July 31, 2025
Ferris State partnership with Sonic Coast generates opportunities for Music and Entertainment Business students
Ferris State University and Sonic Coast, a Michigan focused national music streaming application, created a first-of-its-kind in the state partnership that will showcase the talent of students to a broader audience and provide hands-on experience.
Paul Kwant, program coordinator and associate professor for Ferris State’s Music and Entertainment Business program, is pictured here.
“We are thrilled to announce a partnership with Sonic Coast, making Ferris State the only academic institution in Michigan to collaborate with the platform,” said Paul Kwant, program coordinator and assistant professor in the Music and Entertainment Business program. “This partnership will give our students a unique opportunity to amplify their voices across Michigan on the national Sonic Coast music streaming application.”
Kwant said that the Ferris State’s registered student organization Music and Entertainment Business Association will be directly involved with the project.
Further benefiting the students, this partnership includes daily on-air recognition, a minimum of three times daily, on the Sonic Coast broadcast; the Ferris State logo and mentions are featured on social media and in on-air promotions of interviews; and weekly promotion on Sonic Coast’s social media, with a minimum of one post per week.
The partnership also includes professor-hosted vignettes discussing current music industry trends with additional mentions of Ferris State.
Kwant hosts “On the Record” on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. highlighting Ferris State’s Music and Entertainment Business program. The show features music, stories and information about the unique Ferris State academic program.
The university will also be highlighted, including logo and link inclusion, in the monthly Sonic Coast newsletter and on the sponsor section of the application and website.
Brian Maloney created Sonic Coast in 2014 after retiring from a corporate radio job, developing the online radio station to highlight artists from Michigan and the Great Lakes region
Music and Entertainment Business students utilize a curriculum, hands-on opportunities, and multiple internships to develop a comprehensive understanding of the diverse music and entertainment industry.
Students help produce live shows and other entertainment events on campus, learning all aspects of event planning, including booking artists, branding, stage setup, securing venues, and more.
The Music and Entertainment Business program celebrates its 30 year anniversary this fall.
The program was known as Music Industry Management when it debuted in 1995. The music landscape and industry have undergone significant changes in the following years, prompting the program to adapt and now includes the name change to Music and Entertainment Business.
Ferris State’s four-year bachelor’s degree in Music and Entertainment Business stands alone in the state of Michigan as it is housed in the College of Business.