Dave Kusek is an American business executive, music educator, author, and software developer known for his work in the music industry.[1][2] After working as chief engineer at Star Instruments in the 1970s,[3] in 1980 he became the founding CEO of the music software company Passport Designs.[3] With Passport he helped develop Master Tracks and Encore,[3] and also co-developed software and hardware that utilized the then newly introduced MIDI interface.[4]
From 1997 to 2012 he taught music business at Berklee College of Music,[1][3] becoming a vice president[4][1] and founding its online music school Berkleemusic.com.[3][4] In 2005, Kusek co-wrote the music business book, The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution.[5] In 2014 Kusek launched New Artist Model, an online music business school,[6] which has been featured in publications such as Billboard,[2]CMJ,[6] and the Boston Globe.[1]
From 1975 until 1979 Kusek worked as chief engineer at Star Instruments, which made electronic drums such as the Synare.[3] He became the founding CEO of Passport Designs in 1980, also taking on the role of president.[3] The company developed music software allowing musicians to record and produce music using home studios. Among other programs, the company developed Master Tracks, Encore, MusicTime, Alchemy and the Soundchaser.[3] While with Passport, he co-developed software and hardware interfaces using new the then new Music Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) industry standard.[4] He worked with Passport Designs until 1995.[3]
Kusek started teaching music business at Berklee College of Music in 1997, where he continued to teach for 14 years[1][3] and became a vice president of the college.[4][1] As founder and CEO of Berkleemusic, now called Berklee Online,[7][3] Kusek created educational curricula as part of the first online music school.[8][4] Berkleemusic won the award for the Best Online Course from the University Professional & Continuing Education Association for eight consecutive years.[9] Kusek wrote a music business book, The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution with co-author Gerd Leonhard.[5] Kusek left Berklee in 2012[3][4]
Kusek is currently founder and CEO of New Artist Model, an online music business school for musicians,[2] songwriters, producers, and managers.[2] According to Billboard, Kusek started the course "to help build a next generation of independent artists."[2] The first eight week Essential online course debuted in early 2014,[6] and topics include "licensing, publishing, e-commerce, concerts, promotion and networking."[2] In April 2014, Music X-Ray, Bandzoogle and CDBaby became affiliates of New Artist Model.[10] The program has been used by artists such as Eden Kai, who won the Brown Bags to Stardom award in Hawaii in 2015.[11] By 2018, enrollment in the school reached 3,700 members from 60 countries.[1]
^ abcdKusek, David; Leonhard, Gerd (2005). The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution (Berklee Press): David Kusek, Gerd Leonhard: 9780876390597: Amazon.com: Books. Berklee Press. ISBN0876390599.