Jay-Z’s Roc Nation entertainment company is partnering with Brooklyn’s Long Island University to launch a new academic program that will groom the next generation of leaders in the entertainment industry.
Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment, will begin enrolling students for the fall 2021 semester, where 25% of the incoming freshmen will receive Roc Nation Hope Scholarships, and graduate debt free with starting salaries up to $50,000.
The new academic program will offer undergraduate degrees in music, music technology, entrepreneurship and production, and sports management. The school will begin accepting applications this fall for the fall 2021 semester and Roc Nation Hope Scholarship recipients will be selected from a group of academically competitive, need-based first-time freshmen from New York.
According to news sources Roc Nation Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Desiree Perez stated; “The new partnership with LIU is a true investment in our community and young people in New York City.”
Jay-Z, a 22-time Grammy winner and entertainment mogul, was born and raised in Brooklyn. He launched Roc Nation in 2008 and the company has worked with some of the top musicians in Hip-Hop, including Rihanna, Alicia Keys, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert and more. The company also partnered with the NFL and co-produced this year’s Emmy-nominated halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
LIU President Dr. Kimberly Cline stated “Our proximity in and around New York City’s epicenter of music and sports clearly positions us to offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to success,” She continued. “We look forward to joining with Roc Nation to offer an unprecedented educational resource that opens up the entertainment and sports world to a new and eager generation.”
In addition to learning from professors, students will also engage with guest artists and lecturers and will gain hands-on experience through internships.
The school will also offer resources to high school students and those younger: Starting in spring 2021, the school will launch summer residential camps for high schoolers and Saturday programs for students ages 10-18 that focus on music and sports management. Those programs will begin in spring 2021 and scholarships will be available for need-based students.