Under MSP 4687: Recording Industry Practicum, Temple University students fill staff positions for Bell Tower Music, Temples’ student-run commercial record label. The label is overseen by Jack Klotz, Jr., vice chair of the media studies and production program and director of the audio and live entertainment program. Since its launch in September of 2011, Bell Tower Music has seen the success of its students—from artists to behind-the-scenes managers.
Most recently, Zinadelphia, KLN ’22, wrapped up The MagaZINA Tour, where she played 19 city shows across North America, including her last stop and sold-out concert in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Zinadephia was not the only Bell Tower or media studies and production alum in The Foundry on November 26. Live Nation Regional Marketing Coordinator Patricia McNamee, KLN ’20, and Part-time Marketing Coordinator Karina Patricelli, KLN ’20, were also in attendance.
During their time at Klein College, McNamee served as Bell Tower Music’s marketing director and Patricelli worked as the A&R director. The two collaborated on several projects during this period. The three crossed paths at various shows and connected personally during their time as Owls, with Patricelli pitching Zinadelphia to join the label after coming across her during her research of the Philadelphia music scene for new talent.
Patricia McNamee
Growing up, McNamee would spend her free time traveling to concert venues across the country, seeing artists such as Demi Lovato and We The Kings. Up until her sophomore year of college, she saw herself producing music until she took some advice from Klotz, who told her to look into marketing. After contemplating, she joined Bell Tower Music as the marketing director and stayed for two years until graduation.
“Almost everything I do now at Live Nation, I’ve touched someway in Bell Tower,” said McNamee. “I was doing marketing plans already, artist outreach and working directly with the artists at Bell Tower. Now I’m working through their agents and managers and a middle section.”
At Live Nation, McNamee oversees all concerts in Philadelphia, including the Wells Fargo Center. She deals with all media requests for the venue and secures all announcements for ticket sales and event promotion.
“I especially have feedback from my interviews that said Bell Tower was huge reason I got both FOX 29 and Live Nation,” said McNamee. “I was told verbatim that how I went through that experience is a huge reason on why I was chosen over people for this job.”
Karina Patricelli
Patricelli’s academic journey started at West Chester University before she transferred to Temple during her sophomore year. During this time, she started a band, Valendina, and fell in love with music management. She now uses the skills she gained from Bell Tower Music to help promote her band.
“I did multiple things when I was involved through Bell Tower from the start: I did press, then we went to live shows one semester, and I did artists and repertoire, where I scouted people, and I can apply that to literally anything I’ve done with this band. In the beginning, I did my own press and everything.”
She now works alongside McNamee and helps create advertising packages, pay invoices and helps solidify post-show entities and assist customer service.
Zinadelphia
When Zinadelphia first arrived on North Broad St., she switched her major four times. After long deliberation and wanting to take a risk in the music industry, she landed on media studies and production.
“I don't want to even admit this to myself, let me just do it as a hobby on the side and if it works out great,” said Zinadelphia. “Then I don't have to be embarrassed for fully going for it, which is stupid. Don't do that, just go for it if you want to go for it.”
During a semester studying abroad, she was asked to join Bell Tower Music as an artist. She registered for the Bell Tower Music class and joined the marketing staff while working to release her Bell Tower single, "Mirrorball." It became her first career single hit, and the song currently has two million streams on Spotify, the highest of any song produced by the label, regarding Zinadelphia as Bell Tower Music’s most successful artist.
Post-graduation, Zinadelphia quickly made a name for herself in the music scene. In two years, she’s toured with artists such as Tori Kelly and Teddy Swims and released three singles and two EPs. Her latest EP, The Magazine, led her to her recently concluded tour, where she achieved every artist's dream of performing as the headliner artist.
Bell Tower Music is continuing to help and produce upcoming artists with a wide variety of genres. The label has several artists currently signed have recently released “crying on my birthday,” by Erin Schneider and pop singer Miza's first EP, Almost.
Bell Tower Music is offering valuable opportunities that help foster careers in the music industry and provide hands-on experience for post-graduation employment. McNamee, Patricelli and Zinadelphia all started with passion at Bell Tower Music and found lasting success in show business.
Sage Levy and Jayna Celi contributed to the reporting of this story.