Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media, Law & Policy
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media, Law & Policy

Three Newhouse Graduate Students Present Business Concepts to Spotify Executives

Wednesday, May 17, 2017, By Wendy S. Loughlin
Share
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Spotify CMO and Syracuse University alumnus Seth Farbman G’89 was the guest of honor at the annual William and Ada Kussell Media Challenge Series, which took place in early February at the Newhouse School.

More than 40 entrepreneurial and tech-savvy students attended the event, hosted by the Newhouse Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship. A little more than 20 of those students “answered the challenge” by submitting concepts for Spotify executives to consider as they shape the future of the growing digital media business. Farbman asked students to think about how Spotify can become a new, comprehensive “media ecosystem.”

Spotify CMO Seth Farbman G’89

Spotify CMO Seth Farbman G’89

Sean Branagan, director of the Newhouse Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, says Farbman’s visit had a big impact on the students. “I’ve been hearing comments from students weeks and months after his visit,” he says. “Two students said it guided their capstone project and several others said they are rethinking their careers. A few were inspired to change their job hunt focus to look only for work with companies—like Spotify—where fast innovation drives business and ‘media’ has an ever-changing meaning.”

The Kussell Media Challenge Series was designed for students interested in media innovation and technology. The series brings to campus senior executives from media companies to talk candidly with students about the issues their companies face and to challenge the students to propose ideas about how to identify new areas of opportunity based on those challenges. Past events have focused on Turner, Condé Nast and BuzzFeed.

Three master’s students came out on top at this year’s challenge, and were invited to present their concepts to Spotify executives in early April. The students were: David Onoue (magazine, newspaper and online journalism), Jeremy Joshua (audio arts) and Juan Carlos Kuang (media studies).

The students proposed new ways to “create culture” beyond music, to develop artist loyalty and to create a digital-age fan club. They also outlined ways to extend the Spotify experience to a physical space, with immersive media and offline activities.

Spotify executives said they were impressed with the knowledge and professionalism of the presenters and the details and concepts of the plans presented.

“In reality, there were more than three winners of the Spotify Media Challenge,” says Branagan. “Newhouse was really the biggest winner because our students got to meet and hear from one of the leading people in one of the leading companies changing the face of media today. And, through the many great student responses to the challenge, we were able show off our talented, smart students and demonstrate their understanding of the innovative digital media environment.”

Launched in 2013, the Kussell Media Challenge Series is supported by Will and Ada Kussell, whose daughter, Melanie Kussell ’13, is a graduate of Newhouse’s public relations program. Will Kussell is the former president and chief brand officer of Dunkin’ Donuts Worldwide, where he was responsible for the company’s repositioning via the slogan “America Runs on Dunkin’.”

  • Author

Wendy S. Loughlin

  • Recent
  • Student’s Mobile Upcycled Clothing Business Turns Trash Into Treasures
    Friday, August 22, 2025, By Diane Stirling
  • Q&A for “Will Work for Food,” a new book exploring labor and the food chain
    Friday, August 22, 2025, By Ellen Mbuqe
  • Chaz Barracks Fuses Art, Scholarship and Community in Summer Residency
    Thursday, August 21, 2025, By News Staff
  • Welcome Week 2025: What You Need to Know
    Tuesday, August 19, 2025, By Kathleen Haley
  • How Otto the Orange Spent Their Summer Vacation (Video)
    Tuesday, August 19, 2025, By News Staff

More In Media, Law & Policy

NASCAR Internship Puts Jenna Mazza L’26 on the Right Track to Career in Sports Law

A lifelong NASCAR fan, Jenna Mazza L’26 has a photo of herself at age 4 standing with legendary driver Jimmie Johnson’s diecast car. So, imagine her elation when she had the opportunity to take a photograph with Johnson himself this…

New $1M Gift to Build Bridges and Create Global Map to Enhance Democracies

With a new $1 million gift from The Reynolds Foundation, researchers at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs hope to create a new global map, one that provides a clear pathway to strengthening democracy and freedom throughout the…

Professor Anthony Adornato Trains Journalists in Kosovo Through Fulbright

For Associate Professor Anthony Adornato, a recent Fulbright experience brought him back to his journalism roots. The former television anchor and reporter returned from a three-week Fulbright Specialist experience in Kosovo, where he trained journalists at the country’s public service…

Syracuse University and University of Bergen Host Transatlantic Alliance for Law, Outreach and National Security Conference

The Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL) and the University of Bergen Faculty of Law recently hosted a group of national security scholars from 16 universities and 12 states at the first Transatlantic Alliance for Law, Outreach…

After Tragedy, Newhouse Grad Rediscovers Her Voice Through Podcasting

When Erika Mahoney ’12 graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, she had no idea that her journalism training would one day help her navigate the most devastating chapter of her own life. Today, the former National Public…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.