Platinum Sound Academy gives high school students an inside look at recording, production, royalties and careers in the music industry
NEW YORK CITY – The pressure was on Charles “C.J.” Solomon.
The young guitarist from Arts High School was handed an electric guitar and told to play. C.J. was standing in the control room of Platinum Sound Studios, and the person telling him to play was the studio’s owner, the multi-Grammy Award-winning producer Jerry Wonda.
Wonda has produced Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Michael Jackson, Shakira, The Fugees, Justin Bieber, and many other top artists. Add to the mix that C.J. was surrounded by at least 20 people, all Newark Public Schools high school students, who had crowded into the control room. The pressure was on.
“Are you ready?” said Wonda, his hand on C.J.’s shoulder as he gave a reassuring smile from beneath his signature wide-brimmed hat.
Backing tracks began to play, and C.J. was in the spotlight, or the hot seat. On his first couple of takes, he was a little hesitant.
“Your mind is thinking too much. Do it again,” Wonda directed. C.J. played more melodically on the next take but kept repeating the same phrase.
“Give me something else,” Wonda said. C.J. did. He let his fingers take a longer walk around the guitar’s fretboard, nailed the take, and got a round of applause from his peers.
The recording session was a part of the Platinum Sound Academy, one of the many summer programs Newark Public Schools has made available to district students. This summer, students from district high schools participated in the five-day academy, which offered an immersive introduction to the creative and business sides of the music industry.
“Newark has given the world some of its most influential musicians, and programs like the Platinum Sound Academy ensure that the next generation has the knowledge, confidence and professional connections to continue that legacy,” said Superintendent León. “By placing our students alongside accomplished industry leaders such as Jerry Wonda, we are allowing them to develop their talents now while discovering the many careers available throughout the music business.”
“The Board of Education is proud to support experiences that take learning beyond the classroom and introduce students to professionals working at the highest levels of their fields,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Our students are not only learning how music is created; they are gaining valuable insight into the business, technology and teamwork behind a successful career in the industry.”
Through the Platinum Sound Academy, Wonda and other industry professionals introduced students to recording, production, music licensing, publishing, music distribution, royalties and the many careers that exist beyond the performance stage.
The experience included a tour of Sony Music Entertainment’s headquarters and a virtual conversation with Grammy-winning artist and producer Wyclef Jean. Students also met with Jamie Dominguez of The Mechanical Licensing Collective, who explained how royalties are collected and how musicians, songwriters, and other rights holders earn income when music is streamed or downloaded.
At the end of the five days, students were issued certificates for completing the program and given a copy of “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald S. Passman, which many consider the definitive book on the industry.
During his visit to Platinum Studios, Superintendent León spoke to the students and acknowledged the great talent that has come from the City of Newark, which was home to Sarah Vaughn, Connie Francis, Whitney Houston, Melba Moore, Frankie Negron, Kat DeLuna, and Wayne Shorter, among others.
“We have great talent coming out of the City of Newark all of the time. This program accelerates it,” said Superintendent León. “The reason why we’re doing this is we believe in you. We’re also saying, ‘Hurry up. You don’t have to wait. You can demonstrate that great talent right now.’”