The business and entertainment program at the Kogod School of Business has grown drastically over the past ten years. Under the leadership of management professor John Simson, the program’s size and scope have ballooned, creating a cohort of students who graduate ready to face the unique challenges at the intersection of business and creative industries. For Linda Bloss-Baum, the program’s new assistant director, this growth is best demonstrated in its nationwide recognition.
“I travel to a lot of different conferences and meetings, and I’ve absolutely seen people recognize the program as a leader in churning out high-quality students all around the industry,” she said. “Just this spring, I got a call from Universal Music asking me for candidates for jobs they might have. Our recognition—not only in academia but also in the industry—has grown rapidly.”
Though Bloss-Baum joins Kogod this fall as a full-time faculty member, she’s been involved with the business and entertainment program since its inception in 2013. At the time, she was working at Warner Music Group, navigating the music industry as sales and mergers transformed its landscape. Simson, whom she met through his work at SoundExchange, asked her to teach as an adjunct professor; as an AU alumna, she was excited by the opportunity.
“I was a communications major here at AU in the late eighties,” she explained. “It’s been such a thrill to return to campus and relive my time as a student. I’ve gotten to know, respect, and work with ten years’ worth of alums, which really made me fall in love with the program.”
Bloss-Baum’s course, “Protecting the Creative Class in the Digital Age,” ties into discussions surrounding artists’ rights that are just as relevant today. While the digital distribution of all types of art can benefit artists by expanding their audiences, it can also lead to copyright issues and ensures that royalties are paid fairly. “When we started this course ten years ago, the huge question was piracy,” Bloss-Baum recalled. “If you’re a photographer who’s used to a more analog world, and suddenly your pictures are up on the Internet, how in the world are you going to make sure you’re being paid for that?”
Bloss-Baum is uniquely equipped to discuss these issues from multiple perspectives; after working in communications law on Capitol Hill and adapting to the rise of streaming services during her time with Warner, she joined SoundExchange herself in 2014, eventually becoming the group’s senior vice president of government relations and public policy.
“I’ve worked very carefully with so many different aspects of the music industry,” she said. “It’s been really fun to bring my expertise and context into the classroom.”
As an industry veteran, Bloss-Baum knows the value of learning through doing very well. Her courses incorporate experiential learning both in and out of the classroom, from bringing in creative professionals as guest speakers to writing memos to public officials. Musicians, filmmakers, photographers, and authors alike have met with her students, forging connections that often lead to those students working alongside them later in their careers. Her course’s midterm entails grant writing for a creative organization of the student’s choice. At the same time, the final exam involves writing to a local municipality, explaining the value of promoting creative ventures in their city and laying out steps to do so. These real-world assignments allow students to apply their knowledge in a way that translates into their post-graduation work—a chance that Bloss-Baum says is especially valuable in the fast-paced entertainment industry.