The Study Abroad course in Germany takes place in the spring semester and is led by the Business and Entrepreneurship Department Interim Chair Jerry Brindisi.

The Study Abroad course in Germany is a hybrid course designed to prepare students for the music industry simulation game that takes place in Hammelburg, Germany. Students visit the Bayerische Musikakademie Hammelburg, Germany for a week. The online component of the course teaches students about the game so they can understand the rules, assumptions, and how it works. Students are also expected to work with others across the world such as Popakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany), Herman Brood Academie (Netherlands), Ballyfermot College (Ireland), Leeds Conservatoire (Leeds, UK), Linnaeus University (Sweden), and Rockacademie (Tilburg, Netherlands)

During the course, students conduct research on different sectors of the music business and develop a business plan. They then pitch their ideas to investors within the game. The simulation game takes place over “three years” in three days’ time, with every two hours representing one month of time. The clock runs non-stop once it starts. This is done to test the students in a real-world simulation where every minute counts.

“The skills taught in this course include record company operations, legal aspects of the music industry, marketing, tour planning, contract negotiations, sponsorship development, and more. There is a lot of role-playing and communication between students and faculty who act as artist managers,” says Jerry Brindisi. There are students who are real-life artists that coordinate with the music business students. The faculty respond based on the student’s actions. Soft skills like organization, leadership, time management, stress management, and teamwork are also emphasized.

Since this is an entrepreneurial-focused course, some students have used this game as a model to start their own companies. For example, one student from the first year started a record label and signed artists in this game that went ahead and actually built a real artist management company and signed those very artists.

Students who wish to participate must apply.  Last semester, Hunter Meisel, Leiana Hernandez, and Gyasi Bonds were selected to represent Columbia College Chicago’s music business program. A similar course takes place in person during J-term at Columbia College Chicago and focuses solely on the music business.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY:

Please contact Jerry Brindisi (jbrindisi@colum.edu). You can also fill out the study abroad interest form or email Monika Jaiswal-Oliver (mjaiswaloliver@colum.edu). To learn more about the course, also visit our study abroad website.