BA (Hons) Professional Music (Business)

· Course duration: 3 years, full time
· Course location: Delivered on campus in Brighton and Sheffield
· Suitable for: Anyone interested in the business of music
· Course tuition fees: £9250 per year
· Tuition fee loan available: Yes
· Maintenance loan available: Yes
· Bursaries available: All students can apply for innovation cash bursaries
· UCAS course application page Brighton
· UCAS course application page Sheffield
· Course entry requirements: 104 UCAS points (guide only) or via accreditation of prior learning

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The degree is built on three fundamental elements – your music industry, your career and your projects. It deals with what really matters in music and the industry. It will expand your options and push you to continually think creatively. You’ll focus on music industry past and present, case-studies, market analysis, management techniques, branding, innovation, industry trends and project management – all whilst continually reviewing progress towards your personal goals. And you’ll learn all you need to know from our team of top-level industry tutors and mentors about the realities of being a professional operator in today’s music industry.

Who's it for?

This course has been specifically designed for anyone with an interest in the following areas:

· Band / artist management
· Tour management
· Events management
· Digital marketing and PR
· Branding
· Music journalism
· Social media
· Content creation

Every individual at WaterBear has their own story to tell and their own path to follow. We provide a supportive, safe environment for you to experiment and create. You'll also develop a tailored career plan to support your personal goals and ambitions.

How you will learn

You’ll spend around 8-10 hours each week on site in timetabled teaching and learning activities. You'll also get access to all your module content prior to your class lectures via WaterBear's dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

On-site teaching and learning activities can include:

· Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops
· One-to-one mentoring
· Assignments, assessments and feedback sessions
· Masterclasses
· Live performances and gigs
· Peer collaboration via 'Jam Cloud' (VLE)
· Free rehearsal and recording time in professional studios
· Networking and industry conference events

Career pathways

This course is designed to develop careers in:

· Band / artist management
· Tour / events management
· Digital marketing and PR
· Digital content creation
· Branding
· Music journalism
· A&R and artist development
· Artist, label and publishing services
· Music education

Further study

After graduating, you'll have a number of routes to further study available, including the MA Music Performance, Production and Business, MA Music Business and MA Songwriting degree courses at WaterBear and other postgraduate specialist programmes.

Course modules

Level 4

Module title: Business Start Ups

This module provides an interactive approach to demonstrating the creative and fun aspects of what it really takes to start a successful business within the music industry, with the goal of achieving sustainability, resilience, and authenticity in everything you do.

Weekly timetabled classes include Business Start Ups Project Management, The Blueprint, Digital Landscape, Pitch & Ideas Lab.

This module is assessed via a portfolio submission that asks you to explore your approach to business. You will present 3 potentially viable business start-up ideas, with supporting narrative to reflect on the process and result.

Weekly timetabled classes include Music Management Project, Music Agencies and Management, Label Services and Distribution and Professional Music Organisations. This module is assessed via a presentation of your analysis of a chosen sector of the Music Industry.

Module title: Navigating the Music Industry

This module deals with the music industry, past and present. Exciting case studies of artists that have made an important contribution to music. How did they do it? And how can you employ these insights into your own music projects, right now?

Weekly timetabled classes include Navigating the Music Industry. Assessment is a case study of contrasting business models within the music industry.

Module title: Your Business Projects

This module aims for you to experience and reflect on a real-world application of business relevant to your career aspiration

Weekly timetabled classes include Making Money in the Music Industry, Business Development, Building Professional Relationships and Your Business Projects Management.

This module is assessed via the submission of a design and budget plan for a music project e.g., tour for a new band/artist, label, festival, etc. Your will also create a contract of agreement between invested parties.

Module title: Your Strategy

Creating your individual career plan, with careful design and thorough testing. You will develop knowledge of current music industry practice to create career plans that are a). realistic and b). achievable.

Weekly timetabled classes include Project Management and Your Strategy. Assessment is via a report to identify a viable, personalised career model.

Level 5

Module title: Your Brand

Time to Stop, reflect and consider: Who exactly are you? Every business needs a brand, but the creation of your own personal brand is also key to success in the industry. We’ll focus on who you are right now, and who you want to be.

Weekly timetabled classes include Branding (Principles), Your Branded Assets, and Brand Identity Project Management.

