Cherie Hu, the founder of music tech research and education platform Water & Music, is set to join Syracuse University in the fall of 2024 to teach emerging music business models and technologies.
As a prominent figure in the music industry, known for her insights into trends and technology, Hu will become a full-time professor of practice at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, according to a recent press release.
Specifically, she will contribute her expertise to the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries, which focuses on preparing students for successful careers in the music business.
The program was established in 2006 through funding from former CEO/Chairman of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Martin Bandier, who is a Syracuse University alumnus.
It combines the study of music business, media, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The program also offers hands-on, industry-facing experiences to equip students for successful careers in the music industry.
The Bandier Program moved to SU’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in April 2017.
Currently serving as an adjunct instructor at Newhouse, Hu imparts knowledge on social media and data for the music business. Beyond academia, she will continue to actively contribute to Water & Music in a strategic capacity.
The platform, under Hu’s guidance, provides data-driven research, online courses, and events addressing music tech innovation for a global community of industry professionals.
Hu said her involvement will help Water & Music continue to deliver “exceptional value to our global membership and shape the wider conversation on music-tech innovation.”
Commenting on her new venture with Syracuse, Hu said she sees it as an opportunity to integrate cutting-edge music-industry research with the academic environment at Newhouse.
“I look forward to bringing real-world insights and innovative practices on music and tech into the Newhouse classroom, crafting dynamic and enriching learning experiences for the next generation of industry leaders.”
Cherie Hu, Water & Music
“I look forward to bringing real-world insights and innovative practices on music and tech into the Newhouse classroom, crafting dynamic and enriching learning experiences for the next generation of industry leaders,” Hu added.
Hu’s extensive background includes coverage of the music tech landscape for outlets such as Billboard, Forbes, Pitchfork, and NPR Music. In 2017, she received the Reeperbahn Festival’s Award for International Music Business Journalist of the Year. Hu has also provided commentary for MBW, CNBC, Bloomberg, and WIRED, and has been a speaker at major conferences worldwide.
She also lectured at institutions including Harvard University, New York University, and Berklee College of Music, and spoken as a panelist or keynoter at SXSW, MUTEK, and more than 30 other conferences globally.
“Cherie Hu is in an elite echelon of analysts creating the absolute best work and thinking about the future of the music industry.”
Bill Werde, Syracuse University’s Bandier Program
Bill Werde, who was named director of the Bandier Program in 2017, said, “Cherie Hu is in an elite echelon of analysts creating the absolute best work and thinking about the future of the music industry.
“I’ve respected and learned from her work for years, and am thrilled to welcome her to the Bandier, Newhouse and Syracuse family, to continue her industry-leading work, and to teach our students about what’s next in music industry business models, marketing and platforms.”
Music Business Worldwide