Commercial Songwriting & Production - London MA

Program Overview

The MA Commercial Songwriting and Production is a postgraduate degree that combines traditional creative songwriting practices with industry-driven techniques. Taught in partnership with London's Tileyard music hub, the program provides practical training in songwriting, production, and music industry management. Students gain real-world experience through industry mentorships, songwriting camps, and the creation of a portfolio of original music. The program prepares graduates for roles in the music industry as songwriters, producers, engineers, and more.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Commercial Songwriting and Production is a postgraduate degree taught in partnership with Tileyard, a music and entertainment hub in London. The program aims to provide students with a practical and industry-driven education in songwriting and production, combining traditional creative practices with a critical evaluation of specialized tools, techniques, and case studies relevant to the current music industry. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a variety of roles within the music industry, including songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and music for media composer.

Outline:

The MA Commercial Songwriting and Production is a one-year, full-time program delivered at the Confetti London Campus in Whitechapel. The program is structured into three terms:

• Term 1: Foundation (60 credit points)
• Commercial Songwriting 1:
This module provides students with a continuous weekly series of practical songwriting workshops, focusing on commercial songwriting techniques, case studies, genres, and the practical evaluation of original works.
• Developing Voice & Style 1: This module complements Commercial Songwriting, providing students with theoretical and practical tools to develop a unique "voice" as a songwriter or artist.
It includes classes in vocal tuition, technique, range, style, power, dynamics for studio work, live performance, solo and group vocal work, confidence building, and case studies of key works.
• Creative Music Management: This module focuses on the interconnected and collaborative stakeholders and activities involved in the production, distribution, and marketing of commercially released music.
It covers label, publisher, and creative artist management in its historical context, analyzing how the landscape is evolving and adapting to Porter's five forces of competitive dynamics. It includes new tools, techniques, and case studies for digital marketing, requiring students to evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between marketing techniques in the physical and digital worlds.
• Audio Production: This technical module, taught in front of a DAW, provides students with the fundamental building blocks of Audio Production tools and techniques alongside first-hand practical accounts of studio and session management.
It includes introductory tuition in the latest versions of Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Live, and Ableton Push.
• Term 2: Development (60 credit points)
• Commercial Songwriting 2:
This module continues the practical songwriting workshops from Term 1, focusing on commercial songwriting techniques, case studies, genres, and the practical evaluation of original works.
• Developing Voice & Style 2: This module builds upon the skills developed in Term 1, providing students with further theoretical and practical tools to develop a unique "voice" as a songwriter or artist.
• Writing to Commercial Brief: This module explores the creation and management of songwriting, compositions, and productions to a commercial brief.
Delivered by Tileyard Education Principal and founder of creative sound agency Illustrious, Martyn Ware, this module covers briefs from record labels, publishers, film and TV productions, advertising agencies, government and local authority major events, sporting events, and corporate brand and event productions.
• Image Branding and the Creative Process: This module looks at the principles and methods of creative process and visual identity in marketing practice.
Students will learn the sociological and psychological aspects of visuals and their use in campaigns for marketing and promotion, practical shoot planning and management, creative marketing concepts, and structured methodologies for idea generation.
• Term 3: Creation (60 credit points)
• Creative Music Project:
This capstone module provides students with an opportunity to consolidate their learning, experience, and original thought into a collection of original songs to be recorded and performed (playback and/or live) in front of an A&R panel curated by Tileyard Music. Initial classes will outline the assessment brief, requirements, timelines, deadlines, and presentation panel process.

Teaching:

The program is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, team working, independent learning, and industry talks. Students benefit from small class sizes, year-round access to studios and writing rooms, 1-2-1 academic and pastoral tutorials, 1-2-1 industry mentoring sessions, termly songwriting camps with live commercial briefs, live brief of the week, regular playbacks and A&R surgeries, and regular industry networking events, professional masterclasses, industry playbacks, work-based learning opportunities, and the social network at Tileyard.

Careers:

Graduates of the MA Commercial Songwriting and Production program are equipped to take up roles working as a studio owner, recording engineer, producer, songwriter, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, music for media composer, artist, or working for a record label/publisher.

Other:

• The program is also available for online distance learning.
• Alumni receive regular live commercial briefs, discounts on products and events, and can annually pitch any commercial projects to the Tileyard Investment Fund.
• Artists, producers, and companies located at Tileyard include Martyn Ware, Goetz Botzenhardt, Nikolaj Bjerre, Jon Kelly, Dru Masters, Sean Hargreaves, Paul Whalley, Tom Fuller, Spitfire Audio, Apple Music, PLATOON, Beats One, Focusrite, Pioneer DJ, and many more.
• The program features world-class facilities, including a bespoke-built SSL TriniTy console, SSL ORIGIN consoles in all edit suites, PMC audio monitoring, Focusrite Rednet interfaces, and a purpose-built multi-discipline events and production space.
• The program is delivered in partnership with Tileyard, a music and entertainment hub in London.