Program Overview

Modern Music Industries MA

Overview

On our MA Modern Music Industries course, you’ll develop your skills in the music industry to a level where you’re ready to interact with professional companies and industry experts, outside of an educational setting. Learn how to build a portfolio career as an entrepreneur within the sector to a master's level, and discover how to network, communicate, and lead others in musical projects.

You’ll research a chosen area of the music industry that you’re invested in, which will not only give you a deep critical understanding of your practice, but a grounding in research, that can prepare you to carry out research in a professional capacity.

Turn your practice into a set of transferrable skills, by developing your self-efficacy which will allow you to deliver masterclasses, teach others, and work with respected and established enterprises in the music and culture industry.

Why us?

• Our Music courses are 1st in the north-east for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
• This is the only vocational masters degree in the north-east of England that is geared specifically towards preparing learners to develop an entrepreneurial portfolio career in the modern music industry
• With strong industry links and a focus on entrepreneurial skills, NAME provides a course for anyone interested in the music industry to study on their own terms with professional guidance
• You'll develop skills you'll need as a modern music industry practitioner to further your career in today's difficult market

Course structure

This course allows you to lead on your artistic progression by focusing on your vocational interests in the field. You'll be taught in small group lectures and seminars but will also receive 1-1 mentoring in your chosen area of practice. There'll be industry liaison guest lectures and guidance to prepare you to work as a self-employed entrepreneur for music-related companies.

Assessment will be mostly practical, requiring submissions of recordings and products, supplemented with evaluations of your work. The course requires a professional standard of practical engagement in the music industry, as you'll set, plan, and create your product, events, and collaborations. You'll be assessed on your ability to pitch, present, and critically think about music industry practice. This will be assessed to an industry standard.

Course modules

Core modules:

• Research For Practice (30 credits) An introduction to research methodologies and how research informs practice and vice versa. This module will teach you the underpinning principles behind carrying out research, such as types of research and research ethics.
• Creating and Delivering a Masterclass (30 credits) Plan, deliver, and evaluate a one-hour masterclass on your chosen discipline with programme notes that can be consumed both by experts and the public. You'll develop the ability to earn money by demonstrating your knowledge and critical understanding of your chosen practice.
• Professional Collaboration (30 credits) Host an event to market a musical product with evidence of collaboration with industry professionals or community and social groups, such as film and television companies, charities, social enterprises, labels, agents, pluggers or other musicians. This can be an entirely commercial venture, can be a social collaboration with a choir, or a community brief from a council or group.
• Written Composition and Musical Direction (30 credits) Create your own music and develop a method of communicating musical direction to a group of musicians that will perform your music, led by you. Develop compositional techniques and a composition of 20 minutes of music performance or a recording with clear notation, lead sheets, or classical music notation.
• Professional Research Project (60 credits) A research project that identifies a gap in the market for a modern music industry entrepreneur. Inform the creation of a commercially consumable product and research presentation, or report addressing the theory behind and market forces involved in producing and monetizing the product. You can use your research to create a commissioned or funded product, that could be funded, and addresses a social function such as community or social betterment.

Facilities

This course is based at The Peacock and The Fire Station, in Sunderland's cultural quarter and is delivered by Northern Academy of Music Education.

You will have use of facilities including music practice rooms, performance spaces, classrooms and sound recording facilities.

Entry requirements

• Entry will require a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant music, media, or arts degree, plus approval of a research avenue by the course leader and directors. A 2:2 will be considered on the condition of an outstanding professional portfolio or research proposal.
• You’ll need to attend an interview and have a research proposal outline.
• If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Fees and finance

• The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
  • £8,500 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled
• Please note, this course is not open to international students.

Career ready

You'll build a portfolio of work throughout this course which can be used to attract employment, not just in the music industry but in the other sectors that are increasingly valuing creativity and innovation. The industry research will encourage you to identify alternative revenue streams such as funding, teaching, working as a technician, or in other areas of the industry that may have been ignored.

We have a full programme of visiting professionals that give masterclasses to our students. We're also involved in the curation of stages at various festivals and events in the region and across the country that our students can become involved in. Our network of music industry contacts can also be used for placements and visits to events and experiences.

Meet the team

• Dan Donnelly Lecturer Dan Donnelly is one of the directors at NAME. He's a songwriter, solo performer, and lead guitarist for the Folk Rock band, The Levellers. He has written and recorded chart-topping records and singles, touring the globe multiple times. He has 14 years of experience running courses and teaching music in the UK.
• Barry Hyde Lecturer Barry Hyde is one of the directors at NAME. He's a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and lead singer of The Futureheads. He's written and recorded chart-topping singles and albums, toured as a solo artist and with his band, and also supported bands such as The Foo Fighters, Oasis, and Muse.
• Peter Brewis Lecturer Peter Brewis is a producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. As one-half of Mercury Music nominated act Field Music, he's been making records for many years including the UK top 30 album Open Here. He continues to record and play music while also teaching composition and production for NAME, where he is a senior lecturer.