Mass Comm and Bonnaroo forge rockin’ partnership

A new partnership is in the works between the College of Mass Communication and Bonnaroo.

Ashley Capps

Ashley Capps, owner of AC Entertainment, and Rick Farman, co-founder of Superfly Presents, visited campus on April 9 for a question-and-answer with Mass Comm students. Capps and Farman teamed up to create Bonnaroo, an annual music festival in nearby Manchester, in 2002

The Q&A session kicked off the College of Mass Communication’s new partnership with the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, a project that will help students better understand the dynamics of one of the world’s most successful entertainment events. Students from the college will participate in the behind-the-scenes activities at the festival as part of their education. This year’s festival is set for June 12-15.

“Bonnaroo is one of the most successful, ambitious and diverse music festivals in the world,” said Mass Communication Dean Ken Paulson, “and it is also one of the most generous.” Paulson said the partnership also includes a symposium that MTSU will host in the fall of 2014 dubbed “Anatomy of a Music Festival: The Bonnaroo Story and the Future of Festivals.”

Rick Farman

Bonnaroo was acclaimed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock ’n’ roll. The festival is now known not only for its legendary lineups but also for its commitment to green initiatives, philanthropy and the improvement of the community it calls home.

“MTSU and Bonnaroo are neighbors, so it makes sense to work together,” Farman said. “While creating Bonnaroo, we learned lots of lessons we can share with students studying business, communication and the music industry.”

Thank you to MTSU News and Media Relations.