Program Overview

Music Business (Online)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Whether you want to work in the music business or just need that extra edge in your self-managed musical career, this unique 3-month course will give you the knowledge and skills to find success in a very competitive industry. Our online Music Business course will give you practical and useful insights, knowledge, and skills in key topics such as artist management, A&R, publishing, copyright, live events, and more.

By studying online with pointblank, you gain access to live personalized DVRs (Direct Video responses) with your instructors, industry professionals who have helped shape the careers of some of the most successful names in music. You’ll also take part in guest speaker events, access pointblank’s successful in-house record label, and join our global alumni network.

COURSES

Music Industry

Music Industry is aimed at people who are interested in making a living from music. Whether you want to self-manage, represent different artists, or work in other areas, times are changing, and new opportunities are emerging all the time in the digital era. To make the most of them, you will need a solid grasp of how the industry works, what a record company's role is, record deals, publishing, and contracts, how the financials work, and more. Taught by industry experts, this module also features guest input from music business insiders. Your music career starts here...

• Music Industry Basics
• Record Companies
• A&R
• Copyright
• Publishers & Collection Societies
• Synchronisation
• Digital Distribution
• Artist Management
• The Live Industry
• Business Models & Opportunities
• Planning for Business
• Professional Development

EXPERT INSTRUCTORS

• Arabian Prince: A founding member of world-famous rap group N.W.A, Arabian Prince has written, rapped on, and produced some of the most influential tracks in the history of hip hop in an industry career spanning almost four decades.
• Des McMahon: Bass music producer, DJ, and mastering engineer with releases on the Viper, Insomniac, Get Hype, Technique, Circus, Ultra, Play Me, and Human Imprint labels.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

There are many different routes that you can take if you want to work in the music industry, whether that be through education, starting up your own venture, or seeking employment. Today, there is more advice, guidance, publications, industry organisations, and support than ever before, so finding a pathway to a career in the industry has never been easier.

• A&R Manager
• Artist Manager
• Record Label Owner
• Venue Promoter
• Event Organiser
• Booking Agent
• Music Licensing
• Digital Marketing
• Artist Liaison
• Social Media Manager

FAQ

• How do the online courses work? Studying online with pointblank is a completely unique experience unlike any other online program. You will be personally guided by expert industry professional instructors in each course and provided with regular opportunities to discuss and submit your work to get valuable feedback and analysis on your music.
• What materials do I get with this course?
  • Over 10 hours of high-quality videos
  • 10 Live Group Class Sessions
  • 2 DVRs (Direct Video Responses)
  • Comprehensive, well-written course notes
  • 24/7 access to our Forum
  • Exclusive audio resources: downloadable projects, channel strips, custom plug-ins, samples, acapellas, and more
  • 2 years of access to our Virtual Learning Environment
  • The opportunity to submit your tracks to our record label, pointblank Recordings, distributed by Beatport, iTunes, Juno Download, and Amazon
• Is this program suitable for beginners? Yes. This program assumes no previous experience. Your first course will ensure that you have a sound grasp on all of the most fundamental skills for music production. You will then progress into increasingly more advanced coursework which will further develop and expand upon these production skills.
• What are the admission requirements? Admission into any college-level program at pointblank requires that the prospective student:
  • Be 18 years of age or older (under age 18 may be accepted only with signed parental consent)
  • Possess a High School Diploma or the Equivalent (or pass an approved Ability-to-Benefit Test)
  • Be provided a current pointblank Music School Catalog
  • Sign a School Performance Fact Sheet and an Enrollment Agreement for their program
• What equipment do I need to take this course?
  • Either Ableton Live Suite or Logic Pro (please contact us for more details)
  • Computer which meets the minimum requirements for your chosen DAW
  • MIDI keyboard (recommended for most short courses; required for Diploma students)
  • Native Instruments Reaktor + Blocks (required only for the Advanced Sound Design course)
  • Native Instruments Komplete (recommended)
• What support do I get during this program? Throughout your program, you will be taught and supported by our expert team of professional music instructors. You will be able to contact them via the student forum, raise any issues you may encounter in your courses, and receive a timely response. All of our instructors are highly experienced in making music, have in-depth knowledge of the music business, and will be able to offer valuable advice and guidance. In each course, you will also participate in a live two-hour online Group Class Session each week for 10 weeks, where you can raise your specific questions and have them answered by an expert.