Press

Highlights

The Washington Post interviewed Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) managing director Morgan Milardo about industry-wide concerns about safety at music festivals following the cancellation of Music Midtown.

"For the students, it's all the work and experience... that they've gotten to work with these festivals, to understand the contractual relationship of them and making sure the logistics are done and the artist gets from point A to point B."—"How Berklee College of Music Prepares Budding Artists for Major Music Festivals," Grammy.com

"(Jeff) Dorenfeld is founder of the Berklee Popular Music Institute and has been going to all kinds of music festivals since the psychedelic '60s... He still goes to a lot of music festivals these days—at least six this summer and early fall, including Governors Ball, Essence, Country LakeShake, Lollapalooza, Music Midtown, and Osheaga—with Berklee musicians and his artist management students. They're learning the rigors of touring with Berklee bands on something like a festival 'boot camp.'"—"From Woodstock to Boston Calling: How Music Festivals Evolved since the Psychedelic '60s," WBUR

“While agencies, management companies, promoters, and record labels to some degree all deal with artist development, [the Berklee Popular Music Institute] is yet another institution working to introduce emerging artists to the biggest stages and audiences in the music industry.”—Pollstar

“Seeing BPMI students working at the premier festivals in the country is the most rewarding experience I’ve had in my 20-plus years at Berklee. Students working through the A&R process, advancing show demands, and preparing BPMI artists for the festival stage is an experiential education that sets Berklee apart from other colleges. As Gerry Barad, COO of Live Nation Global Touring states, 'We’ll see some great employees and future artists out of BPMI.'”—Jeff Dorenfeld

2022 Press

  • The podcast Bands on the Radar interviewed Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) artist and current student Matilda Marigolds about her performance at the Bourbon & Beyond festival and her artistic goals following her festival appearance.
  • LuckBox Magazine and WWKI-FM (Kokomo, IN) interviewed Matilda Marigolds following her set at Bourbon & Beyond.
  • The WNWN-FM (Kalamazoo, MI) podcast 2 Scoops interviewed CHARLEY after she performed at Faster Horses in the summer and discussed her appearance ahead of Sound on Sound.
  • Music, Why Not interviewed Berklee Popular Music artist CHARLEY following her performance at the Sound on Sound music festival.
  • Connecticut Public Radio interviewed Berklee Popular Music (BPMI) artist CHARLEY about her performance at Sound on Sound. WhatsUpNewp (Newport, RI) included CHARLEY in a round-up of notable acts at the festival. 
  • The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) mentioned BPMI artist Matilda Marigolds in its coverage of the Bourbon & Beyond music festival, including a photo gallery. 
  • The Newton Patch (Newton, MA) interviewed Berklee students Jason Garb and Jonah Cuddy ahead of their performance with BPMI artist Matilda Marigolds at Bourbon & Beyond.
  • Breaking & Entering interviewed Aiida after she finished her set at Lollapalooza. 
  • The Kevin Powell Podcast interviewed Among the Stars following their appearance at Inkcarceration. 
  • The Weekly Citizen (Chicago, IL) interviewed Brandon Harris ahead of his performance at Osheaga.
  • The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT) interviewed Charley about her upcoming appearance at Sound on Sound and her involvement in the BPMI. 
  • WXLV-FM (Cadillac, MI; see attached MP3 file) interviewed Charley ahead of her performance at Faster Horses.
  • The Mix New Music Club podcast sat down with Aiida following her set at Lollapalooza.
  • GoPride Chicago interviewed Aiida about performing at Lollapalooza.
  • Chicago Music Guide reviewed Aiida’s Lollapalooza performance, mentioning her involvement in the BPMI. 
  • The wire service NTB (Norway) published a news item about Aiida ahead of her set at Lollapalooza; the story was picked up by Norwegian outlets TF Folkenbladet and Dagsavisen/Rogalands Avis (PDF attached).
  • CTV (Canada) mentioned Brandon Harris’ set in a feature story about Osheaga, including b-roll from his performance. 
  • CKUT 90.3 FM (Canada)’s program “Morning Detour” interviewed Brandon Harris ahead of his Osheaga set, where they discussed his new single and how Berklee helped him prepare for the festival. 
  • Prince George’s County TV (Largo, MD) interviewed pianist Julian Wilson ahead of his performance with Brandon Harris’ band at Osheaga (begins at 12:24 mark).
  • The Middletown Press (Middlesex County, CT) and the CT Post (Bridgeport, CT) interviewed Charley about her appearance at Sound on Sound and her involvement in the BPMI. 
  • The Douglas County Sentinel (Douglasville, GA, PDF attached) ran a front-page feature on Tyler Christian’s upcoming set at Lollapalooza, where they will sing backup vocals for Aiida.  
  • The Arlington Patch and Your Arlington (Arlington, MA) interviewed Julian Carpenter about drumming for Aiida at Lollapalooza.
  • The Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler, TX) interviewed Tanner Lively, drummer for Among the Stars, ahead of the band’s set at Inkcarceration. 
  • Today’s Boondoggle interviewed Among the Stars about performing at Inkcarceration. 
  • The Adventures of Pipeman (W4CY Radio, K4HD Radio, and iHeartRadio) interviewed Among the Stars ahead of their set at Inkcarceration. 
  • WIN 98.5 FM Radio (Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI) spoke to CHARLEY following her set at Faster Horses.
  • The Prince George’s Post (Upper Marlboro, MD) re-posted a news release about the BPMI, highlighting how Ft. Washington, MD native Julian Wilson will be performing at Osheaga as part of the course.