Americans have grown accustomed to television series talent shows, such as “American Idol” and “Making the Band.” These programs provide immense national exposure for aspiring singers and musicians seeking stardom.

On a more modest scale, the music business program at the Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is pulling the elements of talent search, music CD recording, and artist management and promotion together into a coordinated effort that should offer practical experience to its music business majors and provide exposure to talented student musicians.   

Tonight, Thursday, 2 April, 20 musical acts, including soloists and bands, will compete at a talent search event at the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based historically Black campus for the opportunity to be among the featured artists on a CD to be produced and released by Sound University Music Group. SUMG is a WSSU student-run record label. Anthony Artimisi, coordinator of the WSSU music business program, said the competition and the planned CD, are being managed by students majoring in the school’s two music business concentrations.

          Students are credited with “organizing a musically diverse program that will be sure to entertain, inspire and invigorate the musical culture at WSSU,” Artimisi noted.

“The competitors are top-notch, and it will be exciting to see who will make the cut to be a featured artist on the very first SUMG album,” he added.