The Institute will foster innovation at the intersection of technology and music. Larry S. Miller will be the inaugural executive director.
New York University and the Sony Corporation through its Personal Entertainment Business’ U.S. operations (Sony) announce the launch of the Sony Audio Institute, an initiative designed to prepare the next generation of creators and innovators within NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, fostering innovation at the intersection of technology, music, and business. The Sony Audio Institute, established for an initial 10-year term, will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, merging the expertise of Sony’s professional and consumer audio businesses with NYU students, faculty, and facilities. The Institute will elevate classroom experiences with cutting-edge technology, power pioneering research opportunities, and deepen NYU’s and Sony’s relationships with New York City’s vibrant entertainment community through events and workshops.
The Sony Audio Institute was created by Steinhardt leadership and faculty and Sony’s Personal Entertainment Business, which is responsible for Sony’s professional and consumer audio business and heavily focused on its engagement and support of music and creators at all levels, including producers, engineers, songwriters, recording studios, and more through its hardware and innovative audio solutions. Formally known as the Sony Audio Institute for Music Business and Technology, the Institute will offer new opportunities and support to students in Steinhardt’s Music Business and Music Technology degree programs.
The Sony Audio Institute will open this Spring with Larry S. Miller, Steinhardt clinical professor and music industry veteran who received the 2024 Educator of the Year Award from the Music Business Association, as inaugural executive director. He will also continue as the director of the Music Business Program at Steinhardt until Fall 2025.
“It is an honor to establish this collaboration with New York University, one of the world's premier music schools, renowned for its long-standing legacy of producing some of the audio industry's top talent,” said Kimio Maki, President and CEO, Sony Corporation. “Through this collaboration, we look forward to inspiring creativity for the next generation of music creators and witness how their artistry will influence the music industry for years to come.”
“We are excited and grateful that Sony has chosen NYU Steinhardt to collaborate on this important initiative, which will create new opportunities for our amazingly talented students through scholarships, internships, research fellowships, and other unrivaled experiences. This forward-looking initiative will not only create new opportunities for creative expression, it will give our students a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing industry. I’d like to thank the team at Sony and everyone at NYU who worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality,” said NYU President Linda G. Mills.
The Sony Audio Institute will integrate Sony’s state-of-the-art technology into NYU’s immersive learning environment for students focused on the music business and technology. This includes giving students access to a variety of audio solutions, such as 360 Reality Audio, Sony’s immersive music experience, and 360 Virtual Mixing Environment, a technology that accurately reproduces the acoustic field of an audio studio using only headphones with proprietary measurement technology, thus enabling users to create professional audio mixes from anywhere.
Our programs are already among the best in the world, and with this new support from and partnership with Sony, we will produce the talent and research to help drive the future of music creation and audio technology.
NYU’s Music and Audio Research Lab (MARL), which studies the convergence of science, technology, music, and sound, will pursue, with input from Sony researchers and engineers, groundbreaking research in the areas of music and audio technologies. MARL’s current research includes music and auditory perception and cognition, machine listening and music information retrieval, spatial, and immersive audio, music in the health and rehabilitation sciences, and more. Joint research will complement MARL’s existing activities and create a space where students can help to shape the future of music and technology.
The partnership between NYU and Sony will cultivate student engagement through workshops, internships and special events, connecting students with real-world opportunities. A studio at NYU’s Brooklyn campus will be named the “Sony Audio Institute Studio,” and will be equipped with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, as well as 360 Virtual Mixing Environment. In addition, NYU venues will present student-driven programming that bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world industry experiences. These spaces will offer NYU students and future creators a platform for hands-on innovation and collaboration.
Finally, through the Sony Audio Institute, NYU is establishing a scholarship program to assist undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students at NYU Steinhardt who demonstrate financial need and academic merit with a preference for students who have an interest in pursuing research or careers in the audio industry.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Steinhardt’s students, faculty, and researchers to develop deep expertise with Sony’s creative technologies,” said Jack H. Knott, Dean of NYU Steinhardt. “Our programs are already among the best in the world, and with this new support from and partnership with Sony, we will produce the talent and research to help drive the future of music creation and audio technology.”
“I am honored and excited to be leading this innovative new Institute,” said Miller. “I am confident that our outstanding students, faculty, and researchers will embrace the multitude of opportunities this brings to NYU Steinhardt’s music programs.”
I am honored and excited to be leading this innovative new Institute. I am confident that our outstanding students, faculty, and researchers will embrace the multitude of opportunities this brings to NYU Steinhardt’s music programs.
“At Sony, we're always looking to push the boundaries of audio technology to create new music experiences that transform the industry,” said Jun Makino, VP of Personal Entertainment Business U.S. operations at Sony. “The Sony Audio Institute is part of our long-term vision to drive innovation, cultivate fresh perspectives, and reinforce Sony audio’s role at the forefront of supporting music creators.”
“The Sony Audio Institute isn’t just about technology – it’s about investing in and empowering the next generation of creators and industry leaders,” said Jordy Freed, Head of Brand, Business Development & Strategy, Personal Entertainment Business U.S. operations at Sony. “We want to break down barriers by giving young creators access to world-class tools, mentorship, and hands-on experiences—helping them develop their craft and shape the sound of tomorrow.”
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation and is responsible for the Entertainment, Technology & Services (ET&S) business. With the mission to “create the future of entertainment through the power of technology together with creators,” we aim to continue to deliver Kando* to people around the world. For more information, visit: http://www.sony.net/
*Kando is a Japanese word that roughly translates to the sense of awe and emotion you feel when experiencing something beautiful and amazing for the first time.
About NYU Steinhardt
Located in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village, NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development prepares students for careers in the arts, education, health, media, and psychology. Since its founding in 1890, the Steinhardt School's mission has been to expand human capacity through public service, global collaboration, research, scholarship, and practice. To learn more about NYU Steinhardt, visit steinhardt.nyu.edu.
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