Music Business BA (Hons)

Program Overview

This music business program offers a comprehensive curriculum covering marketing, production, law, and management. Through coursework, projects, and industry placements, students develop practical skills and knowledge to pursue careers in artist management, event planning, entrepreneurship, and more. The program emphasizes collaborative learning, industry insights, and career preparation.

Program Outline

Outline:

Level 4 (Year 1):

• Marketing, Data & Analytics (MD4217):
This module explores how businesses use data from social media and streaming metrics for marketing and promotional campaigns. Coursework includes assignments and a portfolio.
• Music Video Production (MD4219):
Learn and practice the production of high-quality music videos using modern techniques and equipment. Coursework includes a portfolio.
• The Business (MD4220):
This module introduces personal and professional development activities and basic principles of the music business. Coursework includes presentations and portfolios.
• Music Cultures and Economies (MD4221):
Critically analyze contemporary popular music in the context of society, technology, art, and commerce. Coursework includes a portfolio project.
• Artist Management and Development (MD4222):
Understand and implement the fundamentals of managing musicians' careers with practical experience. Coursework includes a live project for a musician or band and assignments.
• Audio Production (MD4523):
Develop audio production skills relevant to various media applications. Coursework includes practical projects and assessments.

Level 5 (Year 2):

• Music Law and Copyright (MD5215):
Gain comprehensive knowledge of music business law, legal practices, and terminology. Coursework includes case studies and assignments.
• The Future Professional (MD5220):
Work with a commercial client in a live brief, attending meetings, engaging in negotiations, managing a business project to deadline. Assessed through project deliverables and portfolios.
• New Music Enterprise (MD5221):
Learn how businesses develop products/services/experiences, manage marketing campaigns with consumer feedback. Assessed through presentation, and project portfolio including creative outputs or business plans.
• Managing Events, Gigs and Festivals (MD5222):
Design and run a live music event from start to finish, learning challenges faced by public & private sector event managers. Assessed through project portfolio.
• Music PR and Journalism (MD5223):
Introduction to key concepts and practices in public relations and music journalism while exploring various media platforms. Assessed through written, video and audio content production portfolio.
• Design Thinking in Business Innovation (MD5224):
Develop tools and principles that allow you to think better, improve project design and management. Assessed through portfolio of project outputs.
• Music and Sound Studies (MD5324):
Through close readings, discussions and task-based learning, students are encouraged to continue the process of thinking about music, sound and music industry in a critically informed fashion. Assessed through portfolio, which could include written works, podcasts, and blog contributions.

Level 6 (Final Year):

• The Research Project (MD6216):
Complete a major research piece on your chosen music and audio related topic supported by individualized supervision. Assessed through written project and or audiovisual essay with or without a keynote presentation.
• Professional Practice (MD6217):
Draw your learning achievements in the course together in an online portfolio, learn presentation strategies for effective self advocacy in a competitive job search. Assessed through portfolio with a focus on employability and skills.
• IP/Rights Management (MD6218):
Discussion in detail the nature of intellectual property (IP) and music copyright with a focus on the management and exploitation of various music rights including international copyright issues, global markets, digital disruptions of the music industry, future of IP, royalty management etc. All assessed through an assignment.
• Major Project/Placement Options 1 or 2 (MD6219 and MD6220 respectively):
Option 1 is an individual freelance/contract type project like artist manager, event/tour manager, new Music Business entrepreneur, marketing manager. Project may be new or based on something from previous years. Option 2 is an external organizational placement for two weeks to be assessed using portfolio format. Both options include guest sessions by recent UoG music industry graduates for inspiration, learning and role model perspectives.

Assessment:

Coursework assessments are a significant component of the program with a mix of individual and group work, including presentations, portfolios, assignments, projects, research, and reflective pieces. Depending on the specific module, assessment weightage may vary. Some modules might focus entirely on portfolio submission while others might combine written assignments with portfolio elements.

Teaching:

Students benefit from a combination of workshops, practical sessions, lectures/seminars, and industry work placements. Teaching staff includes experienced lecturers and practitioners from diverse backgrounds in the UK music industry, providing students with the latest trends and insights. Guest industry professionals also contribute through lectures and sessions. The program fosters collaborative learning, project management, and independent research skills.

Careers:

Graduates can pursue diverse career paths, depending on their specialization and interests:

• Artist managers
• Events and festivals managers (including tour management)
• Entrepreneurs in new business ventures and music startups
• Digital content managers (in marketing & media industries)
This program also equips students for further study, such as postgraduate courses in various music business disciplines.

Other:

• There is also opportunity to work for major record labels and publishers and across other independent sectors of the music industry in various roles.
• Graduates can benefit from career support resources and services provided by the University.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information: