Dave Kusek

{{Short description|Businessperson}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Dave Kusek | honorific_suffix = | image = | alt = dave kusek | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date =  | birth_place = Southington, CT | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = [[University of Connecticut]] | occupation = Business executive, entrepreneur, music educator, author, software developer, online music business courses | years_active = 1975-present | era = | employer = | organization = [[New Artist Model]] | known_for = Founding [[Passport Designs]], [[MIDI]] software development, founding [[Berklee College of Music#Berklee Online|Berkleemusic.com]] | notable_works = | style = | title = | boards = | awards = | module = | website = [http://newartistmodel.com/ NewArtistModel.com] }}

'''Dave Kusek''' is an American business executive, music educator, author, and [[software developer]] known for his work in the [[music industry]].<ref name="bbglobe"/><ref name="cglennbillboard"/> After working as chief engineer at [[Synare|Star Instruments]] in the 1970s,<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> in 1980 he became the founding CEO of the music software company [[Passport Designs]].<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> With Passport he helped develop [[Master Tracks]] and [[Encore notation program|Encore]],<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> and also co-developed software and hardware that utilized the then newly introduced [[Music Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]] interface.<ref name="fkusekleaves"/>

From 1997 to 2012 he taught music business at [[Berklee College of Music]],<ref name="bbglobe"/><ref name="bkerleemusic"/> becoming a vice president<ref name="fkusekleaves"/><ref name="bbglobe"/> and founding its online music school [[Berklee College of Music#Berklee Online|Berkleemusic.com]].<ref name="bkerleemusic"/><ref name="fkusekleaves"/> In 2005, Kusek co-wrote the music business book, ''The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution''.<ref name="futuremanifesto"/> In 2014 Kusek launched [[New Artist Model]], an online music business school,<ref name="donlinecourse"/> which has been featured in publications such as ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'',<ref name="cglennbillboard"/> ''[[CMJ]]'',<ref name="donlinecourse"/> and the ''[[Boston Globe]]''.<ref name="bbglobe"/> In 2026, Kusek received a [https://midi.org/david-kusek-passport-designs-and-the-dawn-of-computer-music-creation Lifetime Achievement Award] from the [https://MIDI.org MIDI Association] for his work in computer-based music creation.

==Early life and education== Dave Kusek was born in 1955 in Southington, Connecticut.<ref name="bbglobe"/> From 1974 until 1980, Kusek studied music, communication, and [[computer science]] at the [[University of Connecticut]].<ref name="bkerleemusic"/>

==Business career== ===Star Instruments and Passport Designs (1970s-95s)=== {{Main|Passport Designs}}

From 1975 until 1979 Kusek worked as chief engineer at Star Instruments, which made electronic drums such as the [[Synare]].<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> He became the founding CEO of [[Passport Designs]] in 1980, also taking on the role of president.<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> The company developed music software allowing musicians to record and produce music using home studios. Among other programs, the company developed [[Master Tracks]], [[Encore notation program|Encore]], MusicTime, [[Alchemy]] and the Soundchaser.<ref name="bkerleemusic"/> While with Passport, he co-developed software and hardware interfaces using new the then new [[Music Instrument Digital Interface]] (MIDI) industry standard.<ref name="fkusekleaves"/> He worked with Passport Designs until 1995.<ref name="bkerleemusic"/>

===Digital Cowboys (1997-present)=== In 1997, Kusek founded and became managing partner of [https://digitalcowboys.com Digital Cowboys], a digital media consultancy. Clients over time included companies such as [[AOL]], [[IBM]], [[Nokia]], [[A&M Records]], [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]], [[Polygram]], [[Nettwerk]], [[Roland Corporation|Roland]], [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]], [[Boston Acoustics]], [[Liquid Audio]], [[Kaman Music]] and [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref name="bkerleemusic"/>

