A group of music industry studies students from University of the Pacific sat among the world’s biggest stars and connected with some of the best in the music industry during a week-long trip to Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards.

Nine seniors participated in the trip through the Keith Hatschek Breakthrough Internship Fund as part of their music industry career development class. 

The group had a packed schedule—touring recording studios, networking with professionals and immersing themselves in the music industry. Three students were also selected through a lottery to attend the Grammy ceremony.

“People say I'm crazy for bringing students down to LA during the biggest week in music because everyone's busy,” said Associate Professor Benom Plumb, program director for music industry studies and music management. “I always answer—That's the reason I'm bringing students, so they can see what it's like to be immersed in one of the biggest music industry hubs in the world during the biggest week of music.

“They can really get a taste of everything from the LA traffic to all the events leading up to the Grammy Awards. It gives them a really concentrated experience of what it's like to be in the midst of all these professionals and events,” Plumb said.

Students toured Bellwether Music Venue and Warner Music Group and met with Pacific Regent Scott Liggett ’71, who gave them a tour of the world-famous Griffith Observatory where they watched a planetarium show featuring music he composed. They also visited Concord Music and attended a keynote by the president of the National Music Publishers Association.

“As a Pacific student, it really makes the program to have hands-on experience out in the field as opposed to learning things through lecture,” said Nathan Baker ’26. “Getting to see that stuff really puts into perspective what you want to do and what you’re working towards.”

The week also highlighted the success of Pacific alumni working at the highest levels of the industry.

Conservatory alumnus Nick Phillips ’87, a founding member of Pacific's Music Industry Advisory Board, was a participant on a Grammy-winning project. Phillips conceived and produced “Miles '55: The Prestige Recordings,” which won the Grammy for Best Album Notes.

“With this Miles Davis 55 project winning a Grammy, it's cool to still be working on projects that are getting Grammy recognition from the Recording Academy,” Phillips said. “It feels pretty good. There have been five of them that I've worked on over the years that have won a Grammy and another dozen that have been nominated.”

Students worked the official Grammy after party handling VIP check in. They also visited the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, where Plumb donated a historical item: the program and dinner menu from the very first Grammy Awards held May 4, 1959, in Beverly Hills.

“I am the great-nephew of acclaimed musician and Grammy-nominated record producer, Neely Plumb, who had carefully preserved the historical program in his archives for 60 years,” Plumb said. “In 2018, the Plumb family made me the new caretaker of Neely Plumb’s archives to complete my biography book about Neely Plumb’s life and legacy titled, ‘Georgia Rambler - The Life and Music of Neely Plumb.’ The program will go on display in the Grammy Museum in the coming months.” 

Learn more about music industries studies at Pacific.