Neal Augenstein, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Young people dreaming of a career in music have generational advantages, yet have to accomplish more on their own, says a local studio owner who offers hands-on experience and mentoring.
“If you’re going to have a career today you’re going to have to build your social media presence and essentially, create your own buzz, before you can ever talk to a major record company,” says Ronald Dixon, owner of Studio 202 in Northeast D.C.
The studio is launching All Roads Academy, a new science, technology, engineering and mathematics program giving kids experience with audio and video production, broadcasting, marketing and career development.
Dixon says today’s music industry requires performers to do much of the work a record company would do in the past.
“Not only can we create content, we can also show them how to distribute the content online,” he says.
Because teenagers are comfortable with today’s digital technology, learning can come naturally to them.
“Unlike some of us adults, they’re just not afraid to do new things,” says Dixon. “They’ll take a new video game or phone and within 24 hours of having that device they’ve halfway mastered it.”
And with music being distributed and promoted through smartphones, understanding mobile devices role in the industry is key.
“Because new media and social media are so closely integrated, kids can do anything from create content to developing their own apps and have a presence in the iPhone or Android marketplace,” says Dixon.
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