Keith Perissi
Director of the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Certificate Program
Michael A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality
Keith Perissi is the Director of the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business (MEBUS) Program at Kennesaw State University. Keith started his career in Atlanta as a professionally touring musician and gained invaluable experience during his 15+ years on national tours and recorded over five albums and multiple singles. Keith has a lifetime of experience in the fields of touring, promotion, talent management, talent booking, marketing, songwriting, audio/video engineering, concert and event production and entertainment business entrepreneurship.
Under Keith’s leadership, the Joel A. Katz MEBUS Program has been featured as one of Billboard Magazine’s Top Music Business Schools for six years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Keith has been recognized as One of the 200 Most Influential Figures in Georgia's Entertainment Industry by Georgia Entertainment Magazine in 2024.
Keith was appointed to Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office Advisory Board for Governor Brian Kemp in 2019 and has served on the board through 2024.
The Joel A. Katz MEBUS Program is a Grammy Museum Affiliate, and Keith has been a longtime Grammy Voting Member.
Keith has extensive world travel experience that he gained during his years as a touring and recording musician. He has worked professionally and toured throughout the entirety of the United States, Great Britain, Europe, and most parts of the globe. Through these experiences, Keith and his MEBUS team have created a vibrant UK Study Abroad program for customized student learning and engagement opportunities with global entertainment businesses such as Sony, Universal, Dolby, Abbey Road Studios, and many more.
Safety and ethics while travelling are top priorities for Keith and the MEBUS program. His leadership skills and ability to provide quick solutions for any global challenge are valuable assets in the planning, teaching, and implementation of the London Study Abroad trip each year. Through his partnership with MEBUS benefactor, Joel A. Katz, Keith connected with contacts to develop several opportunities for students to gain direct access in the UK. Keith has vast knowledge of the music and entertainment business culture and shares his insights and real-world professional experiences with his students. Keith is dedicated to providing students with life-changing global business experiences through the Joel A. Katz MEBUS Program.
Keith continues to remain active in Atlanta’s thriving entertainment industry, both on and off stage though choosing the classroom as his preferred venue for teaching and learning. He has found that it is students who inspire him most, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge, experience and industry relationships to encourage the next generation of entertainment industry professionals to meet their career objectives.
