CMI 2020 Annual Report

Events
Mat Kearney urges students to
make their own music for success
By Lou Corsaro
Events
Always up to something: CMI hosts
local media visitors year-round
‘YaJagoff!’ sits all over CMI couches
The YaJagoff podcast, hosted by John
Chamberlin and Rachael Rennebeck, recently
visited the CMI to record an episode with
retired Steelers’ linebacker Arthur Moats.
The pair talked with him about his book,
“Moats’ Theory of Life: A Guide to Becoming
a Person of Impact and Inspiration.”
Photo By Nick Ruffolo
PTL goes live from Third & Wood
Photo by Meghan Zaffuta
Singer-songwriter Mat Kearney poses with SAEM students and faculty after his presentation.
Point Park alumna Celina Pompeani of KDKA
hosted a segment of Pittsburgh Today Live
from inside the CMI, talking with Point Park
President Paul Hennigan and Leatra Tate,
visiting assistant professor of psychology,
about what’s happening at Point Park and
how students can combat homesickness.
Imitation might be the sincerest form of
flattery, but it also can get pretty boring for
the person making copies.
Singer-songwriter Mat Kearney told Point
Park University students that he started
making his own music when he got tired of
playing covers of other people’s songs.
“Honestly, I started writing music …
because I liked music, but I was terrible
at covering other bands,” Kearney said. “I
just started playing a couple of chords and
making stuff up.”
Kearney visited the Center for Media
Innovation on Friday, Jan. 31, prior to his
sold-out show at the Roxian Theatre in Mc-
Kees Rocks. Before an audience of dozens
of students and faculty members, Kearney
his start, the business lessons learned
along the way, and why he decided
to release his latest album independently.
He spent 45 minutes answering
questions from students, many of whom
have their own dreams about entering
the music and entertainment industry
after graduation.
Kearney talked about his own journey
from the classroom to the stage. While
studying in California, he met a guy who
was moving to Nashville to be a music
producer. He asked Kearney to help him
move there, and urged him to stay.
It worked out. Since then, Kearney has
found success with hit songs such as
“Nothing Left to Lose,” “Ships in the Night”
and “Closer to Love.” He has scored
eight Top 25 songs on the U.S. Adult
Photo By Tyler Polk
Three anchors go ‘Off The Record’
Ahead of its Oct. 3 performance, Off The Record
brought some notable names and belly laughs
to the CMI for a press conference. Every year
since 2001, News Guild of Pittsburgh and
SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh members perform
a musical satire about the region’s headlines,
which has raised more than $600,000 for the
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Photo By Tyler Polk
talked about his career music – how he got Contemporary chart.
Photo by Meghan Zaffuta
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