Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Long Island University Brooklyn — In honor of New York City’s Music Month this June, Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment hosted a Fireside Chat featuring two prominent figures in the entertainment industry: Grammy Award-winning audio engineer, producer, and Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program at the Roc Nation School, Young Guru and Roc Nation A&R Manager and adjunct professor at the Roc Nation School, Anthony Cruz, whose genre-spanning credits include Meek Mill, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Ricky Martin, Ne-Yo, Jessie J, and J. Cole.
The New York City Mayor’s Office established New York City Music Month (NYMM) in 2017 to honor and amplify NYC’s music ecosystem. Launched by the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME), “…to champion the city’s music industry, a vital part of New York’s economy, culture and identity.” New York City has historically carried the torch as the hub of global music, and the initiative of MOME centers on this central idea. The month of June ushers in the Summer, bringing with it an influx of concerts, shows, and more; the efforts of NYMM bridge the gaps between live performances and broaden the scope of the industry, highlighting other avenues of the music industry that aren’t as forward-facing as the music artist. New York City Music Month offers conferences, workshops, concerts, and talks for free as a means of equal accessibility; to support NYC’s creative economy and to foster community, discovery for resources, and growth for the music arts world. The free Fireside Chat, facilitated by Clint Harris, brought together students from across disciplines to hear directly from industry insiders about navigating careers in music, media, sports, and entertainment.
The Roc Nation School at LIU Brooklyn is in Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter’s hometown of Brooklyn on the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University. The Roc Nation School at LIU aims to be held in such regard as Berkley School of Music, and in its efforts to establish itself, the school has quickly become a hub for students interested in the intersection of culture, business, and innovation. Events like this reinforce its mission to empower the next generation of artists, executives, and entrepreneurs with not just education, but access. In August 2020, Roc Nation and LIU announced plans to establish the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment with the inaugural class enrolling in the Fall 2021 semester. The School formally graduated its first full class in the Spring of 2025.
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment offers 5 undergraduate degrees and one
graduate degree that prepare students for a wide range of careers in performance, entrepreneurship,
music technology, sports management and marketing.
Undergraduate programs offered include:
● Applied Music
● Vocal Performance
● Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production
● Sports Communication & Marketing
● Sports Management
Graduate programs offered include:
● Sports Management (MS)
At the School, students engage with university professors, learn from visiting industry leaders, and
participate in immersive internships, ensuring they graduate with both hands-on experience and a
network of professional contacts.
The Fireside chat was held at Roc Nation LIU Brooklyn’s downtown campus, the Fireside Chat served as both a learning opportunity and an inspiration session for students enrolled in Roc Nation’s School of Music, Sports & Entertainment. The conversation ranged from personal career journeys to practical advice on breaking into a competitive field.
Young Guru, widely known for his work with JAY-Z and his influence on the sound of 21st-century hip hop, which is no easy feat, stressed the importance of preparation, adaptability, and continuous learning. He also emphasized the value of building trust through work ethic, seizing the opportunities within his network, understanding both the creative and technical sides of the business, noting that success often lies in the intersection of the two. Young Guru spoke on what he concluded to be “field training” through DJing sets for artists such as Nonchalant, which led him to an opportunity to tour with The Fugees in 1996. The tour allowed him to fund his career to train as an engineer, opting to chase his passion in music instead of a scholarship in basketball. Young Guru encourages students to “Learn how to study and learn how to present.” He stresses the importance of understanding when to set the boundaries between approaching his craft with a technical focus and offering a cohesive body of work to the listener, “You’ve got to know when to turn it off because the audience doesn’t have that skill and they don’t care that you made this piece on ProTools, Tape, SL Board. They’re just listening to the song.” He stresses the importance of not being a “Yes man,” and to “trust your level of expertise.”
Anthony Cruz offered a strategic, behind-the-scenes look at the artist development process, highlighting the role of A&R in shaping careers. He discussed how his faith in God kept him grounded as he navigated spaces with established industry professionals without compromising his authenticity, “I look at everything like, ‘stay humble’ and stay ready’ because at any given time, you can be called on to do particular things at the highest degree…all the fundamentals that come with good character and being looked at as a trustworthy persons. All this is important, ” Cruz emphasizes. He encouraged students to build strong networks and understand the full business scope behind the scenes, treating it as a sacred space where an engineer is trusted to protect and honor the spaces they work in and the artists they work with.
The Fireside Chat also addressed the realities of entering an industry often glamorized in the media. Both Guru and Cruz were candid about the challenges they faced and the persistence it took to move forward. For many students in attendance—some of whom are first-generation college students or working artists themselves—the honesty was refreshing. The discussion created space for meaningful dialogue, with students asking pointed questions about internships, breaking into production, and staying inspired amidst industry pressure.
This event marked a significant moment during NYC Music Month, the city’s official celebration of its diverse and thriving music community. By bringing in leaders who have shaped culture and industry practice, LIU Brooklyn continues to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience.
As the chat concluded, students remained in the space long after the final question, eager to connect and continue conversations sparked by the dialogue. In a city where music is both legacy and lifeblood, the message was clear: the future of the industry is being built right here in NYC at LIU Brooklyn —and it’s in capable hands.
