Program Overview

Master of Music in Music Business and Entertainment Industries

The Master of Music in Music Business and Entertainment Industries is a 30-credit hour program that can be completed in as few as 18 months. This program is designed to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the music industry, with a focus on hands-on experience and real-world understanding of the complexities of the music business.

Program Overview

As the music market shifts to digital online and mobile products, a greater number of competent, highly-skilled executives and entrepreneurs are needed to meet the specialized demands of the reinvented music industry. The MBEI program is carefully designed to prepare qualified music business students for these emerging opportunities with many opportunities to gain hands-on experience during their study.

Program Benefits

As a graduate of the Music Business program, students will gain:

• A real-world understanding of the complexities of the music business taught by extensively field-experienced faculty
• Access to a strong, active, and dedicated alumni network
• A broad range of relevant knowledge and skills in live music promotion, music publishing and licensing, legal aspects of the live entertainment industry, and more

Core Courses

The program includes the following core courses:

• Music Copyright Law (MMI 774, 3 credit hours)
  • A study of the essential provisions of the 1976 Copyright Act and subsequent amendments and revisions.
• Music Publishing (MMI 673, 3 credit hours)
  • An in-depth study of the international publishing industry with an emphasis on catalog development and exploitation.
• Music Business Agreements (MMI 750, 3 credit hours)
  • A study of various music industry agreements and how they affect the artist and songwriter.
• Legal Aspects of the Live Entertainment Industry (MMI 738, 3 credit hours)
  • Students become familiar with various Artist, Client, Production, Vendor, and Facility Contracts and Agreements commonly used in the industry.
• Music Licensing (MMI 752, 3 credit hours)
  • Advanced music industry concepts and problems in music licensing.

Electives

The program offers a range of elective courses, including:

• Entrepreneurship for Musicians (MMI 630, 3 credit hours)
  • Course explores a wide range of options for musicians who want to pursue music business careers in their regional music markets.
• Recorded Music Operations (MMI 637, 3 credit hours)
  • A study of the activities involved in commercially exploiting recorded music.
• Marketing in the Arts and Entertainment (MMI 643, 3 credit hours)
  • Students learn how to fulfill demand and influence consumer behavior through effective marketing techniques.
• Performing Arts Center and Facility Management (MMI 726, 3 credit hours)
  • Students learn the many aspects of managing a live entertainment and performing arts center facility.
• Tour Management and Production (MMI 641, 3 credit hours)
  • Students will become familiar with the responsibilities of a tour planner.
• Sponsorship, Development, and Financial Management in the Live Entertainment Industry (MMI 736, 3 credit hours)
  • Students learn how to write and present a line-item budget for an arts presentation event, arts presenting organization, and an arts facility.
• Arts Presenting Project (MMI 740, 3 credit hours)
  • In this course, we'll investigate the best-practices of event execution, including but not limited to time management, teamwork, planning processes, event supervision, and evaluation techniques.
• Arts Leadership (MMI 632, 3 credit hours)
  • Building a career in the twenty-first century and beyond creates challenges both exciting and daunting.
• Peak Performance Strategies for Musicians (MUS 745, 3 credit hours)
  • Become a more confident and expressive performer.
• World of the Working Musician (MMI 735, 3 credit hours)
  • This course is intended to provide immediate, important, comprehensive, and detailed information and tactics in building a foundation for a lasting, meaningful career as a performing artist.
• Communication, Marketing, and Publicity for the Musical Artist (MUS 755, 3 credit hours)
  • Effective communication skills are key for realizing your objectives in a competitive and dynamic music scene.
• Media Creation (MUS 735, 3 credit hours)
  • This course is intended to provide the student with the ability to record, edit, mix, and master content in both video and audio mediums, by using the most current, practical, and affordable technology available today.