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Music Business Management MA

Overview

The Music Business Management MA is an exciting and challenging course that reflects 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: This module is concerned with the critical evaluation of entrepreneurial business structures and behaviours in the creative industries. The approach is interdisciplinary, and is designed to provide you with a solid introduction to media economics, social theory, and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property and Copyright Management: Intellectual Property (IP) and copyright are central to all the creative industries. In today’s environment IP and copyright are increasingly under attack. In this module we will critically examine the role of IP and copyright in today’s music market. IP and copyright can cover works as diverse as songs, master recordings, videos, photos, writings, knowledge, the expression of ideas, prototypes, and more. This module is designed to provide students with a critical awareness of the various issues around IP and Copyright Management and additionally enable students to look critically at the contractual relationships that bind the industry. This is a highly contentious field and is in the process of transformations due to the rapid changes in the delivery of music across the globe, some might argue the changes in the law are not happening fast enough - we will examining these issues. (20 credits)
• Music Business Management Project: The Music Business Management Project is recognised by graduates as one of the most rewarding and empowering experiences of the course. You will be supervised by a member of the University faculty, and possibly supported by a music industry representative, to carry out research in an area agreed between yourself and the module leaders and/or industry professional. The subject must address current music business issues and concerns and should incorporate relevant music business theories, academic research design and critical analysis. The Project builds on the skills and experience you have gained in previous modules, and gives you the opportunity to apply programme knowledge to a major project, adding to the body of professional practice and theoretical literature. (40 credits)
• Music Industry Structure, Roles and Development: This module aims to equip students with a systematic understanding of the relevant knowledge of music industry organisations and their labour relations with an emphasis on preparing Masters students for work within the wider music industry. It will contextualise organisational structures and working relationships within the music industry and critically evaluate the development of current issues in business and management theory and practice informed by leading research and professional practice. Students will be involved in critically mapping creative networks and the interplay of wider media and creative industries in the development of leadership roles as they apply in both theory and practice in the music business. Students will also examine the different roles and skill sets at work in the wider music industry. This module will be industry facing and supported by theoretical study alongside guided independent study (GIS) in which students will learn to evaluate and explore their own skill sets in order to develop an understanding of career development within the music industry and wider creative industries. (40 credits)
• Music Marketing and Technology: This module is concerned with the critical evaluation of music marketing and the technologies which drive it and explores underlying theories, concepts and current best practice. The module offers insights into the wide range of issues, strategies and challenges facing marketing and promotion of music and provides insights into current and future industry practices in relevant areas of marketing and tech such as social media marketing, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
• 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 looks at how artists and musical products are developed within the music industries. The practice of artist and repertoire is now more commonly known as artist development or A&R. Knowing and understanding music in its commercial context is key to career development in the music industries. A&R has become a central practice within the music industries. This is a very exciting module where you get the opportunity to listen, discuss and debate music and artists’ development. (20 credits)
• The Live Music Industry: The module offers an overview of the development of the live music industry which will contextualise the relationship and power structures of the main stakeholders in the live music industry, from the audience to multi-national promoters. An examination and critical evaluation of the live music scene in developing the musical careers of artists, as well as the expansion of key markets through the live music industry, for example the global festival market and the development of marketing and branding elements. The module will also look at how the specific areas of live music management interplay to enable students to develop an overall live strategy, examining the key roles and issues in the live music industry which include secondary ticketing, contracts, performing rights, challenges raised by gentrification , the EDM boom and the relationship between live and the recording industry. (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. (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. (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.

Tuition Fees

• UK tuition fee: £1,211 (Price per 20-credit module)
• International tuition fee: £1,778 (Price per 20-credit module)

Research Groups

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

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. You'll benefit from the vibrant, specialist facilities at Harrow while also gaining exposure to central London's dynamic commercial music industry.