Middle Tennessee State University has renamed its world-renowned College of Media and Entertainment in honor of a music industry trailblazer who has supported ongoing efforts to provide state-of-the-art technology and hands-on training to its students.
Effective Tuesday (Aug. 26), the college is now the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, named after founder, chairman and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, Scott Borchetta.
Borchetta, his wife, Sandi, executives from Big Machine Label Group and the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, and members of Nashville’s music community joined hundreds of students, faculty, staff and supporters in the atrium of the John Bragg Building for the ceremony.
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee called the renaming “a truly historic event” and “a project years in the making.”
“We are here to publicly recognize what happens when one’s vision and passion combine with dedication and hard work,” McPhee told the audience.
“As one of Music City’s leading entrepreneurs and visionaries, Scott Borchetta has earned the reputation as one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and forward-thinking leaders.”
The official renaming of the college has been years in the making and reflects Borchetta’s ongoing support that has resulted in technological upgrades within the college and experiential learning opportunities for students such as recent trips to the Grammy Awards.
“I am humbled and profoundly grateful to have MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment bear my name,” Borchetta shared with Billboard Magazine. “The opportunity that this school affords to its students didn’t exist for me through college education in the 1980s, so it is an honor to now be part of building those bridges for young minds.
“My goal is to inspire others and give back, betting on the creativity of students who dedicate themselves to the entertainment field. The Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment represents the next generation of innovators and creators, whose bold ideas will transform the media landscape.
Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel, a former record label executive herself, described Borchetta as “our secret weapon” for the last several years, giving his time and resources to support the college.
“I can’t overestimate how important this is to the life and history of the college,” Keel said. “This propels us to international acclaim because Scott’s name is recognized and respected around the world. By partnering with Scott, we are exposing our students to cutting-edge ideas and perspectives.”
“Because of Scott’s contributions, we have been able to make the upgrades you see in this building, create new student scholarship, and take students to the Grammys, an esports conference and Bonnaroo.
“Scott has made it possible for the college to hire a strategic communications specialist and sponsor the Southern Oasis Film Festival for students and our MT Imagine showcase for digital animation students,” she added. “And these are just a few of the wonderful student and college opportunities that Scott has made possible.”
The ceremony concluded with a dramatic button push by Borchetta that revealed the college’s new name on the exterior of the Bragg building.
“Establishing a named college isn’t something that happens every day or at every institution,” McPhee said.
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