Five USC Thornton undergraduates are exploring live-entertainment careers through a paid fellowship with Usher’s New Look.
Usher’s New Look and USC Thornton have introduced a fellowship extending beyond one internship. Announced by the music school on October 23, the New Look × USC Thornton Founding Fellows program takes five undergraduates across the concert business.
Fellows receive stipends and encounter artist teams, touring production, venues and entertainment technology. Their first immersion took place around the R&B Tour at SoFi Stadium in September, following an orientation led by New Look co-founder Shawn H. Wilson.
The program asks students to connect lessons from each professional setting. Individual capstone projects in spring 2027 will reflect how their understanding of the industry has developed.
The partnership builds on a nonprofit with a much longer history. Usher’s New Look was founded in 1999 by Usher Raymond IV, Jonetta Patton and Wilson, and its work now spans creative, technical and business career preparation.
Its broader programs include Spark Club for ages 14–17 and the Entertainment Industry Club for ages 18–24. Training covers areas such as content creation, production, branding and entrepreneurship, with mentorship and professional connections intended to help participants move from an interest in entertainment toward practical experience.
The itinerary extends beyond Los Angeles. A Detroit visit is planned for November, with experiences being developed around the Motown Museum, Michigan Central and Detroit Spark Lab; a Las Vegas immersion centered on Metallica, Live Nation and Sphere is planned for early 2027.
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