Music Business with Foundation Year

This degree is ideal for anyone looking to work in the music industry. Whether you’re interested in managing artists, working for record labels or the business of songs, you’ll learn exactly what it takes to build a successful career in music.

The course covers a broad range of music industry areas allowing you to develop your knowledge to help you gain employment across a variety of music business roles. It will also equip you with many key entrepreneurial skills to give you the option of building your own business from scratch. Whatever your ideal career path, this degree course will give you a comprehensive overview of the music business.

In the Foundation Year of this four-year course, you’ll build essential academic study skills. This year will help you gain confidence in your abilities. You’ll also identify your strengths and areas for development. Together, these will prepare you for progression to the undergraduate degree.

Why study Music Business at BNU?

Learn from industry experts
You'll learn from seasoned professionals who have extensive experience in the music industry. Their insights and real-world knowledge will help you understand the nuances of the business and prepare you for a successful career. You'll benefit from their personal anecdotes and practical advice, making your learning experience both informative and engaging.

Comprehensive Curriculum
Our course covers a wide range of topics, from artist management to music marketing and promotions. This broad curriculum ensures you gain a well-rounded understanding of the music business, equipping you with the skills needed for various roles. You'll also explore emerging trends and technologies, keeping you ahead of the curve in this dynamic industry.

Hands-on learning
You'll engage in practical projects and real-life scenarios that simulate the music industry environment. This hands-on approach helps you apply theoretical knowledge and develop essential skills for your future career. You'll work on real-world assignments, such as organizing events or managing artists, giving you a taste of what to expect in the professional world.

Career Support
You'll benefit from dedicated career services that offer guidance on job placements, internships, and career planning. Our support team is here to help you navigate the job market and achieve your professional goals. They provide personalized advice, resume workshops, and interview preparation to boost your confidence and employability. Additionally, you'll connect with industry professionals and fellow students through events, guest lectures, and collaborative projects.

Entrepreneurial Skills
You'll learn how to start and manage your own music business. Our course includes modules on entrepreneurship, giving you the confidence and knowledge to launch your own ventures in the music industry. You'll develop business plans, learn about funding options, and understand the legal aspects of running a music business.

What will I study?

During your degree, you will develop solid business, marketing and management skills, allowing you to pursue many careers in this rapidly evolving industry. Key business modules will look at music publishing, the global music industry and the consumption of popular music. Key marketing modules will cover digital marketing, social media marketing and public relations.

Management skills will be addressed by modules covering classic management theory, how to develop as a music entrepreneur and how to manage creative talent. You'll also spend time focusing on legal issues such as intellectual property and music industry contracts. You will also be encouraged to develop other key skills such as communication and negotiation to allow you to demonstrate a portfolio of relevant skills to equip you to successfully enter the music business.

Foundation year
Introduction to Popular Music
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Principles of Management
Introduction to Marketing
Professional Skills Review
Final Project

Year one
Core Modules
Introduction to Artist Development
Entertainment Industry Framework
Event Planning and Practice
Managing Your Brand
Principles of Marketing

Year two
Core Modules
Music Business Project
Research Methods
The Music Entrepreneur

Optional Modules
Artist Management
Fan Cultures
Music Publishing
Music Publishing (Placement)
Venue Management and Concert Promotion

Year three
Core Modules
A&R
Entertainment Law
Independent Work

Optional Modules
Mosh Pit Politics
Creative Strategies
Digital Marketing
Industry Issues

Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music business. You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops with one-to-one and small group teaching, as well as written assignments and practical exercises. Regular guest speakers are invited in to BNU to share their knowledge and experience with you on subjects such as the art of songwriting, social media marketing and music publishing.

A variety of assessment methods will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including creative projects (both recorded and performed), presentations and written coursework. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.