Dave Kusek is a business advisor, mentor, entrepreneur, digital music pioneer and CEO of the New Artist Model online music business school.

The New Artist Model provides music business training for independent musicians, performers, recording artists, producers, managers and songwriters. It is an alternative to the traditional music business degree providing affordable, real-world education online to people active in the music industry.

Kusek is also Senior Partner at Digital Cowboys, a consulting firm providing strategy, business development and production services for clients in music, digital media and online education.

Dave spent 14 years as VP at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he founded Berklee Online, the world’s largest music school eventually growing to serve over 30,000 students in 170 countries. Kusek was its CEO.

Kusek also helped develop the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard, was co-inventor of the first electronic drums called “Synare,” and founded the first music software company Passport Designs. His efforts, along with others, set the stage for the multi-billion dollar digital music market that exists today.

In 2005, he co-authored the best selling music business book “The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution,” which predicted much of what has happened in digital music, including the iPhone, Apple’s SIRI, Spotify, streaming music and the decline of the recorded music industry.