As soon as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, Sami Fong '20 plans to move to southern California to pursue a career in digital marketing, working for a record label or music company. Described by her Pacific professor as "a triple threat," she is a “talented singer-song writer, savvy producer-engineer, and social media marketing wiz.”

Fong has been a music performer since the age of ten, but she discovered her passion for music production and marketing during her sophomore year at Pacific when she seized an opportunity to work for the student-run Pac Ave Records label.

"This was a class called How to Run an Independent Record Label," remembered Fong. "I was surprised how it was very hands-on and the label functioned as if it was a real business. Our professor acted as our mentor and coach and tailored this course to be student-run as much as possible. I was an A&R scout and coordinator in the Sales and Marketing department."

Impressed by Pacific's jazz studies program, Sami originally enrolled in Pacific to major in guitar performance but after her experience at Pac Ave Records, she changed her major to Music Management and a minor in Jazz Studies.

"I wanted to learn how to blend business and creative facets because outside of school I was writing and producing songs that were released on digital platforms," explained Fong. "Joining the recording studio production team at Pacific gave me the opportunity to record, produce, mix and master songs."

With Pac Ace Records, Fong was involved in a wide range of projects from recording classical string quartets or jazz quintets to a capella ensembles or even an entire symphonic wind ensemble.

"Two of my favorite projects were I Need Your Love by a capella group Pacific Stocktones, which I produced and mixed,” said Fong, “and Issadora Ava’s EP No One Here Belongs More Than You, which I co-produced and mixed."

Fong applied that knowledge and skills to her senior project which was recording and promoting her own debut EP Sami Fong. The album was released in fall of 2019 on all streaming platforms, quickly garnering thousands of impressions and views. Music Management faculty recognized that she has “a tremendous positive impact on any music project she dives into” and Fong received the Music Management outstanding student award in 2020.

Through the connections she made during her time at Pacific, Fong was also able to test her newly developed skills in the real world of entertainment industry. During her junior year, she interned with AMMO Artist Management based in Los Angeles, referred there by her fellow Pacific student. She also secured an internship with Unlimited Sounds Publishing and Distribution LLC, after meeting Michael Lorda ‘98, COO of the company, at the annual Music Management Advisory Board Brunch.

After graduating last spring, Fong continues to hone her skills through her internship with Unlimited Sounds working for both the publishing and marketing departments. She has also started a remote marketing internship with a company based in New York. Most recently, Fong was hired by Sugo Music Group as their publishing and licensing coordinator.

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