ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, today announced the launch of a new paid internship program for students enrolled in historically Black colleges and universities.
Students from Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Bennett College will be the first interns in the program which will run through July and August. Interns will work remotely, alongside ASCAP professionals in their field of interest, to gain real-world experience in the music industry. ASCAP plans to continue and expand the initiative moving forward, offering paid internships to HBCU students each summer.
Elizabeth Matthews, chief executive officer at ASCAP, stated that “this program is a natural extension of ASCAP’s ongoing work to create and evolve a culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects and serves the incredible diversity of our ASCAP membership. By creating a new pipeline for college students to gain music industry work experience, we hope to provide meaningful mentorships and opportunities to new generations of Black leaders who will influence the future of the music business.”