The College of Charleston’s widely popular IN THE MIX speaker series returns this fall for the fourth consecutive year with all new discussions on the state of the modern music industry.

The Fall 2017 series kicks off on Monday, September 18 with Music Publishing: The Hurdles of Proper Compensation for Songwriters. Host Mark Bryan will be joined by guests Richard “Gus” Gusler and Tom DeSavia to discuss how songwriters are currently compensated in today’s evolving musical economy, and how the industry can better support the modern songwriter.

Richard “Gus” Gusler

Tom DeSavia

Gusler has worked in entertainment for almost 35 years, most notably as an entertainment attorney who has negotiated countless recording, publishing, and endorsement contracts, while DeSavia’s career in the music industry spans a wide range of executive and creative positions, most recently as the Head of Creative Services at SONGS Music Publishing.

The event is presented by the Arts Management Program in the College’s School of the Arts and will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Simons Center for the Arts first floor Recital Hall (54 Saint Philip St). The session will be free and open to students and the public.

Since the spring of 2014, IN THE MIX has connected over 500 students, musicians, and alumni to industry professionals and moguls. Previous sessions have featured guest speakers Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish and Cary Ann Hearst of Shovels & Rope. [View a history of topics and speakers.]

The College’s arts management major offers students who are musicians or interested in music management the opportunity to pursue a music industry concentration, with courses like Introduction to the Music Industry, Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Industry, Music in the Marketplace, History of the Recording Industry, and more. For information visit artsmgmt.cofc.edu or call 843.953.6301.