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Music Business Management MA

Overview

The Music Business Management MA is an exciting and challenging course reflecting the dynamism, creativity, and inventiveness of the global popular music sector. This course aims to develop the next generation of creative, and critically agile music professionals. Music is at the heart of everything we do, and we use it as the lens through which we critique and enhance the potential of the creative industries to produce a rich, sustainable, inclusive, and diverse environment from which all can flourish.

Course Structure

The following modules are indicative of what you'll study on this course.

Core Modules

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

This cross-course module brings all the music postgraduate students into one cohort and is an opportunity for students to share ideas and work together across disciplines in a creative entrepreneurial environment.

Students will develop systematic and critical understanding of entrepreneurial theories and practices within music and wider creative industries to enable them to pursue new enterprises and employment opportunities ethically and with confidence.

20 credits

Intellectual Property and Copyright Management

This core module critically examines the role of Intellectual Property and Copyright in today’s global music and entertainment market. It explores ways in which legal regulation impacts artist development and the management of the music business and the live music industries. This module provides students with a deep understanding and critical awareness of the complexities and debates around global IP and Copyright Management asking who and what is entitled to legal protection and how is IP and copyright protection applied and organised via contract law.

20 credits

Music Business Management Final Project

With a strong focus on students’ personal and professional goals and interests, the Final Project will consolidate the knowledge, skills, and insights gained throughout the course, culminating in an innovative piece of work which addresses a challenge or issue currently impacting the music business.

The Final Project takes the form of a Dissertation, but alternative formats are also possible, to be negotiated and agreed with the project supervisor.

40 credits

Music Industry Structure, Roles and Development

This module equips students with a systematic understanding of music industries organisations and their labour relations and prepares students for work within the wider music industries. The module contextualises and critically evaluates current issues in business and management theory and practice.

This module is industry facing and supported by theoretical study alongside guided independent study in which students will evaluate and explore their own skill sets, developing an understanding of career development within music and wider creative industries.

40 credits

Music, Mental Health and Wellbeing

The module contributes to the growing field of music and mental health. This module explores why and how the issues of mental health and wellbeing have taken centre stage across the global music and entertainment industry. It critically examines the importance of artist health, safety, and wellbeing in relation to the duty of care owed to artist by other music industry professionals. The module critically evaluates ideas around mental health and wellbeing and how they are applied in the music industries.

20 credits

Option Modules

Artist Development

This module explores the popular music landscape and critically evaluates contemporary music practises as they apply to artist development. In this module students get the opportunity to listen, discuss and debate music building a holistic understanding of artist development in a contemporary landscape. This module is an option open to all MA Music Business Management students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in artist management.

20 credits

The Live Music Industry

The module covers contemporary critical theory and practice in the live music industry. Students will develop critical understanding of approaches to key roles and issues in the live music industry including regulations, ticketing, contracts, performing rights, sustainability and the relationship of live with recording.

This module is an option open to all MA Music Business Management students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in live music management.

20 credits

Global Music Markets

This module examines the landscape of global recorded and publishing music and live entertainment corporations. It explores how global corporations develop their brand strategies as they seek to exploit music-based products across international markets. We will examine emerging global markets and discuss sustainability, decolonisation and social justice as applied through corporate practices and Big Tech.

This module is an option open to all MA MBM students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in music business management.

20 credits

Managing the Music City: Policy and Strategy Issues in the Live Music Economy

This module examines the complex and evolving infrastructure of live music, from local to global scales, asking how and why this has become such an important and contested phenomenon. Drawing on London as one recognised leader in developing “music city” strategies, it develops conceptual and historical awareness and practical analytic skills to explore issues of regulation, development, entrepreneurship, diversity, environmental and cultural politics in a range of contexts, acknowledging learners unique identities.

20 credits

Music and Social Change

This module explores the post-second world war history of recorded popular music through the lens of social change. The module critically examines the ways in which changing music practices coincide with social movements, migration and decolonialisation.

The module will critically explore issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice as they are communicated through local and global music scenes and events equipping students with a deep understanding of how music is embedded in social change and social justice.

20 credits

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant degree. Applicants should be able to demonstrate some experience of working in the music industry, an aptitude for music business management and an enthusiasm for learning more about music and related industries.
• We will consider non-graduates if they have extensive industry experience. All applicants should be able to demonstrate some experience of working in the music industry, an aptitude for music business management and an enthusiasm for learning more about music and related industries.
• Applicants must have an English Language level of IELTS 6 with at least 5.5 in speaking and writing, when they apply. The Personal statement must reflect your understanding of the course and your interest in the music business.
• At the start of the course, if your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.
• Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £10,900 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £16,000 (Price per academic year)
• Alumni discount available
• Funding options available, including Student Finance England (SFE) and scholarships

Research Groups

• Black Music Research Unit
• Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media
• Communication and Media Research Institute

Careers

• Our course is globally recognised, and our teaching team has links with employers in all areas of the music industry.
• We're committed to developing your employability by ensuring that key career skills are embedded in the course and that you're supported in exploring internships and work-related opportunities.
• Our alumni have gone on to work across the international music industry and creative industries, in areas including live music, music publishing, artist management, music companies, and technology start-ups.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessment types include practical, coursework, and written exams.
• The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable.

Location

• Our Music Business Management MA is part of the Westminster School of Arts, based at our Harrow Campus.
• Teaching takes place at both our Harrow and central London, Cavendish campuses, with the majority of sessions held in Harrow.
• This allows you full access to our music facilities, including our venues and world-class studios and our cutting-edge technologies in the Emerging Media Space.