Catching up with Jake Sampson '13: From ISM to the Los Angeles Music Industry
We recently caught up with Jake Sampson ‘13, Director of Creative Marketing Film and TV at Sony Music Publishing who gave us insight into his experience at ISM and current career within the music industry.
Several years ago when Jake’s parents were looking for a smaller, more academically challenging environment as compared to local public schools, they came across ISM and chose to enroll Jake in 2nd grade. This decision set Jake up for success from a young age, by exposing him to the academically rigorous SABIS® curriculum. By the time he reached high school, Jake was well-prepared to challenge himself by taking several AP courses, including five during his senior year when he graduated on ISM’s academic honor roll.
From a young age, Jake showed interest in music and participated in every music-related course and extracurricular activity offered at ISM. He was active in show choir, jazz band, and the music conservatory program where he took cello and piano lessons. Jake also privately took lessons in guitar and drums.
After graduating from ISM in 2013, Jake followed his passion for music and pursued a Bachelor of Science in music with a concentration in music industry, and a minor in business administration and recording at Northeastern University. Jake shares that he felt academically well-prepared for the rigors of college, and with several AP credits, he was able to graduate a semester early.
Northeastern’s Cooperative Education program allowed Jake to experience three different internships while pursuing his degree. He gained valuable knowledge and experience in the areas of music publishing and creative licensing at Universal Pictures, Eleven Seven Group, and SONGS Music Publishing. All three internships were based in Los Angeles, where Jake lives today.
Following his Bachelor’s degree, Jake landed a position at BMG, where he spent five years as a coordinator in synch licensing. Currently, Jake is the Director of Creative Marketing for Film and TV at Sony Music Publishing. He negotiates synch licenses for songs used in movies and TV shows. Jake enjoys his role in helping songwriters and other creatives in the business; sharing that ISM influenced the way he logically works through business with his strong academic background, unique in the music space.
Jake still keeps in contact with and regularly sees other ISM alumni. His piece of advice for current huskies is to “get comfortable with expanding your social network… figure out what you care about and find people you have things in common with.”
