UDMBLIVE - BA Music Business and Live Entertainment

This Degree Course is designed for those who wish to work within the music industry or many related creative/entertainment sectors. Music is universally important to media, devices, events; films, games, fashion; apps, ads, brands; corporations and enterprises.

The Music Business Degree features a significant practical, entrepreneurial, business orientation. Music Business practice and employability are built into the structure of this cutting-edge Course. BA (Hons.) Music Business continues to be innovative and does so on a global scale. The new structure and content of this course reflect the astute requirements of students and the highest of industry standards, focusing on forward-looking Practice, Consultation-oriented Analysis and – sustained Employability.

The Music Industry creates a significant contribution to economic and cultural life in the UK and globally. The UK Music Industry is the world’s third largest (after USA and Japan).
Moreover, the past few years have shown that the Music Industry – and business at its heart – experiences systemic recovery, growth and overall positive transformation.

As such, it is a major generator of employment within Britain and other developed nations in the 21st Century. The global music industry reached its centenary and a new cycle in its development is in full swing, especially in creation of new revenue models. The new use of music, recordings and performances through modern interactive media remain the driving forces behind the omnipresence of music in everyday life worldwide.

The transformational nature of new online revenue streams, interactive digital platforms (esp. communication and distribution) of creative content presents all creative sectors - and music industry at their centre - with prospects and experimentations that lead to change.

This Degree Course pays unique attention to the strategic management of change, patterns of digital, interactive communication and distribution, and new business models fit for the 21st century. Moreover, students engage in Live Events Practice, and are mentored by our Industry Partners when delivering real, live music events in London-based venues.

This Music Business Degree also benefits from a unique and close partnership with the Music Managers Forum (MMF), global leaders in Music/Artist Management, a guild-type organisation that represents the interests of Music Managers and their Clients worldwide.

Contemporary Media, Communications and Entertainment Sectors cannot be imagined without music. Many of the revenue generators in the global world of business utilise music, and it plays a pivotal business role across a number of sectors, beyond music industry itself.

Our students and graduates will enter the industry at an exciting time, a time of change when entrepreneurial spirit and a drive for innovation are widely rewarded, as many success stories of emerging music services show. Global corporate giants invest in music in new ways; start-ups transform the business landscape; live music sectors are stronger than ever.

As the old business models are transformed, new, energetic entrepreneurs get their chance to compete with the market leaders. Therefore, we place significant emphasis on creative, independent thinking, analytical skills, and networking.

In addition, our Degree offers Practice, Enterprise and Placement Opportunities; also training our students for business innovation and advanced strategic development. Transferrable skills our students develop help them in attaining long-term success.

Our educational philosophy is rooted in the development of creative and enterprising individuals who are able to operate, manage and perform in an array of stimulating professional environments. Our Students, Graduates and Alumni have proven capable of developing an in-depth understanding of the context in which the music, and allied creative industries operate both globally and locally – and putting this to good use in practice.

There is an emphasis on preparation for the World of Work by providing students with skills that enable them to work effectively in the contexts that constitute the music industry and the variety of related creative businesses. Such skills combine a variety of contexts and cognitive approaches. Students are able to gain experience of a real-world business environment through the compulsory work-related learning modules.

This philosophy is achieved through learner-centred strategies. Using blended-learning, digital media and business practice, these teaching and learning methods establish in-depth understanding aligned with the development of employability emphasised. This is done through a blend of exploration and application of management theories in business practice, set amongst emerging global digital technology, with an emphasis on practical application to solve live or simulated business problems through enquiry-based strategies associated with problem-based and practice-based learning.

Learning is further underpinned by direct experience of the industry through interaction with Specialists, their Companies, associated high profile Clients and Partner Organisations.

Our students are provided with opportunities to establish their own specialism in a range of subjects that include A&R, Rights Management, Digital Business Strategies, Project Management, Creativity and Enterprise, Artist Management - to name but a few key areas.

Such specialism is applied within the music industry, associated sectors and creative business environments utilising such strategically combined industry skills fit for the advanced, 21st Century Music Business Professional.

