Data Science and Department of Music Launch Industry-First Collaboration

The Department of Music, in partnership with the Data Science program, recently launched an innovative, first-of-its-kind music industry concentration.

This unique concentration is the only one of its kind nationally, and it incorporates music into the field of data science to create a multidisciplinary curriculum that allows students to explore both their artistry and technical literacy.

Jake Hertzog, assistant professor of guitar and jazz area coordinator, wanted Department of Music students to have the opportunity to explore the business side of the music industry. He also saw the need to open creative programs up to non-performers.

“This new concentration broadens the scope of music education,” Hertzog said. “It allows students interested in music to be industry leaders, growing alongside an increasingly technical field and supporting our mission of fostering 21st century leaders in the musical world.”

Students of this program will graduate with a B.S. in Data Science with a concentration in Music Industry Data Analytics (MIDA). While all Data Science students take the same core courses, each student is also asked to officially declare a concentration, like MIDA, which then functions like a built-in minor.

Several students have already shown interest in the MIDAS concentration, including Breck Husong, a sophomore data science student from Cave Springs, Arkansas.

“The MIDA concentration is actually what drew me to the Data Science Program,” Husong said. “As a lifelong musician who never had plans on making a career out of performance, the arrival of the MIDA concentration was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoy programming, so the chance of being able to still program while being connected to the music industry was very appealing to me.”

Karl Schubert, associate director of the Data Science Program, was the one to take MIDA from concept to reality and said the vision for the concentration is perfectly suited for students with interests similar to Husong’s.

“We are excited about the world of opportunities that this collaboration will bring,” Schubert said. “It is the goal of our program to prepare students for all types of careers, including those within the high-tech field of music.”

Additionally, the 21-credit hour MIDA concentration allows students to take a variety of courses related to music production, as well as introductory business and data-mining courses that help students to succeed in the modern job market.

The Data Science Program offers a B.S. in Data Science with a multitude of concentrations through the combined efforts of the U of A’s College of Engineering, the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Instructors from across campus likewise collaborate to share their individual expertise through the programs many course offerings.

To learn more about the Data Science program, visit datascience.uark.edu.