Marley Miller came to the University of Montana as a pre-med student, but quickly discovered a different path through the College of Business to pursue his passion for music and entertainment.
Miller switched his major to business management and marketing and joined the UM Entertainment Management certificate program, which offered him real-world experience connecting with professionals in the industry and working behind-the-scenes at some of the region’s largest concerts and festivals.
Miller worked backstage during last summer’s Pearl Jam concert in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, worked for the Adams Center as an operations assistant and launched his own business, StarSync Studio. The hands-on experience opened Miller’s eyes to the possibility of a career in the entertainment industry after he graduates this winter.
“I had no idea it was a route I could take outside of being a musician,” Miller said.
This summer, Miller is working as the staffing director for the Zootown Festival at the Missoula County Fairgrounds July 4-5. He is tasked with hiring 75 to 100 people to be runners, shuttle drivers, ticket scanners and box office and water station workers, among other roles. He plans to hire at least 15 students from UM’s Entertainment Management program.
“UMEM students are definitely going to be a part of it, and will get more responsibility that hopefully helps propel their growth in the entertainment industry,” Miller said.
The UMEM program started in 2001 and has offered students ways to learn about the entertainment business, including music, television, film, sports, live performance and the literary and visual arts.
Last month, the Montana Board of Regents approved expanding the program from a certificate to a major. Starting this fall, students can enroll in the four-year program within the College of Business called Entertainment, Events and Sports Management (EESM). Both academic faculty members and industry professionals will teach courses within the major.
“For 24 years UM’s College of Business has delivered the Entertainment Management certificate,” said Suzanne Tilleman, Sprunk and Burnham Endowed Dean of the College of Business. “Many of our graduates are working in music, film and sports businesses. By expanding it to a major, we further prepare our graduates for the financial, marketing, risk management and analytical skills our employers value.”
Expanding the program addresses the growing interest from existing and potential students as well as a growing job market across Montana. While the UMEM certificate will still be available, the new EESM major will offer a wider range of topics such as talent management, event planning and execution, athletic administration, sponsorship and revenue development, and venue and facility operations. It also will train students interested in the fast-growing film and television production industry in Montana.
“As the entertainment industry continues to emerge as a significant economic contributor throughout Montana, the University of Montana College of Business is committed to preparing highly skilled, well-trained and workforce-ready graduates to meet the evolving demands of this dynamic sector,” Tilleman said.
Amanda Mazur, a junior from Lolo majoring in marketing and art, said the Entertainment Management program was one of the main reasons she chose to attend UM.
While in high school, Mazur toured the UM campus trying to convince herself not to stay in Montana and possibly attend college out-of-state. But her tour guide was Miller, who was the Grizzly Entertainment Management student group vice president at the time, and he convinced her to apply.
“Marley gave me the tour and we talked a lot about business and entertainment management and how I could incorporate all my interests, including art, into a pathway to be at UM,” Mazur said. “I’ve loved it ever since. I think our program has a great community and some of the nicest, most welcoming people you will meet on campus.”
Mazur, the vice president of the Grizzly Entertainment Management student group, said her favorite part of the program is the hands-on work. She gained experience helping promote and host a swing dance concert and work at Under the Big Sky Festival in Whitefish. This summer, she is interning with the Missoula County Fairgrounds and will do artist relations for the Zootown Festival. She also will return to Under the Big Sky Festival, where she worked last summer with the accessibility team.
“I want to go into a career with nonprofits and health-related causes for events,” Mazur said. “It was really great that I got to see how events are made accessible to people, especially when those disabilities can be invisible and not everyone always thinks of them. I got to learn a lot about that world. And the small details that a lot of people don’t think about when they are there to enjoy music.”
Mazur sees the new EESM major as a huge opportunity for students to gain more experience and connect with supportive alumni who are in the entertainment industry.
“Hopefully we will have more doors open and more networking paths now that we have the four-year degree,” Mazur said. “We can level up to be with those bigger colleges we always meet at conferences in L.A. and Nashville.”
Among the UM students working next weekend at the Zootown Festival will be Pippin Bridgeman. The junior business management student from Kalispell will help manage the lost and found at the festival. It’s a foot in the door for Bridgeman, who wants to pursue a career in the music industry as a tour manager.
Bridgeman grew up with a love of music from her parents. She plays instruments for fun, but is more drawn to the backstage work.
“I’ve been really interested in music my entire life and this seemed like a really great way to get involved without having to learn how to play guitar and be in a band,” Bridgeman said.
For students considering entertainment management, Bridgeman encourages them to join related student groups. Bridgeman is a part of the Grizzly Entertainment Management student group and president of Switchback Records, a student-run group that gives musical artists opportunities to perform on campus.
“The biggest thing is the sense of community you feel,” Bridgeman said. “I think that has been the most helpful thing I’ve gotten out of it.”
For Miller, who served as the Grizzly Entertainment Management student group president for two years, he is excited for the future generations of students who will earn EESM degrees. The new major is the only one in Montana concentrated on entertainment, events and sports management. With more entertainment coming to the state each year, Miller said, it makes sense for the University to be a leader in the industry.
“There are not many of these programs around the country,” Miller said. “I would love for that to be something that sets the University of Montana apart.”
By Kyle Spurr, UM News Service