The Sunnyvale Sun

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School for would-be music moguls

By SAMANTHA ROBERTSON

Ask C. Michael Brae's "Independent Record Label Operations" students at Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale to describe their class, and they'll say it's not a class; it's a business.

Under the direction of Brae, CEO of Hitman Records based in San Francisco, each student has a position in the "company" just as he or she would in a normal business environment. Just halfway through their summer session, the 12 classmates/business associates comprising the class/business have created an independent music label called The Bay ENT.

"I've learned the record label business, how to register for a record label, how to set up bank accounts for the company, how to sign an artist," said Josh Morello, a second-year audio engineering student at Cogswell who's in charge of the legal and contracts aspect of The Bay ENT.

Morello, a full-time construction worker, said the class has more than prepared him to start his own record label, which he plans to do after the class ends.

For Brae, the class is a networking opportunity for him to set up subsidiaries for Hitman Records and establish contacts for his new, forthcoming music platform, the Mp4.

"It really is a win-win situation for everyone," he said.

Class members have been working tirelessly for the past few weeks to promote The Bay ENT's debut compilation CD, "The Bay ENT: Vol. 1." The CD features music from various Bay Area hip-hop, rock and reggae artists, as well as Fusion Fest 2006, the launch party for the record label. The launch took place earlier this month in the Cogswell parking lot.

Clay McChesney, in charge of promotions for The Bay ENT and a Wild 94.9 employee, said he's been calling radio and television stations to promote the event and the debut CD.

According to Will McCarty, a third-year audio engineering student, Brae's class provides a good balance of instruction and hands-on experience.

"He lectures a little bit every class, and for the rest of the time, we call up radio stations, get addresses for contacts, and do everything else we need to do for the business," he said.

For more information on The Bay ENT, visit www.myspace.com/ thebayENT. For more information on Cogswell Polytechnical College, visit www.cogswell.edu.