University of the Pacific’s Music Industry Studies program is helping open employment doors for recent graduates such as Dylan Bliss ’24 and Brynnea McGill ’24, who aggressively pursued—and landed—their first professional jobs.

The music industry graduates and former Pacific roommates are finding that opportunity and initiative are a good combination. Bliss is working on the national Disney Junior Tour and McGill is handling projects for Mack Avenue Music Group, an independent, Grammy-winning jazz label with Pacific ties.

“I am proud of both of them because they were aggressive and thoughtful in their pursuit of employment,” said Benom Plumb, associate professor and program director for Music Industry Studies and Music Management. “Part of it is the importance of connections. But that only takes you so far. Dylan and Brynnea knew how to close the deal.”

Dylan Bliss

Bliss recalls being palpably excited about a trip organized by Plumb to southern California music venues the week of the Grammy Awards.

One of the stops was at Warner Music Group. The Pacific students talked about their goals and ambitions with the Warner Chappell Music staff. Bliss expressed her desire to work handling VIPs during tour stops.

“I like being involved with the interaction of people and it’s an area where I feel confident,” Bliss said. “It is really exhilarating.”

Marc Federman of Warner approached Bliss after the group session and said she had a friend in the music business who oversaw job duties like what Bliss was describing. That led to introductions, interviews and, soon after, Bliss landed a job as touring VIP coordinator for the Disney Tour.

“I get to work on kids interacting with Mickey and Minnie,” Bliss said with a laugh. “I also have to work the current show while also getting us ready for upcoming cities. It is exhilarating work.”

One of the final tour stops was the Bob Hope Theatre in downtown Stockton Dec. 12.

Bliss said she has “thoroughly enjoyed” her work. And while it’s not full time at this point, she is making contacts, which could lead to more opportunities.

“I was so well prepared by Professor Plumb and others at the conservatory,” she said. “I look forward to where this journey is going to take me.”

Brynnea McGill ’24

McGill turned an internship with highly regarded Mack Avenue Music Group into a full-time role. Her work ethic impressed Pacific alumnus Denny Stilwell ’90, president of the label. Stilwell also sits on Pacific’s Music Industry Advisory Board.

“I first met him at Pacific’s Music Business Conference. Later, when they were advertising for a marketing intern, Professor Plumb helped me contact Mack Avenue and I got the internship,” McGill said. “Two other conservatory students had interned there before me, and one of them got a job right after graduation. I appreciate our major helping set us up for the real world.”

Her internship turned into more as she showed the ability to manage an assortment of roles. She was promoted to a position working 30 hours per week and then recently was named the full-time production coordinator.

“She is brilliant when it comes to organizational needs,” Plumb said.

McGill said she often works “on 10 projects at the same time and loves every minute of it.”

“I send out albums, keep our calendar updated, manage social media posts and much more. I am adept at handling spreadsheets, so I take care of those on many of our projects,” she said. “It is something new daily. This is a dream job and a great start for my career.”

Industry insights

Conservatory of Music Dean Peter Witte shared three trends currently impacting the music industry.

Expanding styles or the end of styles?

Styles of music, and new mashups between them, are accelerating. On the one hand, creativity today is incredible, on the other, how do musicians gain a foothold in an expanding and distracted market?

Representation

Across the board, rising generations are more diverse than those in established organizations. How will legacy organizations make room for, often simply understand, new voices? This fundamental question is at play in entertainment, culture and politics.

AI and artists

Many musicians use AI as their instruments. In other spaces, AI tools are training themselves on copyrighted cultural and musical content without paying royalites or licensing fees. This while, thus far, the courts have found that AI-generated products cannot be copyrighted. AI offers immense possibilities.