Internships play a valuable role for AEMM students. Many alumni have credited their internships with providing invaluable industry exposure and job leads. Others, such as AEMM graduate students Tara Watkins and Katie Conlin, are given the opportunity to work closely with leaders in their fields.

     Watkins and Conlin are interning at Invisible Records, the label founded by Martin Atkins to support and distribute the works of artists who prefer to work with smaller, artist-driven labels. Invisible Records, in existence for close to twenty years, has been home to some of the most important acts of the industrial metal genre. Atkins, who teaches Touring Live Performances in Columbia’s AEMM Department, has a long and solid history in the industry as a performer, producer, and manager. Having been a drummer with such well-known groups as Public Image Ltd., Ministry, Killing Joke, and Nine Inch Nails, and currently leading Pigface – a group he founded – Atkins is considered a central figure in the evolution of post-punk and industrial music.

     “Atkins has a strong reputation and this internship is a great chance to be able to work with him,” proclaims Watkins. “Hearing him imparting his knowledge on us, and being able to talk with him and use his knowledge base and experience is wonderful.” Besides filling web orders, providing customer service and learning about the other day-to-day activities involved in running a record label, Watkins are Conlin are helping Invisible Records with their reorganization efforts, finding better and more efficient systems in which to operate.   Watkins is also assisting Atkins with the editing of the book he is currently writing. “Seeing the company on a day-to-day basis has been most helpful,” explains Watkins. “I am learning about all the little tasks that are necessary to make the big things happen – the details that make it all go together and flow.”