Zachary Fox Jablow - AEMM – Business of Music & Applied Marketing

Zachary Fox Jablow likes to stay busy. On top of writing and producing for major label acts such as Aiva the Great and Wu-Tang Clan, Zach performs marketing consulting work for the firm the Fox and the Mule. As if that weren’t enough, Zach also owns and operates an invite only, boutique recording studio in Wicker Park.

Despite his busy schedule, Zach has been teaching Music Business courses in Columbia’s AEMM department for close to three years (specifically Business of Music and Applied Marketing: Music Business). Zach recently answered a few questions on upcoming projects and discussed the benefits of instructing at Columbia.

What lead you to teaching at Columbia?
I was the stage manager and assistant tour manager for Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. A professor at Columbia asked me to guest lecture in his Art and Business class. After three hours being behind the podium, [he] saw the potential in me leading my own classes. I came on board the following semester.

How does your time in the classroom influence the work you do outside of the classroom?
I like to think I know what’s hip and trending, but surrounding myself with 17-19 year old freshmen every week, I’ve discovered there is a lot more out there that I’ve never heard of. So each class I dedicate 20 minute to us sharing current events or new artists or new anything, really. In this industry you need to be alert and receptive of the constant evolution of the landscape. I’ll often play them selections of an album and see which songs they recommend as singles. I have 73 pairs of eyes and ears doing market research for me every week. We all grow together.

What should we be on the lookout for from Zach Jablow in the future?
I have a huge album due out next summer on Island/Def Jam with Aiva the Great, but first quarter next year, Kids These Days will be releasing their big single, which I produced. Kids These Days is the biggest band coming out of Chicago right now. The song, “Don’t Harsh My Mellow,” is getting an incredibly massive release with a co-branded tee shirt, sponsored tour, and music video. I’m very excited for the world to hear it.