend an invitation to a limited number of students to experience a day in the publishers’ Music Row studios.

Beverly Keel

Beverly Keel, chair of MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry in the College of Mass Communication, said the partnership “provides a pathway for MTSU students to share their talent and work with industry professionals.”

Keel said students can submit two songs via YouTube to Sony/ATV Music Publishing by Saturday, Nov. 15. Interested students should first contact Keel at beverly.keel@mtsu.edu for information on submitting their entries.

The opportunity is open to both songwriters and singers, Tomlinson said.

Songwriters must submit original songs, and singers may send a song written by another writer or a cover of a song by another artist that has not been a radio single.

All genres of music are welcome.

Ken Paulson, dean of MTSU’s College of Mass Communication, said the partnership will continue through the spring 2015 semester.

“This is a special opportunity for talented students to showcase their work for an audience of accomplished music professionals,” Paulson said. “This bridges the gap between the classroom and recording industry in a creative and positive way.”

— Andrew Oppmann (andrew.oppmann@mtsu.edu)

MTSU recording industry seniors Logan Rhea, left, a senior from Norcross, Georgia, and Kelsey Feltman of Nashville listen to professor Matt Foglia as they prepare to record junior Katy Bishop of Jonesboro, Arkansas, inside MTSU’s Studio A in the Bragg Mass Communication Building. MTSU students can submit songs for consideration by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville thanks to a new partnership between the university and the music publisher. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)