Why study this course?
The Music Business (including foundation year) BA (Hons) degree is a four-year course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0). It’s the perfect start to your university education if you’re interested in studying music business at undergraduate level but you’re unable to meet the entry requirements or don’t have the traditional qualifications required to start a standard degree.
On graduation you’ll be well-prepared to enter an exciting career in the music and entertainment industry.
More about this course
The foundation year of this music business course will provide a general introduction to business and is shared with some of our other business-related foundation year courses.
You will then go on to study more specialised aspects of music business in Year 1, 2 and 3. We’re one of the first institutions to provide hands-on experience of music business while also teaching you about digital strategies, business models and digital royalties.
Exploring music management in the digital age, you’ll study the same course content as our students on the traditional three-year Music Business BA (Hons) degree, graduating from the degree with the same title and award as those who studied the traditional course.
This is the ideal degree to propel you into a career in the music industry, but should you decide during your foundation year that you’d like to specialise in a different area of business, there is also some flexibility to allow you to do this.)
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Development for Success in Business (core, 30 credits)
Orientation for Success in Higher Education (core, 30 credits)
The Context of Business (core, 30 credits)
Using and Managing Data and Information (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Business Law and Ethics (core, 15 credits)
Event Planning and Management (core, 15 credits)
Learning Through Organisations (Professional Practice 1) in Events and Music Business (core, 15 credits)
Managing People in Organisations (core, 15 credits)
Media Culture and Society (core, 15 credits)
Music Publishing (core, 15 credits)
Principles of Marketing (core, 15 credits)
Understanding the Business and Economic Environment: The Business of Music (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Artist Management (core, 15 credits)
Digital Marketing (core, 15 credits)
Live Events Practice (core, 15 credits)
Music Industry Contracts and Negotiation (core, 15 credits)
The Practice of Consultancy (core, 15 credits)
Creating a Winning Business 1 (alternative core, 15 credits)
Learning through Work (alternative core, 15 credits)
Developing Inclusive Organisations (option, 15 credits)
Field Trip (option, 15 credits)
Fundamentals of Project Management (option, 15 credits)
Professional Experience Year Placement (option, 30 credits)
Sustainability, Business and Responsibility (option, 15 credits)
The Event Experience (option, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Artist and Repertoire (core, 15 credits)
Consultancy Project (core, 30 credits)
Creative Media Practice and Music Business Models (core, 15 credits)
Financial Decision Making for Managers (core, 15 credits)
Leading Innovation (core, 15 credits)
Music Media Marketing Lab (core, 15 credits)
Creative Artists Rights and Legal Disputes (Option) (option, 15 credits)
Event Sponsorship and Fundraising (option, 15 credits)
Service Excellence for Creative industries (option, 15 credits)
Social Marketing (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
This four-year degree is designed to improve your employment prospects within the music and entertainment industry.
Graduates have gone on to take up roles as event promoters, record label managers and digital publishers. Some have also gone on to work in indie label associations such as the Association of Independent Music (AIM) and the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).
However, career opportunities on graduation are broad and could include roles in digital marketing, public relations and distribution as well as positions such as tour manager, artist manager and strategy adviser.
