Music Business and Events Management

Why study this course?

This cutting-edge Music Business BA (Hons) degree will give you knowledge and contacts required for a successful career in the music and entertainment industry. During the course you’ll organise your own live event, work with real clients in the music industry and gain up-to-date knowledge of music management.

We’ve reinvented this undergraduate course to offer a great level of subject specialism from your first year, based on research and input from industry connections. You’ll study unique, advanced modules co-delivered with prominent industry partners and gain hands-on experience in the field.

More about this course

Our honours degree is unique among other undergraduate music business programmes in the UK. We’re the first university nationally to offer a combination of teaching digital strategies, business models and about digital royalties, while investing heavily in providing practical experience.

The focus throughout will be on the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in the music business. In your first year you’ll embark on independent research projects, reflecting the importance of research in the music industry. Our approach is to cover every business sector of music, from digital streaming and artist management, to merchandising and innovative business models. You’ll explore important topics such as music publishing and copyright in the digital age, focusing on the management of important music rights. Supported by the latest practice and industry commentary, you’ll consider how the future is being shaped by technology and consumer trends.

Our course has a unique focus on innovation and our aim is to enable you become an entrepreneur yourself. Exploring how money is made from music related content, with a special focus on digital streaming platforms such as Spotify and Tidal, you’ll aim to predict the next major business shift. On modules such as Digital Music Business Models, you’ll be taught by experts in the field who have published industry research that has been praised by Forbes. This module will also prepare you for a career within a start-up environment, which is a common business model within the music and technology industry.

From the very start of your degree you’ll be immersed in the music business environment and directly engaged with practice. In the Artist and Repertoire module, while learning the theory of singing and developing artists, you’ll also work with real clients in the music industry. In the past our students managed artists, filmed music documentaries and run marketing campaigns.

We have extensive links with the music industry in London and beyond, providing you with opportunities to learn in a contemporary and career-focused environment. We often host events for the industry such as Music Managers Forum (MMF) training days. Our partners will offer you opportunities to participate in research, focus groups, work placements and internships.

Course Modules

Example Year 1 modules include: Business Law and Ethics (core, 15 credits); Event Planning and Management (core, 15 credits); Learning Through Organisations (Professional Practice 1) in Events and Music Business (core, 15 credits); Managing People in Organisations (core, 15 credits); Media Culture and Society (core, 15 credits); Music Publishing (core, 15 credits); Principles of Marketing (core, 15 credits); Understanding the Business and Economic Environment: The Business of Music (core, 15 credits). Example Year 2 modules include: Artist Management (core, 15 credits); Digital Marketing (core, 15 credits); Live Events Practice (core, 15 credits); Music Industry Contracts and Negotiation (core, 15 credits); The Practice of Consultancy (core, 15 credits); Creating a Winning Business 1 (alternative core, 15 credits); Learning through Work (alternative core, 15 credits); Developing Inclusive Organisations (option, 15 credits); Field Trip (option, 15 credits); Fundamentals of Project Management (option, 15 credits); Professional Experience Year Placement (option, 30 credits); Sustainability, Business and Responsibility (option, 15 credits); The Event Experience (option, 15 credits). Example Year 3 modules include: Artist and Repertoire (core, 15 credits); Consultancy Project (core, 30 credits); Creative Media Practice and Music Business Models (core, 15 credits); Financial Decision Making for Managers (core, 15 credits); Leading Innovation (core, 15 credits); Music Media Marketing Lab (core, 15 credits); Creative Artists Rights and Legal Disputes (Option) (option, 15 credits); Event Sponsorship and Fundraising (option, 15 credits); Service Excellence for Creative industries (option, 15 credits); Social Marketing (option, 15 credits); Learning Through Work 2 (alternate core, 15 credits).