While most college students were enjoying the holiday at home and making plans for New Year’s Eve, one group of young men gave back to our troops by bringing some jams to them overseas. The band is called ACIDIC and they were invited by Armed Forces Entertainment to play a small tour of Kosovo and Germany. The group had four performances scheduled for our brave men and women serving overseas, with the featured performance on New Years’ Eve in Kosovo.The group is led by a pair of Crespi graduates, Michael Gossard (2010) and Ted Dubrawski (2009). Even though the band members are not older than college sophomores, they are becoming well versed in the music business. Lead singer Michael Gossard, was one the brightest students in his class while at Crespi of Encino. As a student, he hoped to “rock the world and later become a Senator or President.”
While this trip may have improved his knowledge of foreign policy, his day-to-day activities are developing Michael in the role of a chief executive. He has taken on the role of CEO to handle the business aspects of the group. “We are set-up like a corporation. We have management, our own producer, and own our publishing rights,” said Gossard. Putting this all into place combined with the band’s music are the reasons why Gossard believes ACIDIC is so attractive to the music business. “We have the infrastructure in place and that is what leads to profits on tours for the record labels,” he added.
The management style of ACIDIC may become the norm as the music industry continues to change. However, the band has not lost sight of what is important by playing this tour for our troops. “Entertainment has been one of the biggest morale boosters for United States military personnel serving overseas and ACIDIC is honored to provide this for our soldiers,” Gossard said. ACIDIC is available on ITunes.
