Radford University
Dave Rivers
Associate Professor
Music, Dept of
- Address:
-
Artis Center 426
PO Box 6968 - Email:
- drivers7@radford.edu
Focus and Philosophy: There is no single path to success in the music business. Everyone’s career is unique. With guidance from dedicated faculty, students identify their strengths and interests, then develop a plan to build a career that reflects their distinctive goals. Professor David Rivers believes Radford University provides the ideal environment for that journey since it is big enough to provide extensive support and resources, yet small enough to give students personalized attention. Professor Rivers is committed to ensuring Radford students graduate with the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills needed to succeed as twenty-first-century music business professionals.
Background: David Rivers worked for 25 years in the business and creative sides of the music business in Nashville and Los Angeles, as a songwriter, producer, musician and music publisher. He also served as the National Education Director for the Nashville Songwriters Association International. As creative director and manager at Crossfire Entertainment/Almo Irving Music and Criterion Music Publishing, Rivers helped develop songwriters including Billboard and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Dave Berg and Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, Patty Griffin, The Wallflowers, Eric Church). He also worked with songwriter/artists Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, The Crash Test Dummies and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Rivers has produced and engineered artists across pop, rock, country, Christian, and roots music. He has written songs recorded by Grammy Award winning artist Mike Farris, Ken Mellons, Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors), The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Ray Scott, Jon Nite and Saints of Havana as well as dozens of independent artists.
His songs have appeared in film and television, including HBO’s hit vampire drama, True Blood, ABC’s Good Morning America, CMT, GAC, Heart and Home Network, and MTV. In 2024 he wrote several songs on the Grammy-nominated album The Gospel According to Mark alongside Mark D. Conklin, Rhonda Vincent, Gloria Gaynor and The Fairfield Four. Recently, he’s written and produced music with Dr. Jennifer McDonel, through grants from Honda and GM for the non-profit organization ZERO TO THREE, creating songs for early childhood education.
Teaching: At Radford University, David Rivers serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Music Business and Commercial Music. Rivers teaches courses in Music Business, Pro Tools and Music Production, Songwriting, Social Media and Marketing, Contract and Copyright Law and The Beatles. He is also the director of the Commercial Music Ensemble (Link), with recent performances that include Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run and the music of Queen, Sting and the Police. Rivers also co-directs Radford’s Innovative Pep Band.
Research/Scholarship/Creative Work: Solicited by ZERO TO THREE, a nonprofit early childhood-focused organization, Rivers and Dr. Jennifer McDonel create songs and produce music that supports early childhood music development and connects to other areas of learning, including math, science and literacy. He has released two albums of children’s music in collaboration with Dr. McDonel: Little Beats: Counting, Shapes, and Sets (2023) and Little Beats: Grand Old Time - Science and Engineering Songs was released (2025). Professor Rivers’ other research explores advanced commercial songwriting practices and techniques to overcome writer’s block.