The University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music welcomes alumnus and accomplished musician Nick Black as visiting assistant professor of music business for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Nick Black’s extensive experience and dedication to the music industry make him an accomplished educator and musician. Since Spring 2018, he has been a songwriting adjunct professor at the University of Memphis and served as the interim head of the Music Business Program during 2019-20 and 2024-25.
“I am thrilled to welcome Nick Black back to the University of Memphis. With his successful musical career, business acumen, and extensive industry network, Nick brings a wealth of real-world experience,” said Dr. Albert Nguyen, interim director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. “His deep knowledge and infectious energy will undoubtedly have a significant impact on our students.”
He has made significant contributions to the university, include leading the Music Industry Performance Ensemble in Spring 2020, facilitating the student music festival “This Is Memphis” in November 2019 at Crosstown Concourse, and organizing the virtual student festival “HEAR901” via Zoom and Instagram. Additionally, Black has taken students to Nashville, TN, for a full day of networking opportunities and interviews at Music Biz in November 2019, and co-headed Sound Fuzion, the premier pop ensemble for the University of Memphis. He is also a member of the College of Communication and Fine Arts WYXR-FM Formation Committee.
Nick Black’s dedication and talent extends beyond his teaching career to his role as a performer. As a dynamic and versatile artist from Memphis, Black’s music blends modern pop sensibilities with a nostalgic touch. Influenced by the feel-good vibes of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars, as well as the musical brilliance of legends like Al Green and Sting, Black creates a sound that is both contemporary and reminiscent of classic hits.
Black’s performances are extraordinary spectacles, drawing the audience in with his charismatic stage presence and interactive approach. From pulling fans on stage to singing directly to audience members, Black ensures everyone feels included in his shows. Growing up amidst the rich musical heritage of the Bluff City, Black’s sound is a unique fusion of Soul, R&B, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Blues. His music journey, which started in church and at open mic nights, has now taken him to larger stages across the country.
With over 250K streams on Spotify, five albums, and numerous singles, Nick Black has gained national recognition, emerging as Memphis’s next great artist. Since his first album in 2012, “The Soul Diaries,” his authenticity and passion have been the foundation of his identity as both a person and an artist. In March and April of 2020, with touring shut down, Black embarked on a record-setting project, “Nick Black’s $ongs from $cratch,” writing 30 songs in 30 days on his Twitch channel using samples, riffs, and lyric lines sent in by viewers. He has since written over 100 songs in front of a rapidly growing live-streaming audience, with 12 of them featured on his new TWITCH #1 album, which has over 100,000 plays on Spotify.
In the community, Black serves on the Artist Ambassador Board for Music Export Memphis and is an artist on call for the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. His involvement in these organizations underscores his commitment to giving back and supporting the local music scene.