Martin Bandier, the legendary music publishing executive, has made a substantial gift to establish a scholarship program at Syracuse University, his alma mater.
The scholarship will provide financial support for students from under-represented populations who are enrolled in the Bandier Program in Recording and Entertainment Industries, which is in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. The Bandier Program combines the study of the business of music, media, marketing and entrepreneurship with hands-on experiences that prepare students for successful careers in the music industry.
According to the announcement, the “Martin Bandier Scholarship” will make it possible for diverse students with financial need to pursue careers in music business through a Newhouse education. The half-tuition scholarship is for a student’s all four years in school.
“Martin Bandier’s generosity will ensure students have access to the preeminent music industry program in the nation,” Newhouse dean Mark J. Lodato said in a statement. “His commitment to removing barriers to higher education is exactly what we need in this challenging time.”
The program will support five scholars over the first five years. Moreover, Bandier has established an endowed fund that will support the Bandier Scholarship program in perpetuity. The Bandier Scholarship will be among the largest single scholarship grant offered by Syracuse University, according to the announcement.
“The Bandier Program, [founded by Bandier in 2006], has long been committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment,” Bandier Program director Bill Werde said in a statement. “This generous gift will be an enormous boost to our recruiting and retention efforts and will continue to ensure that the absolute best and brightest minds have an opportunity to study in the program and ultimately enter the music business.”
Bandier, who now heads up his own Bandier Ventures, was previously CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing; and before that he ran EMI Music Publishing, and co-founded SBK.
