Jay-Z and Roc Nation have conquered music and sports and are heading down a new avenue. The entertainment company has partnered with Brooklyn’s Long Island University to launch the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to the report, the new school will start enrolling students for the fall 2021 semester. Also, 25 percent of the incoming freshman class will receive Roc Nation Hope Scholarships. Most of those students will go on to graduate without any debt.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Aug. 5, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez called the new partnership with LIU “a true investment in our community and young people in Brooklyn, in New York City, and beyond.”
She added, “We’re excited that The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will provide unique insight, knowledge, and experiences for students and introduce the world to the next generation of unmatched talent.”
The school will offer undergraduate degrees in music, music technology, entrepreneurship and production, and sports management. It will start accepting applications this fall for the fall 2021 semester, and Roc Nation Hope Scholarship recipients will be selected from a group of academically competitive, need-based first-time freshmen from New York.
LIU President Dr. Kimberly Cline spoke on the partnership in a statement, saying, “Our proximity in and around New York City’s epicenter of music and sports clearly positions us to offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to success.” She continued, “We look forward to joining with Roc Nation to offer an unprecedented educational resource that opens up the entertainment and sports world to a new and eager generation.”
Along with help from professors, students will have the opportunity to speak with guest artists and lecturers and obtain hands-on experiences through internships.
Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment is not only helping out college students but will also offer resources to high school students and those younger. Starting spring 2021, the school will launch summer residential camps for high schoolers and Saturday programs for students ages 10 to 18 that focus on music and sports management. Those programs will begin in spring 2021, and scholarships will be available for need-based students.
Jay-Z launched Roc Nation in 2008 and has since worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Rihanna, Alicia Keys, DJ Khaled, and more. Roc Nation Sports was started in 2013 and has worked with athletes from various sports. The company most recently partnered with the NFL to co-produce this year’s Emmy-nominated halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
