Aspiring musicians can forget about waiting in lines to audition for ‘American Idol’ because the path to a record label is becoming much closer to home.

Marshall Street Records, a subsidiary of the Syracuse University Recordings label, is accepting applicants until Monday to record a full-length album with one local band or musician.

The offer is available to anyone in the Syracuse area and is not necessarily restricted to SU students. Any type of music is acceptable.

‘This is a good deal for bands that are looking to go beyond college,’ said Sara Villagio, a senior music industry major who is involved with the production of the album. ‘It is a representation of what they can do at a quality level.’

Syracuse University Recordings, which is run by students in a class with the same name in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, has been releasing records since 1996. The class is for music industry majors and minors, which helps bring different viewpoints into the class discussion.

‘It is one of the most beneficial classes during my college time,’ Villagio said. ‘You get input from different majors who might have learned something different in another class.’

After all applications are entered, the class will evaluate the music and judge it based on quality and marketability, said Sarah Usher, a senior public relations major and music industry minor who is in the class. The individual musical preferences of people in the class will not be a factor in who is determined to be the winner, Usher said.

The class will also be responsible for marketing the album and acquiring time in the recording studio for the project. In all, it is rare for students to get this much experience in the music industry before actually entering the working world, Villagio said.

‘The class gives us hands-on experience to see how a record label works,’ Usher said.

Last year, Marshall Street Records released its first album, a compilation piece called ‘Children @ Play,’ which included four artists. Usher said the CD was sold at the SU Bookstore and at different events on campus. Marshall Street Records wanted to improve on last year’s accomplishments by releasing a record with just one band, Usher said.

Agreements have been reached where the artists could profit from the sales if they sold them on their own, Villagio said.

‘It’s a good opportunity for everybody all-around,’ said Eric Humphrey, a sophomore electrical engineering major who is also in a band in his hometown. ‘If I had a band ready, I would throw something down there. Maybe next year.’

Published on September 28, 2004 at 12:00 pm