ABINGTON, Pa. — Just one day before Emily Rodriguez graduated from Penn State Abington, she learned that her dream internship was transforming into her dream first full-time job. She was named a regional marketing coordinator at Live Nation, the world’s largest entertainment company and the site of her dream internship.
Rodriguez, who graduated in 2023, prepared for this opportunity for years — a passionate concertgoer since elementary school, she was determined to work in the live music industry. She chose the corporate communication major, which honed her professional skills while the curriculum offered the flexibility to enroll in classes that focused on her love of the music industry such as music entrepreneurship, the science of music, and the history of rock music.
“The great professors I had prepared me and made me feel confident in myself. I always wanted to work in the concert field, and in college I learned to adapt and make connections, which is essential for success in this business,” she said.
During several rounds of interviews at Live Nation for the required internship, Rodriguez’s coursework and her clear passion for the music industry distinguished her from other candidates. She was brought on board and focused on developing Spotify campaigns and writing scripts for the Spotify Bands in Town feature while immersing herself in meetings and connecting with the staff.
“There were less than 10 people in the Philadelphia marketing office at the time, so it was an easygoing environment. I was able to sit down with everyone and learn from them,” she said.
During her first summer as a Live Nation employee, Rodriguez was responsible for the design aesthetic for the multi-day Peach Festival, which featured bands such as Ween and Goose that year.
“I’ve never been more prepared for something in my life. I was so excited to go out and use what I learned,” she said.
John Pachence, who teaches music performance and entrepreneurship courses at Abington, said Rodriguez is “crushing it in the real world. She loves communications and music. We would chat about the music business after every class.”
Rodriguez said she knew Abington was the place for her “the second I toured the campus.”
“It was close to home, which was perfect for me since I was trying to find an internship in Philadelphia,” she said. “I also wanted small classes since I came from a smaller high school.”
As it turned out, Abington also was the perfect place to help her reach her goals.
“I wanted to make some sort of mark and find connections with professors and with other students, and I feel like I accomplished that. I loved Abington so much that I almost didn’t want college to end,” she said.