Scholarships Awarded to Diverse Group of Extraordinary College Students Pursuing Live Entertainment & Music Industry Careers
(LOS ANGELES – July 25, 2024) — Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, in partnership with the national nonprofit Music Forward Foundation, today announced the recipients of its 2024 scholarship awards. Five remarkable college students pursuing live entertainment and music industry careers have been awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships.
This year’s extraordinary group of talented scholarship recipients were selected based on academic performance, leadership skills, and an enthusiastic commitment to the live entertainment industry. Recipients of this year’s awards include Adina Aaron, Cristian Meza, Jasmine Gordon, Michael Brown, and Raagavi Venkatesh.
“At Music Forward, we help pave the way for youth pursuing careers in the music and live entertainment industry,” said Music Forward Foundation Executive Director, Nurit Smith. “With the support of our generous partners, we are once again able to award impactful scholarships to deserving young people, providing a plethora of opportunities as they work to achieve their goals and dreams.”
Adina Aaron, a 20-year-old rising junior and Business Administration major at the University of Southern California, is the recipient of the $10,000 Live Nation Scholarship. This scholarship supports students pursuing careers in the five core areas of Live Nation’s business: concert promotion, venue operation, sponsorship, ticketing, and artist management.
Aaron recently performed solo for the first time and released two singles this year while pursuing her degree. She plans to immerse herself in the day-to-day operations of the music industry and explore careers such as Music Supervisor, Creative Director, and A&R Manager, while developing herself as an artist.
“Winning [the Live Nation Scholarship is] a huge help in supporting my education and removing the financial obstacles that stand in the way of my dreams,” said Aaron. “With rising tuition and living costs, this scholarship [gives] me the relief I need to focus on my studies and take advantage of opportunities to advance my career. It [will] also help me avoid piling up student loan debt, allowing me to pursue my passions without the worry of financial burdens.”
Cristian Meza, a 24-year-old rising senior and Entertainment Technology major at New York City College of Technology, is the recipient of the $10,000 Governors Ball Scholarship. This scholarship supports students living in the five boroughs of New York City, pursuing a degree in live entertainment, with a focus in music.
Meza is tremendously proud to be pursuing his college degree. Coming from an immigrant family, he will be the first in his family to achieve this feat. Meza is not afraid to dream big and strives to become an audio engineer and tour throughout the country. Eventually he hopes to open his own music venue.
“This scholarship means so much to me,” says Meza. “When I first started this journey, I always had people telling me I couldn’t achieve my dreams, and receiving this scholarship shows me that there are people out there that do believe in me, and my dreams are reachable. I want to thank all the people who didn’t believe in me because that just helped me want it even more.”
Jasmine Gordon, a 21-year-old rising senior and Comparative Women’s Studies major at Spelman College, is the recipient of the $10,000 Tiffany Green Operator Scholarship. This scholarship was established by Live Nation to support women pursuing careers in live entertainment.
Gordon is a Dean’s List recipient who currently serves as President of the Spelman College Women in Hip-Hop Collective, fostering connections between students and industry leaders while celebrating the achievements of women in music. This accomplished young woman also had the honor of presenting at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year. Gordon hopes to work in branding and marketing within urban music and live entertainment. She aspires to help influence and shape the narratives of artists, eventually establishing a mentorship program.
“Receiving this scholarship holds profound significance for me, serving as a crucial factor in remaining enrolled at my institution,” says Gordon. “This scholarship, established in memory of one of Live Nation’s first female concert production specialists, embodies the spirit of pioneering women in live entertainment, and being a recipient motivates me to strive for excellence and to serve as a role model for other young women aspiring to make their mark in the industry.”
Michael Brown, a 19-year-old rising sophomore of Audio Production major at Howard University is the recipient of the $10,000 David E. Ballard Scholarship. This scholarship supports youth who have experienced homelessness and/or been part of the foster care system and are pursuing a career in live entertainment.
Brown was selected to perform at his first festival, From the Go Fest, this month. He became even more motivated to pursue his dreams when he received encouraging words from the VP of Roc Nation. Brown hopes to make a living as an audio engineer while honing his craft as a recording and performing musician.
“I’d like to send my overwhelming gratitude to Music Forward for investing in all my dreams and holding them valuable,” says Brown. “When I initially started my college journey, knowing it would be a risk due to my lack of funding, I had no idea how my circumstances would turn out. Not only am I a first-generation college student, but I also come from a low-income household, and I’ve battled with homelessness in the past, so me deciding to bet on myself wasn’t an easy choice.”
Raagavi Venkatesh, a 20-year-old rising senior and Music Industry major at Drexel University, is the recipient of the $10,000 Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship. Live Nation established this scholarship to award students who are passionate about improving the live music experience for fans and artists.
Venkatesh has made a significant community impact through Drexel University’s Flux, a live music organization which provides the student body with a variety of unique musical experiences by organizing and presenting concerts and events in various locations throughout campus, while being completely student-run. Venkatesh has found being part of this impactful organization incredibly rewarding and is proud to be taking on the role of President next year. She hopes to continue her work post-graduation by enhancing the live music experience for both fans and artists through creativity and innovation.
“Receiving the Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship has been an incredibly meaningful moment in my life,” says Venkatesh. “Not only is it the financial support, but it’s also a validation of my passion for service, and my commitment to academic and professional excellence. Knowing that my efforts have been recognized in this way fills me with so much gratitude and inspires me to continue making a difference in my community. This scholarship is such an amazing opportunity, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.
About Music Forward Foundation
Music Forward Foundation is a national nonprofit in the Live Nation family that bridges opportunities for the music community to become more innovative and inclusive by kick-starting music and live entertainment careers for the next generation through workshops, panels, and performances that connect passions to professions. Focusing on young people aged 13-24 from under-represented communities, the organization provides access to an unsurpassed nationwide network of music and live entertainment industry insiders to redefine what is possible for tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.
Over the past 30 years, Music Forward Foundation has successfully realized its mission to transform young lives, inspire careers, and champion a more inclusive music industry. To date, the organization has served over one million young people and provided more than $42 million in scholarships, workforce opportunities, relief funds, and more. Each year, the organization activates its significant network to impact more than 20,000 youth nationwide.
Acclaimed artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Maxwell Frost, Trombone Shorty, and Andrae Alexander are past program participants and grant recipients. While performers such as Kahlid, Sophia Carson, Lauren Diagle, Martina McBride, Carlos Santana, and Julia Michaels have served as Ambassadors for Music Forward. https://musicforwardfoundation.org/