Tasneem Elaidy is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter based out of Egypt. After starting her climb in February of 2020, she now has over 6 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Not only is she a growing artist in the international music industry, but she is also pursuing her Master’s in Music Business and Industry through West Virginia University. We were able to chat with Tasneem and get a few answers to questions we had for the influencer in our program. Here’s what she had to say.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a Master's in Music Business and Industry, and why did you choose WVU specifically?
TE: I studied music at the top university here in Egypt for five years and earned two degrees, one in Music Performance and another in Sound Engineering. But then you graduate, and no one really tells you what to do with this degree. What job should I take? What if I don’t want to be “just” a singer, does that mean that’s it?
That’s what pushed me to really understand the business side of music: how the industry works, how artists can actually build sustainable careers, and how to turn passion into something viable. So, when I started looking for a master’s program, WVU immediately stood out because it was exactly what I needed. It’s not about the music, it’s about the business behind it, and that’s the knowledge I was missing.
You have an impressive following of 1.4 million on Instagram and 3.4 million on TikTok—how does your social media presence influence or intersect with your understanding of music business?
It’s all about marketing, marketing, marketing. There was no social media during the time of The Beatles, but their manager, Brian Epstein, was a marketing genius. My point is: if you want to be an artist, you need to get your music out there. Every era has its own marketing window, and it’s the artist’s responsibility to figure out what that window is and capitalize on it. For our generation, that window is social media.
How do you plan to integrate your academic learning with your influencer experience in your long-term career? Where do you see yourself after completing your degree?
I’ve said this in every interview I’ve ever done: I want to teach. There’s a huge gap here in Egypt between artists, labels, publishers, and distributors. Everyone is just winging it. And unfortunately, artists are the most undermined part of the entire industry. My goal is to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can so I can help change that—to educate, protect, and empower both artists and indie labels here.
Any advice for young creatives—especially women—who want to enter both the academic and music business spheres?
Girls, you’d be surprised by what you’re actually capable of. You might think that the industry here doesn’t value women, but honestly, you’d be amazed at how much power we hold, not just in this industry, but in any industry. Don’t undermine your strength. We’re far more powerful than we often give ourselves credit for.
What is one piece of knowledge you have gained from the program so far that you are implementing in your growing career?
The truth is, the music industry has very little to do with music. As harsh as that sounds, I’ve actually grown to love this reality. You could write an incredible song, but if you don’t market it, too bad. If you don’t read your contract properly, things can get ugly. If your branding isn’t on point, you’re doomed.
Understanding this has helped me separate emotion from the business side. Writing music is deeply emotional, but once that part is done, you need to buckle up and take your emotions out of it, because from that point on, it’s no longer just about the music.