===Berklee Online (1997-12)=== Kusek started teaching music business at [[Berklee College of Music]] in 1997, where he continued to teach for 14 years<ref name="bbglobe"/><ref name="bkerleemusic"/> and became a vice president of the college.<ref name="fkusekleaves"/><ref name="bbglobe"/> As founder and CEO of [[Berklee College of Music#Berklee Online|Berkleemusic]], now called Berklee Online,<ref name="berscores"/><ref name="bkerleemusic"/> Kusek created educational curricula as part of the first online music school.<ref name="bersinging"/><ref name="fkusekleaves"/> Berkleemusic won the award for the Best Online Course from the University Professional & Continuing Education Association for eight consecutive years.<ref name="kbleeawardsa"/> Kusek wrote a music business book, ''The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution'' with co-author [[Gerd Leonhard (author)|Gerd Leonhard]].<ref name="futuremanifesto"/> Kusek left Berklee in 2012<ref name="bkerleemusic"/><ref name="fkusekleaves"/>

===New Artist Model (2014-present)=== {{See also|New Artist Model}} Kusek is the founder and CEO of New Artist Model, an online music business school for musicians,<ref name="cglennbillboard"/> songwriters, producers, and managers.<ref name="cglennbillboard"/> According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', Kusek started the course "to help build a next generation of independent artists."<ref name="cglennbillboard"/> The first eight week Essential online course debuted in early 2014,<ref name="donlinecourse"/> and topics include "licensing, publishing, e-commerce, concerts, promotion and networking."<ref name="cglennbillboard"/> In April 2014, [[Music X-Ray]], [[Bandzoogle]] and [[CDBaby]] became affiliates of New Artist Model.<ref name="hpresskits"/> The program has been used by artists such as Eden Kai, who won the ''[[KUBT|Brown Bags to Stardom]]'' award in Hawaii in 2015.<ref name="pulsei"/> By 2018, enrollment in the school reached 3,700 members from 60 countries.<ref name="bbglobe"/>

In 2026, Kusek received a [https://midi.org/david-kusek-passport-designs-and-the-dawn-of-computer-music-creation Lifetime Achievement Award] from the [https://midi.org/ MIDI Association] for his work in computer-based music creation.

==Publishing history== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;font-size:90%;" |+ ! Year ! Title ! Authors ! Publishing details |- | 2005 || ''The Future of Music'' || Gerd Leonhard, Dave Kusek<ref name="futuremanifesto"/> || Berklee Press (Jan 1, 2005) / {{ISBN|978-0876390597}} |- | 2015 || ''Hack the Music Business'' || Dave Kusek<ref name="futuremanifesto"/> || New Artist Model (Jan 1, 2015) /  |}

==See also==

*[[2000s in the music industry]]

==Further reading== *{{cite news | title =Berklee College Of Music Launches "Berklee Shares" – A Ground-breaking | url =https://creativecommons.org/2003/11/12/berkleecollegeofmusiclaunchesberkleesharesagroundbreaking/ | newspaper =[[Creative Commons]] | publisher = | date =November 12, 2003 }} *{{cite news | title =Music Like Water | url =https://www.forbes.com/columnists/free_forbes/2005/0131/042.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20050204010717/http://www.forbes.com/columnists/free_forbes/2005/0131/042.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =February 4, 2005 | newspaper =[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] | publisher = | date =January 31, 2005 }} *{{cite news | title =Musicians May Be Owed Billions in Unpaid Digital Music Royalties | url =https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/musicians-may-collect-bil_b_846368 | newspaper =[[Huffington Post]] | publisher = | date =April 8, 2011 }} *{{cite news | title =Dave Kusek Leaves Berklee College of Music to Focus on Digital Startups | url =http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1097739/dave-kusek-leaves-berklee-college-of-music-to-focus-on-digital-startups | newspaper =[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher = | date =April 20, 2012 }} *{{cite news | title =Dave Kusek On Exiting Berklee, Digital Cowboys & What's Next [Interview] | url =https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/04/dave-kusek-on-exiting-berklee-digital-cowboys-whats-next-interview.html | newspaper =[[Hypebot]] | publisher = | date =April 23, 2012 }} *{{cite news | title =With New Online Education Platform, Dave Kusek Wants to Build Music's Middle Class | url =http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5893875/with-new-online-education-platform-dave-kusek-wants-to-build-musics-middle | newspaper =[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date =February 3, 2014 }} *{{cite news | title =Dave Kusek Launches 'New Artist Model,' An Online Course For Musicians | url =https://www.cmj.com/new-artist-model/ | newspaper =[[CMJ]] | date =January 16, 2014 }} *{{cite news | title =Berklee online school creator now steers his own from Cohasset home | url =https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2016/03/04/berklee-online-school-creator-now-steers-his-own-from-cohasset-home/hosQu8VRw9Wl8PQpMenQJP/story.html | newspaper =[[Boston Globe]] | publisher = | date =March 4, 2016 }}

