Berklees Top News and Stories of 2023 From AI in the classroom to music licensing 101, 50 years of hip-hop to the next great American jam band, take a look at where the last year brought us.
By
Bryan Parys
December 20, 2023
Image by Elizabeth Friar
How do you tell the story of a year?
The short answer, of course, is that you cant. Who can predict how many students will look back at a class they took in 2023, for example, and say, yes, that was the moment my career began? And while this year marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the genres clearly not done evolving, so its not for us to try and understand this years beginnings and endings.
Instead, we collected just a handful of moments from the Berklee community that inspired, that challenged, that brought recognition, that expanded minds. Take a look below to get a sense of where we are, and imagine what stories may come next.
Career Advice from Donald Glover
How Donald Glover Built a Career as a Multi-Hyphenate Artist
Make sure that your point of view is sharp and that you know who you are, and you know who youre speaking to. -Donald Glover
Berklee SVP Featured on Reuters and NBC
Lacretia Johnson Flashs Ancestral Journey Is a Call to Stay Connected to History
This story gives the world a vivid example of the intergenerational consequences of systemic racism carried out through routine policies and practices.-Lacretia Johnson Flash
corook Goes Viral on TikTok and Beyond
Viral TikTok Song If I Were a Fish Is a Joyous Call for Acceptance
After their ode to being different went viral, Corinne Savage B.M. 17, who performs as corook, expanded on their savvy blend of humor and sincerity on a new EP.
Advancing with the Latest Technology
What Does New AI Technology Mean for Artists?I can only imagine AI will get more powerful, and with great power comes great responsibility.
-Ben Camp
Everything Is Music to Instrument Inventor Akito van Troyers EarsI want to create the most original sounds. Original sound counts when youre making new music.
-Akito van Troyer
How Generative AI Is Change College ClassesI am concerned about [AI] not making its way into classrooms fast enough. I think we need to first engage with it before we can understand its risks and downfalls.
-Sherry Li
Artistry in the Algorithms: Music in the Age of AIIt used to cost a million dollars to create an album, then $10,000, and now $1,000. To me, generative AI is just . . . the next evolution of enabling more people to be creative.
-Jonathan Bailey 08
Pathways to the Industry
Music Licensing 101: How to Sync Your Music
The person that youre sitting next to can be tomorrows executive that you need a favor from, that can put you onto your next opportunity.-Dom Jones B.M. 19
EA Scholarship Helps Composer Katie Rupinski Close the Gender Gap in the Game IndustryThis scholarship has been an absolute fever dream of just amazing opportunities. I feel so prepared.
-Katie Rupinski B.M. 23
Inside the Ever-Changing Job of a Talent Buyer[At C3 Presents] we have the opportunity to dive into all these different areas we want . . . so you can kind of jump outside of your job and get experience in other areas.
-Nicol Kuburoglu B.M. 22
Alumni Shape the Cultural Landscape
Podcast: Both Sides of Goose, Americas Premier Jam Band
It's such a different energy in the studio than it is live. And often times we'll get into the studio, and we're trying to track a song that we played live hundreds of times, and you realize very quickly that what works live does not necessarily translate the same way we work in the studio.-Ben Atkind
Illuminati Hotties Sarah Tudzin Sings in Star Wars: Ahsoka First EpisodeI was of course excited to help, but when I knew the cue was all about going full-gremlin mode, I knew I could crush it[.]
-Sarah Tudzin B.M. 14
Hong Kong Indie Artist cehryl Faces Her FearsI just navigate my fears and doubts by precisely cataloging them. When I read them back, I realize how silly or hypocritical some of them are.
-Cheryl Chow B.M. 17
Faculty Experts Spark Conversation
From Turntables to Samplers: The Gear That Made Hip-Hop
Marking 50 years of hip-hop, Prince Charles Alexanders new book explores the role new technology played in helping hip-hop become a global juggernaut.
Why Are Fans Throwing Things at Artists?I think its okay to say, Hey, can you stop throwing chicken nuggets? Youre hitting my friend in the back of the head.'
-Morgan Milardo
Podcast: What Does Science Sound Like?This is this incredible age of discovery. And I think music and art can open that up, and make us more curious, more reflective, and hopefully more grateful as well.
-David Ibbett
Lost Coltrane Album Still Sounds Like Freedom[This lost album] offers another example of the power of courageous musicians to inspire hope, innovation, and empowerment through sound.
-Emmett G. Price III
Berklee Today: A Legacy of Her OwnThe guitar is my instrument and there is nothing I do with it that is not deeply felt.
-Berta Rojas
Curated Playlists
15 of the Best Cover Songs (and Why They Work)
From Fast Car to Ring of Fire, there's no formula to making a successful cover song. But the best covers answer two important questions: why this song, and why this performance?
Queer Artists Who Made Music HistoryThis playlist pays tribute to the queer roots of genres ranging from classical to electronic dance music to hip-hop.
Why Some of Us Cant Stand Holiday MusicListen to a playlist of winter songs that ditches the festive baggage.
Related Categories
News
Most Popular
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa will receive honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music at its 2024 commencement ceremony.
Ron T. Young
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee 2024 Commencement The ceremony will be hel
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
10/06/2026
DAZN-owned digital-media company launches three fan-first series leaning into cr...
10/06/2026
Clear-Com has announced the appointment of Jason Dino as Southwest Regional Sales Manager USA, covering Southern California and the Southwest region. Dino joins...
10/06/2026
An 11% decrease in number of global broadcast deals reflects the organization...
10/06/2026
The Women Without Boundaries Awards recognize women whose work is advancing the future of media, broadcast, AV, workplace technology, digital experience, and re...
