Music Business with Professional Placement

Master the skills to take the music industries by storm.

The contemporary music industries are dynamic and fast-paced, and in need of confident, creative thinkers to define their sustainable and ethical future. On this rigorous, hands-on Music Business degree, you’ll develop an innovative and future-facing practice which will enable you to thrive in the UK and global entertainment sectors.

Learning from industry insiders, you’ll explore artist management, marketing, recording, publishing and distribution as you develop the skills to promote new releases and bring live experiences to fans. With exciting opportunities for collaboration with other students in The Academy of Music & Theatre Arts (AMATA) and across the University, you’ll explore emerging strategies and produce entrepreneurial and industry-level projects that will make your graduate portfolio stand out from the crowd.

You will:
AMATA is buzzing with emerging artists and bands eager to make their name known – and you might be the one to make it happen.
Benefit from purpose-built, world-class facilities with space for gigs, recording, rehearsals and business planning.
Work on live projects guided by business and music industry specialists.
Collaborate with students including video makers, photographers, fashion and graphic designers, dancers and choreographers.

As part of Falmouth’s Music Business course community, you will develop a professional and critical understanding of the music industry environment across both recorded studio productions and live events.

Supported by lecturers who have worked across the entire breadth of the industry, you’ll immerse yourself in the histories and futures of the music business, exploring varied environments, cultures and practices.

You will embark on a journey through music publishing, copyright legislation, social media, music recording and distribution, and will put your newly acquired knowledge into practice on collaborative live projects.

You'll learn how to manage artists and organisations, as well as developing key self-management, digital marketing and leadership skills. You’ll also get to grips with contracts and intellectual property (IP), and ethical and sustainable practices for music business.

Year One
In your first year you will explore the foundations and contexts of contemporary music business practice. You’ll investigate approaches to managing yourself, other people and organisations and resources, and dive deep into the artists and repertoire (A&R) process to understand creative processes and development. You’ll study the structures, shapes and roles in the music business and understand the industry’s economics. You’ll put on your first live event, having learned about the live music business and how to market artists and products effectively and ethically.

Modules:
The Music Industry Environment
Management: Organisations, Artists & Self
A&R and Creativity
Music & Sound: Contexts and Cultures
Branding
Live Production Management

Year Two
In year two, you’ll develop and understanding of contracts and negotiations and how IP is at the heart of the music business. You’ll explore the digital world as well as physical products and formats, and how genre worlds and fan cultures play a part in the products that are produced. You'll collaborate on projects and debate the differences in the DIY and corporate spaces.

Modules:
The Business of Music and Sound
The Business of Things
Promotion (Optional)
Project Management
Collaborative Working
Music & Sound: Resonant Futures
Synchronisation

Year Three:
You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks.

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation.

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.

Year Four
In your final year, you will put your knowledge into practice and prepare yourself for a career in the industry. You will debate leadership and management at strategic levels with ethical approaches, have the opportunity to develop your specialisms in research and produce practical projects at professional levels.

Modules:
Music & Sound Dissertation
Professional Development
Leadership
Showcase Portfolio

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

You'll be assessed through a combination of coursework and practical submissions produced both individually and in groups.

Assessments can take many forms, including:

Practical projects
Presentations
Portfolios
Written work
You will receive regular formative verbal feedback on your progress, through workshops and tutorials throughout each module.