Christian Music Mogul Become Dean of New Music Business School

Article, Chronicle for Higher Education, March 25, 2005

Belmont University is located at the head of Music Row, a famous street in Nashville Tennessee lined with large record labels, publishing houses, and recording studios. This Southern Baptist University, due to its strategic location, has seen an increasing interest in music business classes among students.

Interest in Music Business at this school has become so large that the school recently decided to spin off a separate College of Entertainment and Music Business. It also decided to hire a retired self-made music industry millionaire to be the new school's dean.

James G. Van Hook sold his successful Christian music record label for over 10 million dollars in the 1990s. Since then, he became a member of Belmont University's governing board. He was retired for only four months before he agreed to go back to work as the school's dean. He sparked controversy after being on the job a few months.

Another large Christian music record label asked Van Hook to act as a temporary CEO to help the company get back on its feet. Van Hook agreed to take the job, which concerned many at Belmont and others in academic circles. Some feel that an active CEO wouldn't be able balance his business responsibilities with the duties required of a Dean.

Belmont University's current president, Robert Fisher, claimed that the situation could work in the university's and the student's favor. Van Hook, by keeping his foot in the real music industry, could bring in money to the university, and could offer valuable advice to students and faculty.