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JMA Founder and CEO Jeff McClusky Coming to WIU Oct. 8

September 13, 2018

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MACOMB, IL -- Jeff McClusky & Associates (JMA) of Chicago has been a leading comprehensive entertainment promotion and artist exposure company for more than 35 years.

On Monday, Oct. 8, JMA founder and CEO, Jeff McClusky, will visit Macomb to speak to students at 7 p.m. in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall at Western Illinois University. The event is open free to the public.

JMA's diverse client base includes major and independent record labels, publishing companies, Internet music companies, artist management firms and film companies. They provide radio/streaming promotion, artist development and management services to artists from all genres, such as U2, Arcade Fire, Lorde, Cage the Elephant, Ed Sheeran, Cardi B and Chance the Rapper.

"At 35, JMA's life cycle has coincided with the collapse of the music industry and its subsequent resurrection as a Wild West free-for-all. The key to success has necessarily been reinvention and as someone who had a hand in shaping Lady Gaga, McClusky knows a thing or seven about that," according to Newcity Music's "Music 45: Who Keeps Chicago In Tune 2017."

WIU School of Music Assistant Professor Courtney Blankenship said she is excited for McClusky's visit.

"Hosting a professional of Mr. McClusky's caliber and putting him in front of our students and classes is a source of great enthusiasm for all of us at Western," she said. "His knowledge of the music industry intersects with multiple disciplines, and he genuinely wants to meet our students and learn about our programs here."

One of JMA's crown jewels is its "WeLaunch" internship program. They strive to serve as a bridge between extremely talented young people and lifelong careers in entertainment. Every three months, they accept a new set of interns and offer them hands-on work experience, focused mentorship and major networking opportunities with high-level executives throughout the industry. After graduating from the "WeLaunch" program, JMA makes a special effort to help their alumni land ideal jobs that line up with their professional and creative passions. 

Alumni of the "WeLaunch" program have continued onto other organizations within the music industry including Compass Records, co-sign, Live Nation, Maverick, Monterey International, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Victory Records, Warner Music Group and The Windish Agency. 

The event is sponsored by WIU's Small Business Development Center and the Music Business Association.

For more information, contact Blankenship CC-Blankenship@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing