Bandier Program will move from VPA to the Newhouse School

Syracuse University's famous music business program is getting a makeover with a new name, a new home college and additional funding.

The Bandier Program will move from the College of Visual and Performing Arts to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the school announced Monday. It will also be renamed as Martin Bandier Program for the Music Business and Entertainment Industries "to more accurately reflect its focus on the business of music as it functions in all media, particularly new media," according to a letter from Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly. 

The name change of the program will need to be approved by the University Senate and the New York State Educational Department

Martin N. Bandier, a 1962 alumnus and chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has also agreed to pledge additional funding for the program to help develop the curriculum, hire additional faculty and support additional activities. According to Billboard.com, the donation is in the millions.

"Both the communications and music industry fields are changing dramatically," Lorraine Branham, dean of the Newhouse School, told Billboard.com. "At Newhouse, we are constantly developing new curriculum and investing in new technologies that allow us to prepare for and respond to these rapid changes. As with the students in our other programs, Bandier students will benefit greatly from this cutting-edge approach."

The non-performance program focuses on music's role across media and brings in about 25 students into the program each year. It also produced some of the music industry's biggest stars and executives, including Drew Taggart from Grammy-winning EDM duo The Chainsmokers.

VPA will still have its music industry program, which currently has more than 100 students enrolled.

Photo: Stephen F Sartori/SU Photo & Image Archive