Michael Knox in the studio
It was standing room only on Nov. 11 when Recording Industry alumnus (’01) and mega music producer Michael Knox returned to Mass Comm to speak to students about the music industry.
A Q&A session, led by Recording Industry Assistant Professor Jeffrey Izzo, covered a range of topics, from Knox’s experience in the music business to working with hit-makers like Trace Adkins, Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean.
Knox told students his first job was as a song plugger making $40,000 a year. His talent for melding hit songs with wildly successful talents like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and George Strait ultimately steered his career path toward producing.
He discovered country music sensation Jason Aldean in 2004 and produced the artist’s self -titled album on Broken Bow Records. The producer/performer team turned out multiple No. 1 hits and in 2011 won the Country Music Association’s Album of the Year award for “My Kinda Party.”
Knox eventually formed his own production management company, Music Knox. He also serves as senior creative director for Peer Music Group, a top independent publishing company.
“I’m always looking for something new and fresh in beginning artists,” Knox said. “I find most musicians at live shows.”
Knox also told students that if it weren’t for independent record labels, country music would be in trouble.
“Independents are what the industry needs because of the lack of major record labels available,” he said.
For more about Michael Knox, please click here.
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