Pasadena’s Los Angeles College of Music Makes Billboard’s 2020 List of Top Music Schools

The Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) in Pasadena has been listed as one of Billboard’s 2020 Top Music Business Schools, the music and entertainment publisher said Monday.

The list includes Billboard’s most expansive and geographically diverse list yet of the top music business schools, including both private and public institutions.

“While online, skills-focused music education programs have proliferated during the pandemic, for this report, Billboard chose programs that are primarily campus-based, offering a broader, deeper education and bestowing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree,” the report said. “It’s worth noting that among the highest-achieving young executives in the music business, as profiled in Billboard’s 2019 40 Under 40 feature, nearly 40% said they were graduates of a liberal arts program.”

The LACM,located at 370 S Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena, offers bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in music performance, music production, songwriting, composing for visual media and music business. The college has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 2003, and more than 1,000 students have graduated from the school.

LACM students have taken advantage of their proximity to Los Angeles with professor-led visits to Capitol Records, Stones Throw Records, Spotify, ASCAP, BMI, Killingsworth Studios and Village Recorders. Recently, a biweekly music business master-class series has welcomed guest speakers such as 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Steve Aiello, ASCAP associate director Brian Reyes and Carlos De La Garza, a Grammy Award-winning producer.

Global music business, history of the digital revolution, and time and money management are courses taught by Steve Corn, co-founder of BFM Digital and the Grammy-winning BFM Jazz label.

In the report, Billboard cited Sandro Cavazza, a LACM alumnus, who completed Swedish DJ Avicii’s song “Forever Yours” after the EDM (electronic dance music) superstar died in 2018. The track was released in January as “Forever Yours (Tribute)” and reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.

Billboard said those who plan to pursue a career in the music industry could do well to choose from among the colleges and universities profiled in the list.

The list, consisting of 28 U.S.-based colleges and at least four overseas schools, is geared toward high school seniors, most of whom must decide where to enrol in college by May 1, the traditional date for decision.

The LACM provides regular updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it impacts the safety and well-being of the college community.

In its latest update, LACM said it is currently planning to open for current LACM students to attend classes beginning July 6. If it is deemed possible, the Summer at LACM program (includes Summer Xperience and Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Camp) will begin the week of June 29, the college said.

“LACM recognizes that it may not be possible to launch the Summer at LACM programs as planned, due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 circumstances. If the program(s) were to be cancelled due to health and safety concerns for our community, full refunds will be issued to all participants who have registered,” a LACM statement said.

For more information about LACM, visit www.lacm.edu.