Tonya Butler ill be the new assistant chair of the Music Business Management Department at Berklee College of Music beginning August 1. She will be the first woman to have a leadership role in the department. She succeeds John Kellogg, who is retiring after more than a decade in the position. Butler is an accomplished educator, attorney, administrator, and motivational speaker. She comes to Berklee from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she directed the Music Industry Studies program. She previously served as the coordinator of music business at the University of Memphis and course director of entertainment marketing and media distribution at the Los Angeles Film School.  

“I have been in the music business for a long time and trust me, it is no joke”, said Butler. “Luckily, Berklee understands exactly what it takes to succeed and I can hardly wait to add my two cents to the till and my spice to the pot.”

Prior to teaching, Butler spent 14 years as an entertainment attorney working in-house for record and publishing companies and film studios.