College Leads in Digital Media Convergence
Last Updated April 10th, 2006

The entertainment production industries-including film, television, audio recording, game design, and live performance among others – have been going through the most rapid changes and evolution in their entire history. This is due to two major factors: developments in new digital technologies and evolving business models through the convergence of various entertainment media due in past to the erosion of past business models resulting from the free downloading of digital entertainment causing significant financial losses to the industries concerned.

Education and re-training of thousands of people, as major media companies merge, is becoming the norm. ‘A number of colleges and universities are gearing up to meet the challenge’ says David P. Leonard, past president of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association. One such internationally known career college is Trebas Institute, with campuses in Montreal and Toronto.

For over twenty-five years, the Trebas curriculum has been leading rather than following industry trends, ‘says David P. Leonard, president and founder of Trebas Institute. For example, in 1979 the Institute was teaching digital audio courses and music video production although the CD (Compact Disc) and MTV (Music Television) were not developed until many years later. The Institute is one place where students in recorded audio production can work with students in film and television production in sound design. Film students can gain insights into the intricacies of surround sound recording techniques in the various advanced audio labs and digital recording studios. One of the advantages of a career college is that it can adapt its programs of courses and technological improvements rapidly to meet the challenges of the changing job market. In the entertainment industries, where there are many free-lance jobs and careers, such as recording artist, personal manager, record producer, cinematographer, scriptwriter, sound designer, lighting technician, and audio engineer, one of the most essential set of skills to succeed in various aspects of show business but also, business skills and knowledge including marketing, promotion, accounting, copyright law, and entertainment management. Cirque du Soleil could never have achieved its work prominence with technical and creative genius alone. Outstanding managerial acumen on the part of Guy Laliberte and his staff were crucial elements in their organization’s formula for success.

Today, songwriters, recording artists, and record producers can earn more in royalties from the download of master ring tones from cellular phones and other ‘digital rights management’ than from record or CD sales. Last year, ring tones produced over four billion dollars in royalties to music publishers and songwriters worldwide. This figures is expected to quadruple in the next five years. Music scores in games can more lucrative for a music composer that film scores. ‘Understanding each and every element in the mosaic of fields of show-biz increases the odds of success for our graduates, ‘says Leonard. A perfect example is Jeremy Harding, a Trebas graduate, who manages and guides the career of last year’s Grammy Award and American Music Award winner, Sean Paul’s recordings. This results in enormous revenues for both the artist and Trebas graduate through ownership of copyrights.’ Jeremy Harding says. ‘The production and communication courses allowed me to negotiate with people evolving in different levels of the music industry.’ Many years could consequently work at the highest professional level with Celine Dion in the management of her entourage in Las Vegas and around the world.

What does the future hold for Trebas? A new Film and Television Production, one-year Diploma has just been developed. ‘The Institute has developed the first and only full-time curriculum in DJ Arts & Technology in North America,’ says Leonard. ‘We’re excited about it because it offers potential graduates the opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this very lucrative field. Even though we haven’t started the program yet, we have several graduates from our audio production department whose remuneration from working part-time as a DJ is in the six-figure range, earning in excess of two thousand dollars per weekend. The DJ Program at Trebas includes courses in genres of music, mixing and scratching, producing your own music, controlling the audience through personal style and music selection, integrating equipment, music, and audience.

Unfortunately, laws on copyright now lag for behind the technological devices and systems that are already in the marketplace. ‘Our own instructional staff of technical wizards and entertainment lawyers specializing in copyright law and digital rights management are in continuous brain storming sessions as to the how to manage the copyright issues in the 21st Century with global access by the public to music, films. Games and ring tones, through both traditional distribution media and the Internet. The future of these media, will be in the hand of our graduates and other astute industry professionals.


For further information concerning career training and opportunities in the entertainment industries, contact the Admissions Department at Trebas Institute.

Trebas Institute provides the pathway to success in the digital media world. Industry professionals regularly review the content of our programs, giving graduates a competitive advantage.

It's no surprise that major entertainment companies, studios and artists around the world employ Trebas graduates.

Contact Information:

Trebas Institute - Toronto
149 College Street
Toronto, ON M5T 1P5

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Trebas Institute - Montreal
550, Sherbrooke Street West,
6th Floor, East Tower
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B9
 

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Institut Trebas - Francias
550 rue Sherbrooke Ouest,
6ième étage, Tour Est
Montréal, Québec H3A 1B9

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