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Historical Timeline 1970 -2007

1970 - MTSU President Dr. M.G. Scarlett commissions a feasibility study done by Pulitzer Prize winner and University of Illinois professor Gene Graham, on the concept of a communication program at MTSU. The results indicate that MTSU is the right place to develop such a program.

1971 - Dr. Scarlett appoints Dr. Ed Kimbrell to establish and become the first chair of the Department of Mass Communication.

1972 - Billboard Magazine Southern Editor, the late Bill Williams, and other music business professionals reinforce Dr. Scarlett's perception that MTSU should develop a much-needed educational program for the recording industry. Dr. Scarlett appoints a committee composed of Dr. Kimbrell, Dr. John Duke from the Music Dept., Dr. Furman Cunningham from the Business Dept., Dr. E.L.Gentry from the Education Dept., and solicits input from professionals in the recording industry, to develop a curriculum for a recording industry degree program.

1973 - The Recording Industry Management program within the Department of Mass Communication is approved by the State Board of Regents.

1974 - The first Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Industry Management is awarded.

1975 - Six internships develop and the first interns begin work in the Nashville recording industry.

1977 - Dr. Geoffrey Hull becomes the first full-time faculty member of the Recording Industry Management program, and is instrumental in developing and refining the curriculum.

1978 - Christian Haseleu is recruited as the second full-time faculty member, develops the audio/technology curriculum, and is intrumental in securing the program's first recording studio facilities.

1980 - The MTSU Haynes House is converted into a recording studio (see photos on right)

1983 - The Recording Industry Management program at MTSU celebrates its 10th anniversary with 368 majors.

1985 - The Recording Industry Management program releases a student CD, becoming the first school in the country to do so.

1986 - The Center for Recording Arts and Sciences is established to work with the Recording Industry Management program. The Center builds an on campus digital audio recording studio and houses an archive of American popular recordings, videos, and publications.

1989 - The Mass Communication Department becomes the College of Mass Communication at MTSU. The Recording Industry Management program becomes the Department of Recording Industry Management. Dr. Geoffrey Hull is appointed as Chairman of the department.

1991 - The Recording Industry Management Department and the College of Mass Communication move into the $15.5 million state-of-the-art teaching and production complex dedicated as the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. Rich Barnet takes over the helm as Chair of the Recording Industry Management Department.

1992 - The Recording Industry Management Department changes its name to become known as the Department of Recording Industry at MTSU. The curriculum is divided, with one emphasis in Music Business and the other in Production and Technology.

1993 - Dr. Deryl Leaming succeeds Dr. Kimbrall as Dean of the College of Mass Communication. The Advisory Board to the Department of Recording Industry is created with some of music business' most prominent figures.

1994 - The Department of Recording Industry at MTSU celebrates its 20th anniversary with over 14 full-time faculty members, over 900 majors from 35 states and 6 foreign countries, and over 150 interns per year actively working in Nasville, New York, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo.

1998 - Chris Haseleu succeeds Rich Barnet as Chairman for the Department of Recording Industy.

2002 - Dr. Anantha S. Babbili begins as Dean of the College of Mass Communication. The Department of Recording Industry has 22 full-time faculty members, 1716 majors and over 200 interns and graduates per year.

2004 - The Department of Recording Industry at MTSU celebrates its 30th anniversary. Studios D & E were completed and opened.

2005 - Students are enrolled in the MFA in Recording Arts and Technology. The Department of Recording Industry has 25 full-time faculty members and 3 full-time audio maintenance staff.

2007 - The Department of Recording Industry has 30 full-time faculty and over 1500 majors.

2008 - The new concentration in Songwriting begins.

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The Department of Recording Industry in the Press

• R*E*P, November 1991, "Designing the MTSU Media Complex"
• Mix, February 1992, "Choosing the Right Audio Program"
• Nashville Business Journal, August 16-20, 1993, "Country's New Frontier Lies in Land of Rising Sun"
• Nashville Banner, August 17, 1993, "Music Gets Big Boost at MTSU"
• The Daily News Journal, October 20, 1993, "Music Industry Giants Advise MTSU"
• db magazine, January/February 1994, "MTSU Department of Recording Industry"
• Music Row, September 8, 1994, "The First 20 Years"
• The Daily News Journal, September 27, 1995, "Nation's Largest"
• Daily Variety, October 3, 1995, "Complex of Audio Pros"
• Edge, Spring 1997, "Growing Their Own"
• The Daily News Journal, May 18, 1997, "MTSU Making Mark in Music"
• The Daily News Journal, August 9, 1997, "Call It the 'Boro Beat"
• Billboard, August 9, 1997, "Murfreesboro: An Emerging Music Mecca" (see headlines above)
• Nashville Business Journal, October 6-10, 1997, "Murfreesboro Broadening Music Industry"
• Pro Audio Review, November 1997, "Part III: Back to School"
• In Concert, 1998 Edition, "On the Road Again"
• Rutherford County, 1998 Edition, "The 'Boro Beat" (see article in left sidebar)

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Student, Faculty & Departmental Awards

• Alternative Newsweeklies Journalism Award
• American College Theater Festival, Regional Award
• Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Technology
• Broadcast Educators Association Award for Best Video Production
• Career Achievement Award Nomination, MTSU
• CASE Circle of Excellence Award
• Communicator Awards, Crystal Award of Excellence in Audio
• Handy Blues Award for Best Country Blues Album
• JFK Center for the Performing Arts Special Award
• Memphis Star Best Audio Engineer Award
• MIX Magazine nomination for technical excellence and creativity (8)
• NARAS, Student Music Award
• NARAS, Memphis Chapter, Premier Audio Engineer Award
• Nashville Music Award Nomination, Best Blues Recording
• Outstanding Achievement in Creative Activity, MTSU (2)
• Outstanding Achievement in Creative Activity Nomination, MTSU (4)
• Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award, MTSU
• Outstanding University Teacher, MTSU (3)
• Public Service Award Nomination, MTSU (2)
• Recording Industry Outstanding Alumni Award
• Sinking Creek Film Festival Award for Best Historical Documentary
• Technical Excellence & Creativity Award Nomination (8)

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Organizational Membership  

The Department of Recording Industry is a member of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) and the Music & Entertainment Industry Educator's Association (MEIEA).