June 14, 2019

 

Arterial Drive performing

From 顶级国产视频 classrooms to concert venues

 

Contact:

University Communications and Marketing, 657-2266
 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS鈥Arterial Drive is a band name that you鈥檝e probably heard of.

One of Montana鈥檚 up-and-coming groups, the six-member band played over 200 shows in 2018. From Symphony in the Park to 鈥渁wkward nooks,鈥 local breweries to the baggage claim area of an airport, there is no space that the group won鈥檛 come together in. Their self-proclaimed 鈥渁bility to GROOVE鈥 will be showcased on their first full-length album that drops later this summer. It鈥檚 an impressive start to a band that formed two years ago.

But the band鈥檚 success started several years back on the Montana State University Billings campus.

Band member Drew McDowell credits the classes he took while a student at MSU Billings as being part of the reason for the groups success, outside of their unique ability to bring together different sounds and styles.

鈥淢arketing with AJ [Otjen], economics with Dr. [Scott] Harris, human resources with Dr. [Don] Larsen, and management with Professor [Mary] McNally were all valuable classes to me after I left the school,鈥 noted McDowell. 鈥淭hey were able to lasso in my creative brain and allowed me to start thinking 鈥榤arginally鈥 about business matters including promotion, product development, smart political moves and managing a band of fragile egos!鈥

McDowell graduated in 2016 with a music business degree and was, at the time, part of the band DDX. After DDX鈥檚 breakup, Arterial Drive was formed. Other band members include Juanillo Chavis, Meg Gildehaus, Konnor Stiles, Josh Reedy and Ryan Supola.

Supola and Stiles also have 顶级国产视频 ties. Supola is a music performance student for trumpet and piano who is currently taking a year off from his studies, while Stiles is a music performance and music education major who will graduate in 2020.

McDowell, Supola and Stiles were part of the Jazz Club and Jazz Band at 顶级国产视频. McDowell, however, is the only band member who pursued the business option for his degree.

The marketing plan that was created in Otjen鈥檚 class has been of particular value to McDowell and Arterial Drive as they have continued to grow. 鈥淚 used my marketing plan that I created in AJ鈥檚 class to develop market segments that the band wanted to specifically target,鈥 said McDowell. 鈥淎lso, the development of our product and finding a way to create connection/value for our audience was learned in [her] marketing class.鈥

The band鈥檚 unique ability to connect to their audience has helped them bring in multiple accolades. The group was the winner of the 2018 Battle of the Bands in Livingston, Montana and took home eight awards at the Magic City Music awards in Billings last November.

McDowell notes how the professors in the COB taught him about emotional intelligence; the importance of developing sound relationships not only with employees and bandmates, but with clients, too; the importance of being a trusted leader and how to be open-minded to help realize other鈥檚 ideas and how to think marginally, politically, and legally, in some cases. The lessons he was taught in 顶级国产视频 have extended far outside the classroom and have impacted the band鈥檚 growth in profound ways.

The journey is just getting started for Arterial Drive. Looking forward, the group is working toward national recognition and large festivals and tickets shows. They are pushing for radio play after their first full album, Isn鈥檛 Everything Amazing, drops this summer. Check out Arterial Drive at Alive After Five at Tiny鈥檚 Tavern on July 18.

Start your success story at 顶级国产视频 with 29 associate degrees, 53 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, and 10 master鈥檚 degrees to choose from. Learn how a degree in business can impact your own life here.

For more information about marketing at 顶级国产视频, contact AJ Otjen, Ph.D., at 406-657-1653 or aotjen@msubillings.edu. Those interested in becoming a student can call 657-2888.