Berklee Announces BEATL, New Innovation Hub for Music Technology
Mark Ethier, cofounder of iZotope, will serve as BEATL's executive director.
Image by Kelly Davidson
President Jim Lucchese has announced the launch of the Berklee Emerging Artistic Technology Lab (BEATL), a new innovation lab focused on the convergence of music creation and creative technology, including next-generation creator tools, AI, machine learning, immersive and interactive experience design, and new interfaces for music creation. BEATL will bring together technologists, entrepreneurs, and artists to give Berklee students direct access to the evolving intersection of music and technology. Mark Ethier, cofounder of audio company iZotope, began as BEATL’s executive director on September 3, 2025.
Designed as a student-centered, career-focused hub, BEATL provides students with resources to respond quickly to emerging trends in music creation, collaboration, performance, and the broader tech landscape, while assessing the impact of these trends on the creative industries. By convening industry leaders and artist-practitioners, BEATL will foster a culture of experimentation with a focus on action, positioning students for long-term career success. The lab will explore the role of machine learning and generative AI in music and creativity, serving as a collaborative catalyst across Berklee’s academic programs and within the music and creative tech industries, with artist advocacy at its core.
BEATL continues Berklee's history of technology-centric innovation, from pioneering the first college major in music synthesis (now electronic production and design), to becoming the largest provider of online music education with Berklee Online, to building blockchain-enabled tools for creators. As AI reshapes how music is created and taught, Berklee has launched an AI and Music Innovation series, hosted a recent Audio Engineering Society symposium, and formalized a human-centered, artist-first approach to machine learning. BEATL advances those efforts, adding to Berklee’s reputation for innovation and excellence, reflected in an alumni network honored with more than 300 Grammy Awards.
“Berklee has always been at the forefront of innovation, equipping students with the skills to excel in the industry and to lead the future of creativity,” Lucchese said. “That is the inspiration behind BEATL, a hub for innovation in music technology with a specific focus on empowering musicians.”
“Mark Ethier is the ideal leader for BEATL—one of the most respected artist-centric innovators at the intersection of music and technology,” Lucchese continued. “He is a steadfast advocate for artists and has helped create essential technology used by millions of music creators today. We are excited for Mark to lead Berklee’s innovation efforts.”
A Massachusetts native, Ethier is the cofounder and former CEO of iZotope, an audio software and hardware company, and serves on the board of directors of WBUR. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a double major in music and computer science.
“I’ve spent my career using technology to help musicians, producers, and engineers realize their creative vision,” Ethier said. “As a musician and technologist who has collaborated with Berklee for nearly two decades, stepping in to lead BEATL felt natural when Jim reached out. The pace of change is unprecedented; we must prepare students and ensure artists have a voice in where technology goes. I look forward to bringing together artists, educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to explore—and shape—this future together.”
