Wayne State alums’ Music Business Collective hits the right note with current, former students
For Ana Jaquim and Chris Simpson, nobody told them how lonely it would be after graduation.
It was hard not seeing classmates running around the hall, casually talking about how much homework they had, current projects, and sharing dreams for the future.
“Now imagine how much lonelier it was when we graduated during the COVID pandemic,” said Jaquim and Simpson, who graduated from Wayne State University’s Department of Music with Bachelor of Music Business degrees in 2021 and 2022, respectively. “And as we navigated our professional roles after college, it suddenly became nostalgic not having that connection or community.”
The need surged the idea of casually getting together with old friends or other music business alumni, if only for some camaraderie. But what began in the summer of 2023 with a few close friends meeting every month has since grown, with more compatriots and current students joining.
With nearly a year under their belts, Jaquim and Simpson’s Music Business Collective continues to expand and welcome WSU music business alumni and current students to create a community that lifts each other throughout their careers. The duo encourages anyone interested to join the Music Business Collective community through the group’s LinkedIn and learn about future gatherings.
“We are thrilled to give back to the music business program,” said Jaquim, “and to give recent graduates a community they can reach out to for guidance as they step into the professional world after graduation.”
An experienced entrepreneur, performer, and digital marketing professional, Jaquim grew up in Mexico. There, she found her passion for music through one of El Sistema's sister organizations and became dedicated to igniting change for underrepresented communities.
During her college journey, Jaquim moved to Metro Detroit to attend Wayne State, where she founded the booking agency Preludio Entertainment to connect and employ string musicians in the area. Currently, Jaquim is director of marketing and digital productions of Chamber Music Detroit, bringing together inspired musicians and passionate listeners for chamber music experiences.
During Simpson’s time at Wayne State, he previously held jobs and internships working for Live Nation, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Axis Music Academy, Benow. Media, Detroit Sound Conservancy and Warner Music Group. He was also a candidate for the top 10 Artist Managers through the Motown Music Accelerator program and one of the cofounders of the WSU student run record label — Old Main Records.
Simpson is currently business development manager at Gen Admission, spearheading the development of education and partnerships to provide music business resources to the next generation of music business professionals.
Both Jaquim and Simpson currently serve on the Alumni Council for WSU’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.
“We are really excited to be curating events for both alumni and current students,” Simpson said of their Music Business Collective venture. “Networking and having a support system is extremely important for longevity in this business. We hope to pass along to both future and past to work together collaboratively.”