Panel Discussion with Chris Herche | Create Music Group

This past Friday, I had the absolute pleasure of moderating another panel—an experience that continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of my college journey. The University of Miami’s Music Industry Association (MIA) teamed up with Hurricane Productions to host a truly special guest: Chris Herche, Senior Vice President of Music, Operations, and Marketing at Create Music Group.

It was an incredible honor to welcome Chris to campus and have the opportunity to lead a conversation with someone who’s had such a dynamic and inspiring career in the music industry. As both an entrepreneur and a high-level executive, Chris brought a wealth of knowledge, insight, and firsthand experience to the table, and I’m grateful my fellow music industry students and I had the chance to learn from him. Throughout the panel, we discussed everything from his early days in the business to his current role at Create Music Group—an innovative, fast-growing company that’s reshaping how artists and labels approach distribution, marketing, data, and more.

Chris shared his journey with humility and transparency, offering a realistic but motivating look at what it takes to make a lasting impact in the industry. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was his emphasis on adaptability—how crucial it is to stay curious, continue learning, and be open to change, especially in a field that evolves as quickly as music. He also touched on the power of artist independence and how Create’s model empowers creators by giving them more control over their careers while providing them with the infrastructure and tools they need to succeed.

For our student audience—many of whom aspire to become artists, managers, marketers, and entrepreneurs themselves—this discussion offered a rare chance to engage directly with someone who’s actively shaping the future of the industry. Whether Chris was speaking about navigating the early challenges of a startup or the strategy behind developing a global music brand, every insight he shared was thoughtful and thought-provoking. It was clear that everyone in the room walked away with a deeper understanding of both the business and the creative sides of the music world.

I’d like to take a moment to recognize the incredible team behind the scenes who made this event a reality. Huge thanks to Sabrina Nubel and Julia Margalit—your attention to detail, tireless effort, and commitment to building thoughtful, engaging programming through MIA and Hurricane Productions truly set the tone for everything we do. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team that’s so dedicated to making the music industry accessible to students in meaningful and authentic ways. Our goal has always been to give students opportunities to learn from and connect with real-world professionals, and Friday’s panel was another perfect example of that mission in action.

Thank you to Chris Herche for making the trip down to Miami and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us. It means so much to us that you were willing to share your story and wisdom with the next generation of music industry professionals. I know this is a conversation that will stick with me—and many others—for a long time.

Moderating these panels continues to be one of my favorite ways to grow both professionally and personally. Every conversation challenges me to be a better listener, communicator, and leader, and I’m excited to continue building these experiences throughout the rest of the year.

Here’s to many more inspiring guest speakers, valuable conversations, and opportunities to connect the classroom to the real world. The future of the music industry is bright—and I’m so proud to be learning and growing alongside it.