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="bersinging"> {{cite news | title =Singing Praises | first = | last = | url =https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2007/05/singing-praises-2007-05-28.html | newspaper =[[Boston Business Journal]] | publisher = | date =May 24, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-05-24 }}</ref> <ref name="berscores"> {{cite news | title =Berklee College scores its online program in music | first = | last = | url =https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2003/04/berklee-college-scores-its-online-program.html | newspaper =[[Boston Business Journal]] | publisher = | date =April 28, 2003 | accessdate = 2003-04-28 }}</ref> <ref name="donlinecourse"> {{cite news | title =Dave Kusek Launches 'New Artist Model,' An Online Course For Musicians | first = | last = | url =https://www.cmj.com/new-artist-model/ | newspaper =[[CMJ]] | publisher = | date =January 16, 2014 | accessdate = 2016-04-22 }}</ref> <ref name="hpresskits"> {{cite news | title =Music Business School "New Artist Model" gains new partners with Bandzoogle, CMJ, and PressKit. | first =Jesse | last =Till | url =http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=13590 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140724093600/http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=13590 | url-status =usurped | archive-date =July 24, 2014 | newspaper = | publisher = | date =April 29, 2014 | accessdate = 2016-04-25 }}</ref> <ref name="bbglobe"> {{cite news | title =Berklee online school creator now steers his own from home | first =Kathleen | last =Conti | url =https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2016/03/04/berklee-online-school-creator-now-steers-his-own-from-cohasset-home/hosQu8VRw9Wl8PQpMenQJP/story.html | newspaper =[[Boston Globe]] | publisher = | date =March 4, 2016 | accessdate = 2016-04-22 }}</ref> <ref name="kbleeawardsa">{{cite web|url=http://www.berkleemusic.com/awards/ |title=Berkleemusic Awards |publisher=Berkleemusic.com |access-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006185754/http://www.berkleemusic.com/awards/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="bkerleemusic">{{cite web|url=http://network.www.berkleemusic.com/profile/2876|title=David Kusek|publisher=Berkleemusic.com|accessdate=5 October 2014}}</ref> <ref name="pulsei"> {{cite news | title =Heels & Picks: Kai eyes L.A. after Brown Bags win | first =Erin | last =Smith | url =http://www.honolulupulse.com/2015/05/heels-picks-eden-kai/ | newspaper =Honolulu Pulse | publisher = | date =May 20, 2015 | accessdate = 2016-04-25 }}</ref> <ref name="cglennbillboard"> {{cite news | title =With New Online Education Platform, Dave Kusek Wants to Build Music's Middle Class | first =Glenn | last =Peoples | url =http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5893875/with-new-online-education-platform-dave-kusek-wants-to-build-musics-middle | newspaper =[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher = | date =February 3, 2014 | accessdate = 2016-04-22 }}</ref>

<ref name="futuremanifesto">{{cite book|title=The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution (Berklee Press): David Kusek, Gerd Leonhard: 9780876390597: Amazon.com: Books|isbn=0876390599 |last1=Kusek |first1=David |last2=Leonhard |first2=Gerd |date=2005 |publisher=Berklee Press }}</ref> <ref name="fkusekleaves"> {{cite news | title =Dave Kusek Leaves Berklee College of Music to Focus on Digital Startups | first =Glenn | last =Peoples | url =http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1097739/dave-kusek-leaves-berklee-college-of-music-to-focus-on-digital-startups | newspaper =[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher = | date =April 20, 2012 | accessdate = 2016-04-22 }}</ref>

}}

==External links== *[http://newartistmodel.com/future-music-blog/ NewArtistModel.com] *[https://digitalcowboys.com/ DigitalCowboys.com] *[https://midi.org/ MIDI.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kusek, Dave}} [[Category:American music industry executives]] [[Category:American music educators]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]