The Department of Recording Industry offers a number of scholarships for continuing students. These one-time awards vary from approximately $300 to $3,000, with the exact amount determined annually based on available funds. Information about the available scholarships is detailed below. If you have questions about the scholarship process, please contact Tina Chevalier (tina.chevalier@mtsu.edu, phone: 615-898-2578), or Trevor deClercq (trevor.declercq@mtsu.edu, phone: 615-898-5821). 

Application Information

Applications for departmental scholarships typically open in the Fall (usually October 1) of the academic year prior to the award year; applications are typically due early in the Spring semester (usually February 15) prior to the award year; and scholarship winners are typically notified late in the Spring semester (usually end of April) prior to the award year.

For example, scholarships that were disbursed for the Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 academic year had applications open on October 1, 2020, applications due on February 15, 2021, with award winners notified by the end of April 2021.

The scholarship application, including more information on the deadlines and scholarship requirements, can be found on the official MTSU scholarship web site, located here:

http://www.mtsu.edu/scholarships/opportunities

Andy White Memorial Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned 75 credit hours (2nd semester Junior).
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 RIM GPA. 

Bill Williams Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:  Must be a full-time Recording Industry major.

Bob Jennings Memorial Scholarship Award

This scholarship is intended to support internship travel and expenses.    

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must be eligible for the internship program now or by next spring.
3. Preference will be given to students who have out-of-state internships. 

Brody Jay Towler Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must be involved in student organizations.
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
4. Must have financial need .

Charlie Daniels Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major.
2. Preference will be given students that express some knowledge of or interest in country and southern rock music, such as that of Charlie Daniels.

Charlie Haseleu Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time student with a declared major in the RIM department.
2. Preference for a student subject to out-of-state tuition, especially an incoming freshman or transfer student.

Chris Young Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major admitted to candidacy.
2. Preference given to students interested in pursuing careers in the music industry,including production, management, performance, and songwriting.
3. Preference given to students who have earned more than 60 credit hours.
4. Preference given to students who graduated from a Rutherford County high school.

Copyright Solutions Annual Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned at least 60 credit hours.
3. Must have taken or currently be enrolled in RIM 3900 (Music Publishing).
4. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0 RIM GPA.
5. Must be active in the local and/or university music industry community (such as involvement with student organizations, volunteer opportunities within the industry, or other extracurricular music business/production activities).

Damien Bell Scholarship Award

This scholarship is intended to support internship travel and expenses.

Application Specifications:

1. Must be an African-American student.
2. Must be a full-time RIM major admitted to candidacy.
3. Must be eligible for the internship program now or by next spring. Preference will be given to students who have out-of-state internships; however, anyone eligible for the internship program is encouraged to apply.
4. Preference will be given to those with financial need. 

George Jones Memorial Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full time RIM major.
2. Must have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA.
3. Must be eligible to receive financial aid.
4. Financial need shall be a primary consideration in the awards process.
5. Preference will be given to first-generation college students and students who face financial challenges.
6. Preference will be given to students who express some knowledge of or interest in country music, such as that of George Jones. 

Hillary Scott Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major.
2. Must have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA.
3. Must be eligible to receive financial aid.
4. Financial need shall be a primary consideration in the awards process.
5. Preference will be given to first-generation college students.
6. Preference will be given to students who express some knowledge of or interest in country music. 

Jim and Ann Free Scholarship

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must be a veteran who has served in any military service branch.
3. Must show financial need (student must file FAFSA).
4. Preference will be given to students who have earned over 60 credit hours.
5. Preference will be given to students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Kevin Neal Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major.
2. Must be seeking a business career in the live entertainment industry.

Miller Harris Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned 75 credit hours (2nd semester Junior).
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0 RIM GPA.

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Scholarship Award

Scholarships are available to students in the Department of Recording Industry at MTSU from NARAS. Two students will be selected as finalists by the Recording Industry faculty. Those two students will be interviewed by NARAS along with finalists from other schools offering recording industry degrees in Nashville. Winners will be selected from those interviewed. 

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned at least 60 credit hours.
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
4. Financial need will be taken into consideration. 

National Music Publishers’ Association S.O.N.G.S. Foundation Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time RIM major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must be declared as having a RIM concentration in Commercial Songwriting.
3. Must have earned at least 60 credit hours.
4. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
5. Preference will be given to students with financial need.

Nashville Entertainment Association Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned 75 credit hours (2nd semester Junior).
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0 RIM GPA.
4. Must have past, current, or plans for future involvement in the Nashville musical community. (Make sure your résumé reflects this requirement.) 

Omega Delta Psi Scholarship Award 

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. 
3. Preference will be given to those with financial need. 
4. Preference will be given to members of ODP. 

Sarah Thompson Memorial Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major, pre-candidacy only.
2. Must be enrolled in at least one recording industry class.
3. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
4. Must have financial need.  

Si Siman Scholars Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have earned 75 credit hours (2nd semester Junior).
3. Must have an interest in music publishing.
4. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0 RIM GPA. 

Steve Thurman Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major. 
2. Must have earned 60 credit hours. 
3. Must have at least a 2.5. cumulative GPA. 
4. Preference for students with a career interest in concert promotion or talent agenct work. 

Street Symphony Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a full-time Recording Industry major admitted to candidacy.
2. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
3. Must be eligible to receive financial aid.
4. Must be active in the local and/or university music industry community (such as involvement with student organizations, volunteer opportunities within the industry, or other extracurricular music business/production activities).
5. Preference will be given to African-American students.
6. Preference will be given to those with financial need.

Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards Scholarship Award

Application Specifications:

1. Must be a Recording Industry major with an Audio Production concentration.
2. Must have earned 75 credit hours (2nd semester Junior).
3. Must have earned at least 12 hours of RIM credit.
4. Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0 RIM GPA.
5. Must have involvement in campus organizations, preferably with Recording Industry organizations.