October 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manager to the Stars Re-Opens Hot L.A. Talent Development Academy
Los Angeles, CA - If you’ve ever wanted to be the next Janet Jackson or Boyz II Men, now’s your chance to train with the same pros who have trained the music industry’s hottest talent.
Qadree El-Amin, record company consultant and manager to an impressive roster of pop, rock, soul and R&B sensations like Jackson, Boyz II Men, Vanessa Williams and Mya, has announced plans to re-open the Hollywood Pop Academy for student enrollment this fall. Classes will include vocal technique, stage performance, music production, media training and other modules designed to train pop hopefuls in the personal aesthetics and industry know-how essential to landing a record deal.
“Talent development is one of those things that’s really missing in the pop music industry,” says El-Amin. “It was popular back in the 80s and early 90s, but has all but disappeared since then. Record companies stopped investing in it and now expect a finished product right from the start, even though it’s obvious through shows like American Idol how much an artist can improve on raw talent with the right training.”
A subsidiary of talent training conglomerate Campus Hollywood – home to the International Dance Academy, the Musicians Institute, Theater of the Arts and United Television Broadcasting – the Hollywood Pop Academy is open to students of all ages and backgrounds. The program runs for three months, from November through February each year, and graduating students receive a diploma and demo from the academy, and participate in its talent showcase. Students can apply individually, or be referred through record companies or other agencies.
El-Amin says the academy is artist-centric, focused on the unique talents of each student, and fosters relationships with scouts, sponsors and organizations in need of talent for jingles and other projects. To date, the academy has groomed several top American Idol finalists, and several of its students have gone on to sign record deals with major labels.
“We don’t send students through classes and push them out the door,” El-Amin says. “We watch them develop as artists, we shop deals for them, offer them guidance. I love this business, and this gives me the opportunity to see talent on a regular basis and scout for the next big thing in pop. We’ve got good people, and we’re going to treat them just like we treat the superstars we’ve managed.”
Registration opens October 26, and classes begin November 7, 2009. The academy is also hosting an open call for auditions for its “Who’s Next in Pop?” showcase on December 12, 2009. Auditions are open to the public.
The academy is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and N. Highland Avenue, in the prestigious Kodak Theater complex. For more information and registration, visit http://www.hollywoodpopacademy.com, or call 323-463-6910.
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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Hollywood Pop Academy (HPA) is southern California’s leading professional training facility for aspiring pop singers. HPA offers state-of-the-art perfomance facilities, and instruction by some of the music industry’s finest talent.