Meet Jonathan McHugh, Hilton-Baldridge Eminent Scholar/Endowed Professor in Music Industry Studies! Jonathan is an independent film and TV producer/director/music supervisor who has held high ranking creative and marketing positions at some of the biggest entertainment companies like New Line Cinema/Warner Films, Zomba/ Sony Films & Music & Def Jam Films/ Universal Music over the past few decades. McHugh has produced over 35 films and TV shows with some of pop culture’s biggest stars including Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Janis Joplin, Snoop Dogg, Muhamad Ali, Ludacris and Motley Crew‘s Tommy Lee and shows like Sun Records.
Read our interview with him below!
1. What brought you to Loyola University?
Six years ago, after a great career in entertainment that spanned from radio promotion, film and music marketing to soundtrack producing which led to music supervision and then producing/directing film and TV, I discovered that I also loved teaching entertainment. Helping to mentor and guide the next generation of music leadership became an exciting and challenging addition to my work. I was often a guest lecturer and then became an adjunct professor and a student advisor at American University. I’ve also worked very intensely to help students secure internships and new jobs. Still, I felt I could always do more. I feel incredibly fortunate to be the Chair of Music Industry studies and getting to return to New Orleans; a city I’ve loved since I attended college here.
2. What is your favorite project you've worked on during your career?
Wow that is a tough one after working to help SO many talented artists at some of the best record labels and then after music supervising over 80 films and TV shows and producing and directing 30 different visual media projects it would be hard to choose. I think some of my highlights would be producing films with and about pop culture icons like Muhammad Ali, Justin Beiber, Janis Joplin and writing and producing a hip hop horror film for Snoop Dogg.
3. What do you do outside of your work at Loyola?
I still love music supervising and the business of visual media.That's why I love teaching students about it. I want them to know what an amazing way it is to earn a living as it allows you to be creative and allows you to work across SO many different areas of music and film. I recently put a song sung by 2022 Loyola graduate Isabella Clayton in the upcoming film “Brave the Dark” that I just music supervised. Then I got her an on camera performance in the BET TV show “Sacrifice.” I am part of a new publishing company called AMR Songs that is looking to help new as well as legendary artists like Ivan Neville, who we hope to help get nominated for a Grammy for his first solo album in 25 years. Helping Loyola and New Orleans artists is a deep passion of mine. I know you asked about what I do…outside of Loyola, but I am really an all in kind of guy, always looking to connect dots however I can for our students.
4. What do you wish people knew about Loyola's Music Industry Program?
How much talent there is here on both the faculty and student levels. My last program at American University was run out of the business school. Here in the College of Music it is great to be working with so many talented, young artists and try to help them learn what they need to know about the business along with a number of pred-ucators (practical educators) like myself who are working in the business while teaching our students.
5. Given your extensive experience, what is some advice you'd give to students interested in pursuing careers in music, film, or visual media?
My advice is they need to ask themselves if they really want “it”. The example of that is how many great business internships can you get while at Loyola? Internships are the key to get hired in the industry, so you NEED to have them on your resume. There is SO much competition in the business for the small amount of slots that exist. So my question is ...are they prepared to put in the work, be a self starter, learn all the programs (ie: Canva, Premiere, Adobe Photoshop) that can make you hirable and really help the people who may want to hire you.
