Sony Music’s Global Scholars Programme brought students to its New York headquarters to show them the wide range of creative, technical and commercial careers that support recording artists. The initiative matters because it provides early financial support, industry access and networking opportunities to aspiring music professionals from around the world.

The programme supports 55 mainly second-year university students from 18 countries with annual scholarships of $3,000 to $20,000, renewable for up to three further years. Funded through Sony Music’s social justice fund, it paid for 41 students to attend a week of meetings with 26 Sony Music divisions, including executives, artists, studio professionals and legal staff. Recording engineer Ann Mincieli used versions of Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” to explain how studio roles overlap and why understanding them helps people build careers.