Introduction to the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship
The Universal Music Group and the Herb Alpert School of Music from UCLA have announced the creation of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship. This scholarship is named after the famous founder of Motown, Berry Gordy, and is the youngest namesake at the school. The scholarship comes over a year after Gordy helped establish the Berry Gordy Music Industry Center with a $5 million donation.
Purpose of the Scholarship
The new scholarship is designed to help students in the music industry program pay for educational costs such as tuition fees and housing. One student is selected every year, and recipients can receive the scholarship based on financial need in successive years. The scholarship aims to support students who demonstrate exceptional promise and financial need, as chosen by the director of the Gordy Center.
Honoring Berry Gordy’s Legacy
"Berry Gordy’s name has been synonymous with the art and transformative power of music for over 65 years," said Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG. "With this scholarship, we honor his enduring legacy by investing in a new generation of young people who are carrying on this spirit – creators and changemakers who will have the opportunity to bring innovation and entrepreneurial genius to the world." The scholarship reflects the music industry’s commitment to increasing access to education and vocational training.
Partnership and Impact
The partnership between the Universal Music Group and the Herb Alpert School of Music reflects their conviction that increasing access to education and vocational training is a powerful instrument for changing the music industry. According to Robert Fink, the dean of the Herb Alpert School of Music and director of the Gordy Center, "This foundation ensures that the next generation of music managers, artists, and entrepreneurs is not only inspired by Berry Gordy’s legacy of innovation but is also equipped to build on it."
Berry Gordy’s Statement
Berry Gordy expressed his excitement about the program, stating, "I am thrilled that my friends Sir Lucian Grainge and Universal Music Group have undertaken to support this program with their foundation, which will help open doors for many other students and continue to pave the way for music to be a force for good and change." The center offers UCLA students important opportunities to prepare for careers in the music industry, ensuring that future generations of young talents will continue to innovate, inspire, and bring together culture and communities.
