Tess Taylor has been a music industry professional since 1987 and a full-time seminar leader since 1997. She has taught classes on personal and professional fulfillment for clients and at institutions worldwide including Harvard Business School, UCLA Extension, Academy of Contemporary Music, Citrus College, Berklee College of Music, Cal Poly Pomona, Learning Annex, Los Angeles Recording Academy, New York University, Musicians Institute, Rhythmic Music Conservatory, University of Mass., University of Southern California, Los Angeles City College and University of San Francisco.

Tess’s clients have included MySpace.com, Inside Sessions (a JV between Universal Music Group and Penguin Putnam), The Walt Disney Company, BMG Entertainment and Concord Records and others.

She founded the Los Angeles Music Network and the National Association of Record Industry Professionals, promoting ethics, education and career advancement. As president, Tess has produced or keynoted leading industry conferences covering every facet of the music business. Her analyses have been published internationally.

Tess has appeared as a guest on TV and radio shows including NPR’s Hollywood Wrap, Fox News, NBC, Pacifica Radio’s For The Record, Leo Laporte’s Tech Talk, and German TV’s Tagesthemen Grammy coverage. She has been featured in Billboard, Radio & Records, The Hollywood Reporter and Hollywood Today.

What they say
about
Tess Taylor:

“Tess was very attached to every single person in the audience. She made it totally vulnerable, she put everything out there. I agree with her about taking risks and not being afraid…I like her a lot.”
-- Kori Lynn, Student, Los Angeles College

“Her lectures are different from everybody else’s because she doesn’t focus on only music but also on life. Example: Kill your television!”
-- Akiko Moritake, Student, MEIEA Conference Attendee

“Tess is real about the music industry. It’s hard and she tells it like it is.”
-- Will Hooks, Student, MEIEA Conference Attendee

“I wanted to thank you for informing me about the Film and TV Music Conference. I made really good contacts, and now I’m starting to work with the publishers and music supervisors I met there.”
-- Brice Davis, Paris, France

“Nobody ever talks about negotiating. Tess does.”
--Amy Lewis, Student, Cal State Fullerton

“After Tess’s lecture, all I heard from my students was how excited they were…they all DID something, changed something about their lives. One increased his music production correspondence; others got together to take action steps. All because of the motivation and tips from Tess. Best of all? She’s not complicated. I don’t care if you’re in the music industry, or a hog farmer, 17 or 77, a billionaire or a starving college student. If you follow Tess’s teaching, you’re going to get a job.”
--Justin Winokur, Instructor, Cogswell Polytechnical College

“Tess showed me the importance of being focused, persistent, motivated and doing what you love instead of wandering around aimlessly in life.”
-- Ivette Jimenez, Student, Cal Poly Pomona

“I actually paid attention, I liked her lecture, it was really informative. I agree with Tess’s list of tips: Stop watching TV, be proactive.”
-- Ellie Brennan, Student, MEIEA Conference Attendee

“Tess Taylor is a power-house. Not only have I hired her repeatedly to speak to my graduating classes on how to get a job in the industry, I’m also one of her students! I took her UCLA Extension course ‘Advancing Your Career in the Record Industry.’”
-- Dr. Michael Millar, Adjunct Faculty, Music Industry Studies, Cal Poly – Pomona, CA

“Tess Taylor is an invigorating lecturer who conveys her passion and knowledge of the record industry to students. She has lectured to my mass media and society class three times, and the students have always enjoyed her presentation. They benefit from her insights and practical tips about how to break into the business. She really impresses my students.”
-- Jeffrey Brody, Professor of Communications
California State University, Fullerton

“I was impressed and floored at Tess’s raw analysis of student resumes. In addition to being an immensely achieved individual, she showed students that she is not afraid to be brutally honest, which is a quality we rarely get to see.”
-- Meredith Moll, Student & MEISA Member, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Graduates of Tess Taylor Music University have gotten internships, assistant, and entry-level positions with …

Grammy-nominated artists
Conference Producers
Digital Distributors
Indie Record Labels Companies
Music Law Firms
Major Record Labels
Personal Artist Managers
Music Production Companies
Concert Promoters Publicists
Talent Agencies
Top Trade Magazines
Venues

… in departments ranging from A&R to artist development, marketing, new media, digital initiatives, business & legal affairs, copyright, sales, marketing, distribution, sponsorship, production and so much more.

Hundreds have been hired and thousands more inspired at Tess Taylor Music Business University. Recent hires include:

Josh Frankfort, Gabe Gordon, Kathy Lee and Collin Burke - The William Morris Agency. Bryan Honan - Atlantic Records. Stefanie Terrazas - Nederlander Concerts. Michael Ribas and Tanya Catelli -Shout! Entertainment. Stephen Nortin and Deborah Rosner - Concord Records. Kelly Easter - House of Blues. Kevin Sauter and Pedro Rovetto - Killingsworth Recording Co. Scott Cohen and Toby Switek - Bandmerch. Jonathan Pernick - RealNetworks. Jonathan Miller - BMG / Arista. Antone DeSantis - Universal Music Enterprises. Travis Storch - Live365.

…and many more!

“I continue to be impressed by the work that Tess Taylor does. NARIP has become THE class networking and educational organization in the record business.”
--Jim Urie, President,
Universal Music & Video Distribution

“I will immediately flunk any student of mine who dares to miss a lecture as important as Tess Taylor’s.”
-- Markus Burger, Asst. Prof. of Music, Fullerton College; Adjunct Faculty Los Angeles Valley College, CA

“Hugely valuable.”
-- Dr. Jonathan Little, Principal, Academy of Contemporary Music, London (Guildford)

“Thank you so much, this is going to help me a bunch!”
-- Josh Estrada, Student, UC Denver

“Seeing her confidence… ‘fire your flaky friends’…I would definitely attend another Tess Taylor lecture. She hooked it up for me at a major music conference!”
-- Alex Hartleben, Student, MEIEA Conference Attendee

“Thank you for speaking to our class. You have no idea how much information you brought into our classroom in such a short time. My class-mates and instructor were blown away with all of the material.”
-- Greg Brown, Student, Citrus College

“Using the skills from your class, I secured an internship this summer. The cover letter and resume writing skills you taught were crucial to getting through doors.”
-- Marcus Lindy Sortijas, Student, University of Redlands

“Thank you for speaking to our members – everyone benefited greatly from the knowledge shared. You added a special element to their experiences in this seminar. It was a privilege to attend your lecture.”
-- Omar Meza, President, Entertainment Industry Students Association, University of Southern California