Andrae Alexander

Andrae Alexander is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music in the Music Industry program. A Grammy Award-winning composer, musician, and educator, he brings extensive real-world experience from his work in music production, film/television composition, and philanthropy. He moved to Los Angeles in 2009 from Maryland and served as a veteran in the United States Marine Corps and the Navy Band of Washington, D.C., a Presidential Support Unit.

• Academic Degrees:
  • PhD in Leadership (2024)
  • MA in Music Industry Administration (2019)
  • BA in Music (2017)

Alexander's research focuses on the impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior in the music industry. His career spans collaborations with renowned artists like Jon Batiste, Kanye West, and NeYo, as well as contributions to major projects including the Empire TV show, Detroit film, and The Birth of a Nation soundtrack. He is also an Amazon best-selling author of Build Your Music Career from Scratch (second edition) and has achieved multiple Billboard number-one hits.

Scientific Awards & Affiliations:

• Grammy Award (2022) for Album of the Year
• Voting member, Recording Academy
• Voting member, Songwriters Hall of Fame
• Board member, Songwriters of North America

Alexander actively promotes music education through non-profits like AGC (founded by Wendy Raquel Robinson) and Urban Possibilities (led by Eyvette Jones-Johnson), using music for social rehabilitation and teaching underserved grade-school children.