CMA EDU Expands To MTSU, Lipscomb

MTSU held it's first CMA EDU meeting last night. (L-R): MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Angela Walton; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Liz Hause; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Angela Johnson; CMA Coordinator of Partner Programs, Wes Perry; CMA Senior Coordinator of Partner Programs, Sarah McGrady; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Becca Roberson; MTSU Faculty and CMA EDU Advisor, Professor Matthew O'Brien. Photographer: Amanda Eckard / CMA

The Country Music Association has expanded CMA EDU, the Association’s education-based, national college initiative, to Lipscomb University in Nashville, and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The program is designed to reach and engage undergraduate college students with a hands-on opportunity to enhance their skills in marketing and promotion. The program launched in February at Belmont University in Nashville with 115 members and has grown to more than 250 this semester.

“We are pleased with the growth and success of this new initiative,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Interest in starting similar groups at schools outside of central Tennessee has been high and we are looking forward to building a program that will benefit college students interested in Country Music and gaining valuable business experience.”

Students will gain networking opportunities, unique educational experiences, and leadership training all while promoting the Country Music genre.

“MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry could not be more proud to forge these ties with the Country Music Association,” said Matthew O’Brien, MTSU faculty sponsor of CMA EDU. “The CMA has developed a great program to genuinely enrich our students in a manner that is perfectly integrated into their academic experience and moves them closer to their career goals and all the while having fun doing it! Similarly, we believe the CMA will benefit from the input and unique insight our students will give it with respect to today’s young Country Music audience.”