This module is assessed via the submission of a PR campaign for a new band, artist or release, including branding assets and a presentation of a funding pitch for your project.

Module title: Your Events

Now's the time for you to show the world what you're made of. Working to put on shows and events, from live streams and solo shows to a fully-fledged national tour. It's all fair game.

Weekly timetabled classes include Project Management and Your Events. Assessment is via a live event that you will curate. The scale and scope of the event is up to you.

Module title: Digital Marketing and Social Media

Digital Marketing is now an essential component of any marketing or promotional campaign. You’ll learn how to use digital marketing in tandem with more traditional forms of marketing, and how to bring your brand story to life by using the right social media platforms. It’s also all about growing an online audience, and how to keep them engaged.

Weekly timetabled classes include Project Management, New Media and Multi Arts, and Social Media, Digital Marketing Strategy.

This module is assessed via the submission of digital assets & marketing materials (artist website, social media, video promo content) for a new band, artist or business venture.

Module title: Innovation in the Music Industry

In this business-focussed module, you’ll bring all your creative faculties to the table to create innovative new business models for the future music industry.

There is one weekly timetabled class relating to this module entitled Innovation in Music Business. Assessment is via a business plan submission designed to illustrate an innovative and viable new business idea.

Level 6

Module title: Your Professional Development

Having thought about what to do for that final project, you'll now need to prepare for it. This is where that work will be done, and the process documented. You'll be getting plenty of mentoring and guidance too, so don't worry.

Supportive classes include Financing your Business, Final Project Development Workshop and there is one weekly timetabled class common to all pathways associated with this module – Project Portfolio Management.

Assessment in this module is via the submission of Preparation Portfolio, including proposals, timeline and rationale.

Module title: Specialist Report

In creating this specialist report as a dissertation, you'll be honing your academic chops as you undertake formal research. You'll also be preparing the ground for your ambitious final project in the Professional Project module.

There is one weekly timetabled class common to all pathways associated with this module entitled Project Portfolio Specialism. The Specialist Report assessment will take the form of a research project paper focussed on a specific area relevant to today’s music scene.

Module title: Professional Project Portfolio

Your final major project is the springboard into your creative future. You are encouraged to be practical and realistic, but also ambitious and to challenge yourself. There is no limit to where you can take this or what you can do. Anything is possible.

Weekly class time to support this module will take the form of regular group tutorials, to monitor progress against deadline. Assessment in this module is via the submission of a Portfolio of work and project outcomes, contextual presentation of work and next steps career strategy.

*Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. Any changes affecting students’ expected programme delivery are communicated in advance. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Programme Manager.

Initial applications for the BA (Hons) Professional Music (Business) 3-yr on-site course can be made via the Apply Now button below.

Apply Now

You can also apply directly via UCAS using the links below.

UCAS Course codes are as follows:

Brighton

Course code: W376
Institution code: F33
Campus name: WaterBear, Brighton
Campus code: W
UCAS course application page

Sheffield

Course code: W382
Institution code: F33
Campus name: WaterBear, Sheffield
Campus code: L
UCAS course application page

We consider all applications on their own merit and potential. We'll invite you to a 1-1 session, either in person or by video conference. This is where you'll have the opportunity to find out all about WaterBear and talk about your interests, achievements and career goals.

Falmouth University Terms & Conditions

This course is also available to international students if they are based in the UK with settled status (no restrictions on how long you can stay).

Language requirements

If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to achieve equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of equivalent approved tests too. Visit the English Language Requirements page of the Falmouth University website for more information.

In order to get the most out of the BA (Hons) Professional Music (Business) course, it is essential that you have regular access to the correct resources. Having your own equipment will provide maximum flexibility to support both your college and personal project work.

Essential basics:

· Note-taking materials (pens, notepad, manuscript paper, etc.) (Purchase cost around £20)
· Computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.) (Purchase cost around £250-£400)
· USB memory stick (Purchase cost around £10)
· Reliable Internet connection

We recommend:

· Computer (laptop / desktop) capable of running DAW, audio interface, plug-ins and A/V processing software (recommended 8-16GB RAM, 7,200 RPM Hard Drive, 8MB buffer, 1TB hard drive (Purchase cost around £600-£800)
· Reliable, high speed Internet connection
· Professional DAW software (ProTools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, etc.) (Purchase cost around £200-£450)
· External hard drive (Purchase cost around £25-£50)