More On George Jones University!

Here is an article published in Nashville Business Journal on George Jones University.


Country music legend George Jones is lending his name to an instructional program to teach students the basics of the country music industry and how to break into the business.
The idea for George Jones University comes from Tandy Rice, president and CEO of Top Billing International, a Nashville entertainment sales and marketing firm. Rice, who is a former adjunct professor at Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and former Country Music Association president, will serve as dean of the program.
He says the three-day program will not be competing with the music industry instruction offered at Belmont, Trevecca Nazarene and Middle Tennessee State universities. George Jones University's program will be more concise than those, cost less and have greater major-star input. It is geared toward students who - just like Jones when he started his career - don't have the time or money to attend a full university program.
"Not everybody has a mama and daddy paying tuition for them and saying take four years to figure it out," says Rice.
He is launching his for-profit program with an under $10,000 investment, and Jones' blessing. His partners in the endeavor include Jones' wife, Nancy, and Gandylink executive Matthew Wilkes.
Guest lecturers will be country music leaders, who will cover such subjects as music publishing, recording contracts, artist management and bookings, life on the road, and the politics of Music Row. There will be about 10 lecturers, who will also present an overview of the history and traditions of country music and its major players.
A Williamson County or Davidson County location for the program has not yet been settled upon. George Jones University is expected to run every quarter, with a possible fifth session for a performance showcase and the awarding of diplomas. The program will kick off in late March.
Each three-day weekend session will cost $200 and will enroll about 200 national, as well as international, students.
Part of the profits from the program will benefit nonprofit organizations Bridges of Williamson County and The Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, in the name of George and Nancy Jones.

Published January 17, 2007 by the Nashville Business Journal