10/06/2026
Today is match day minus two for FIFA and HBS. On Thursday, there will be two ma...
10/06/2026
SES is supporting broadcast distribution of the world's biggest football tou...
10/06/2026
NDI has announced that BirdDog has become the first hardware manufacturer to achieve full NDI 6.3 compatibility across its complete lineup of cameras, encoders,...
10/06/2026
Vince Caputo and Scott Carter, winners of the 2026 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Post Produced Audio have been announced as presenters for the 2026 SVG Advanced A...
10/06/2026
FOX One today unveiled a slate of new product features and enhancements designed to elevate the viewing experience for fans on the official streaming platform o...
10/06/2026
Primary production partners Dome Productions and Raycom Sports once again played...
10/06/2026
The Women in Sports Filmmaking Experienceship is an immersive professional devel...
10/06/2026
The league has expanded its HSAN architecture for the NBA Finals to manage more ...
10/06/2026
The inaugural MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Winter Draft will take place Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Cosm Los Angeles from 7-9 p.m. PT. The event will strea...
10/06/2026
The University of Oklahoma (OU) Athletics Department and Learfield have announce...
10/06/2026
The Video Services Forum (VSF) has released TR-06-4 Part 8, a new specification for RIST Satellite-Hybrid: Out-of-Band Method. The specification creates a mecha...
10/06/2026
Riedel Communications provided the communications infrastructure for the 14th World Live Neurovascular Conference (WLNC) in Lisbon, supporting live medical proc...
10/06/2026
A still from The Doom Generation by Gregg Araki (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
By Lucy Spicer
Have you checked out our Sundance Film Festival 101 list yet...
10/06/2026
Get Hands-On with Interfaces & Mic Preamp Brands
If youre after a new interface or preamp, then GearExpo UK is the place to be! Well have a whole host of au...
10/06/2026
November 13-14 2026, The Midway, San Francisco
Following their recent rebranding, MONO Music Conference (formerly Music Expo) have officially announced thei...
10/06/2026
Debut instrument free for limited time
deFORM is the debut release from newly founded developer ebbandflow, and it's being offered as a free download fo...
10/06/2026
Alone Australia Season 4: Meet the Cast
10 June, 2026
Media releases
WATCH THE TRAILER
Smash-hit survival series Alone Australia drops its highly anticipa...
10/06/2026
DEADLY THEN, DEADLY NOW, DEADLY ALWAYS: SBS & NITV IGNITE NAIDOC WEEK 2026 WITH ...
10/06/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and TRUMPF advance laser-based drone defense with THORIS LCS Rohde & Schwarz is showcasing THORIS at ILA 2026: A sovereign, end to end counter...
10/06/2026
MAHLE and Rohde & Schwarz develop application for sensor testing of modern drive...
10/06/2026
Production and Development Funding supports the creation of compelling, commercially viable, artistic and culturally relevant South African screen content. Deve...
10/06/2026
Media buyers and sellers can now compare YouTube reach from computer, mobile, an...
10/06/2026
Accedo, Humans not Robots, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have announced the launch of Ecoflow X. Formerly an IBC Accelerator project, ...
10/06/2026
Frequency, the engine powering the world's leading streaming television channels, today announced that James Smith has joined the company as General Manager...
10/06/2026
At the 14th World Live Neurovascular Conference (WLNC) in Lisbon, Riedel Communications provided the communications infrastructure for live medical procedures s...
10/06/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of broadcast, media, and entertainment managed services, today announced the launch of its Content Exchange platform powered by Or...
10/06/2026
Klvr will showcase how venues, integrators and production teams are rethinking disposable battery usage at InfoComm 2026 (Las Vegas, June 17-19, booth #N6311). ...
10/06/2026
The Video Services Forum (VSF) has further enhanced the Reliable Internet Streaming Transport (RIST) protocol by incorporating a new feature, RIST Satellite-Hyb...
10/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/06/2026
10 Jun 2026
VEON's Banglalink Brings Every World Cup 2026 Match to Football...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
How to watch every ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match live on Sky Sports
Where is the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 availabl...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
P RLA brings first-ever Beautifully Clean Oral Care'...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
Sky reveals pulse-pounding first teaser trailer for upco...
10/06/2026
Wuppertal June 10, 2026
Riedel Artist at the Heart of the 14th World Live Neurovascular ConferenceAt the 14th World Live Neurovascular Conference (WLNC) in Li...
10/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Showcases New Mobile Experience, Collections and Games Vision in APAC
Product
10 June 2026
GlobalSouth KoreaJapan
Link copied to c...
10/06/2026
Back to All News
Ready to Join? The Netflix Fan Club Arrives at Cannes Lions
Business
10 June 2026
Global
Link copied to clipboard
Download all assets
N...
10/06/2026
Chemists snap together complex 3D molecules from highly reactive radicals-without losing their shape Scripps Research team develops stereoretentive radical-radi...
09/06/2026
Kiswe announces an expanded long-term partnership with ONE Championship (ONE), t...
09/06/2026
SiriusXM will broadcast FOX Sports' English-language commentary for all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from June 11 through July 19, available to subscribe...
09/06/2026
EVS has announced it is changing its corporate name from EVS Broadcast Equipment to EVS, reflecting the company's expanded portfolio beyond broadcast equipm...
09/06/2026
Fox Corporation and the NFL have announced a multi-year agreement to bring NFL c...
Berklees Top News and Stories of 2023 From AI in the classroom to music licensing 101, 50 years of hip-hop to the next great American jam band, take a look at where the last year brought us. 
