When Academic Entertainment, Inc. was founded in the late 1990s, it began as a true grassroots venture: single mom Gina Jamison representing one artist, Brent Daniels. Brent’s school assembly, Technological Music Production (now Music Technology LIVE), was an instant success, quickly booking solid weeks at schools across Southern California.
As Brent’s program grew in popularity, Academic Entertainment grew with it, adding more artists and expanding its reach. Through the early 2000s, the company continued to build its roster of school assembly shows while Brent’s touring footprint expanded from regional to nationwide.
In 2015, Brent relocated from the West Coast to the New York City metro area, where the majority of his—and Academic Entertainment’s—customers were based. While continuing his edutainment career in schools, he simultaneously expanded his work as a composer and sound designer, specializing in trailer music production.
That same year, Gina’s daughter, Whitney Mueller, joined Academic Entertainment full-time. Under Gina’s leadership and Whitney’s growing role, the company and Brent’s program continued to thrive—until 2020, when COVID-19 closed schools and triggered mass assembly cancellations.
Within weeks, Brent reimagined his program for Zoom, transforming Music Technology into a live virtual assembly. Academic Entertainment provided the customer base, sales expertise, and infrastructure, while Brent led the way in teaching other Academic Entertainment artists how to successfully create and deliver live virtual shows.
Without this rapid pivot to virtual programming in 2020 and 2021, it is uncertain whether the company would have survived.
Because of his increasingly demanding and successful career as a music producer, Brent opted to keep his school assembly program Zoom-only after in-person learning resumed. As schools shifted back toward traditional assemblies, demand again moved toward mostly in-person programming.
By the summer of 2025, after winning 11 Clio Awards for his trailer music work, Brent felt it was time to transition once more. Having reached the peak of his career on the trailer production side of the industry, he set his sights on moving deeper into film scoring and towards a bi-coastal residency in Los Angeles and the NYC metro area. At the same time, he felt called to bring his school assembly program back in person.
Academic Entertainment’s team went to work, offering Music Technology LIVE for limited in-person engagements in the fall of 2025. The moment marked a powerful full-circle milestone:
- Brent returning to in-person school assemblies in 2025
- Whitney’s first year as President following Gina’s retirement
- Brent’s return to Los Angeles after 10 years on the East Coast
“Music Technology has always been the BEST school assembly out there, and now that it’s back in person, it’s better than ever!” said Academic Entertainment.
The response from schools this fall has been resounding. Already presented at 25 schools on the East Coast in fall 2025, the program has earned rave reviews:
“Brent's program today has just been absolutely incredible! Having him in person is really exceptional.”
“It was incredible and worth every penny!”
“It was such a huge hit. Parents and children alike have been texting me letting me know how much fun it was! He even inspired one of Bodhi's friends to ask for certain things for Christmas to start doing all the production that they learned today!”
“We were just BLOWN AWAY!” — Mandy Dalal, Lloyd Harbor School, Huntington, NY
Veronica Kanter of Wandell School in Saddle River, NJ, shared:
“WOW! We were all thrilled to see the children so enthusiastic and captivated by the world of music technology. The level of engagement and energy in the room was incredible to watch. No matter their age, every child and teacher left feeling inspired and having learned something new.
I have to share that my son heard a song in the car later that day and asked if you were the one who created it! After dinner, he even asked me to help him find a music app on his iPad so he could start making beats. So many parents shared similar stories, so I know you left a lasting impression.
On behalf of the Wandell School Education Foundation, our administration, teachers, and parents, thank you for everything you do and for sharing such an inspiring message: that everything you learned about music started in school at their age, and that they too, can accomplish amazing things just like you!
I know our administration would love to bring you back when we launch our Jam Room. It would be the perfect fit and an exciting way to continue inspiring the students.” — Veronica Kanter, Wandell School, Saddle River, NJ
Looking ahead, Brent is scheduled to present Music Technology LIVE at Los Angeles and California-area schools in January and February 2026, before returning to the Northeast for additional engagements. With a home base in both the Los Angeles area and the NYC metro area, he is able to travel back and forth several times throughout the school year to serve schools in both regions.
About Brent Daniels
Brent Daniels is an 11-time Clio Award–winning music producer, composer, and songwriter. His music anchors high-profile marketing campaigns for Paramount, Marvel, Netflix, and Apple, earning eleven Clio Entertainment Awards—the industry’s highest honor for film and television marketing.
You can hear Brent’s recent work in movie trailers for Last Breath, MEGAN 2.0, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
A passionate advocate for music education, Brent has, over more than two decades, concurrently served thousands of K–12 schools across the United States and Canada with the programs he developed as part of a long-running education initiative, including his Music Technology LIVE school assembly and Trailer Music workshops.
Media Contact
Company Name: Academic Entertainment
Contact Person: Whitney Mueller - Director
Email: Send Email
Phone: 360-512-3781, 800-883-9883 Ext. 306
City: PULLMAN
State: WA
Country: United States
Website: https://www.academicentertainment.com/