The aims of this course are:
1. To provide students with an intellectually demanding programme of study which enhances understanding of the nature and characteristics of the music industry and its links to any management application in related industries and sectors; and an intellectual awareness of the position of the music industry within the broader set of creative industry contexts
2. To provide students with the theory and application of key management concepts, approaches and techniques that are central to the music industry, and to augment theoretical concepts with a framework of experiential learning to ensure that students possess the practical skills necessary to make a positive and effective contribution within their chosen industry
3. To provide students with a comprehensive analysis of the transformational context of fragmented digital distribution and communications channels within the global music industry context, and how, through an applied conceptualisation of contemporary theory and practice, the music industry utilises the prospects and pressures presented by the transformational forces of interactive digital platforms and novel entertainment models.
4. To foster an evaluation of the social, cultural, economic and political environment in which the music industry operates and the strategic implications and broader social responsibilities that this environment generates
5. To develop a high degree of graduateness in the students, to enhance the ability of individuals to operate as effective learners, both individually and collaboratively, and to provide a wide range of transferable skills to ensure that graduates develop and succeed in professional careers in a variety of business contexts.

This course will equip students with the skills and attributes that will enable them to compete with success in the complex and challenging music industry environment and employment market.
This course is of inherently multidisciplinary nature, and therefore needs to consult three principal sets of QAA Benchmark Statements (Business and Management; Music; and Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism, respectively).
This will be achieved by nurturing, developing and refining the outcomes based on the following:
The QAA statement for Business and Management subjects require the achievement in and consistent demonstration of a breadth, depth, integration and application of knowledge and understanding; subject-specific and intellectual skills; learning, personal and interpersonal skills; the capacity to deal with uncertainty and complexity; and the capabilities of evaluation, reflection, creativity and originality.

The QAA statement for Music subjects require the achievement of diversity of approach within the same discipline or sub-discipline which can have positive value in questioning received wisdom and in developing good practice, thereby moving the study of the subject forward in innovative ways. The plurality of approach is a recognised strength of the system in the United Kingdom.

These outcomes shall be delivered primarily through 30-credit and 15-credit core modules, supported by a choice of 15-credit elective modules.

The undergraduate attributes shall be delivered through the following aims.

Students successfully completing the course shall be able:

1. To identify, define, state and outline key characteristics and aspects of music business as a distinct field of revenue-building activities. Such distinct fields of activities would thus be described by sets of arrangements, features, aims and project objectives within the broader contexts of business and management of culture or entertainment in general, and of performing arts and music in particular.

2. To describe, list, and reproduce the procedures, operations, regulations and processes involved in the creation, production, management, distribution and use or consumption of music and related contents. Such processes pertaining to experiences, products or services which form part of a business field that allocates and captures value through music and related cultural forms.

3. To demonstrate, employ and apply a comprehensive array of regulatory, ethical, aesthetic and market diagnostics of what constitutes the value ascribed to music and extra-musical content. This, for the purpose of effective commercialisation and monetisation of creative business processes.

4. To apply the comprehensive understanding and adoption of industry procedures to the processes of artist-, content- and/or music industry management; live promotion, project work, PR, branding and/or rights management - all within the fields of music business and creative entertainment.

5. To interpret for implementation, deployment, and practice; devise to produce events, projects, campaigns and procedures across various sectors of industry activity. Operating in field activities, with the aim of demonstrably using, utilising, controlling and manipulating the skills, tools and methods to meet expected outcomes.

6. To outline, categorise, distinguish, investigate and appraise the strategic processes of creative control, management, value-creation and capture within a transforming regulatory framework.

7. To debate, question and contrast the perceived state of affairs from a variety of critical angles with the aim of arriving at possible innovative viewpoints fit for testing and subsequent implementation in music enterprise.

8. To experiment, test and relate findings from business practice, systematic methodology or theory for potential application in a number of contexts such as policy, strategy, regulation or enterprise.

9. To formulate and plan for value-creation activities aimed at generating revenue across a number of areas of practice and consultancy/interpretation, including but not limited to: events production, promotion and delivery; music marketing and branding; regulatory and contractual applications; creative talent management; conceptualisation of enterprises or start-ups; musical content use etc.

10. To evaluate, judge, predict/extrapolate, summarise and assess key trends in music business or enterprise innovation in: distribution, services, delivery, fan engagement, experience, marketing, PR, publishing, business modelling, artist management, live, merch, music sector management or A&R.

11. To postulate, interpret and synthesise new research directed towards a number of advanced topics designed for practice, or business methods pertinent to music, media, entertainment, culture or creativity

A QAA statement does not exist for this discipline; the QAA Typical statement for Business and Management has been adopted in the interim.
(This is further enhanced with the inclusion of relevant aspects of QAA statement for Music.)

Our students are assessed via a variety of assessment formats: portfolios, blogs, essays, exams, group presentations, business reports, problem-based activities, practice-based projects, group research projects, and a final dissertation or consultancy project.

In addition, our students engage in ongoing formative tasks within workshops and seminars that may include brainstorming, idea generation, role-play, and case study analysis. These are held and conducted in specially scheduled classes, though VLEs and online interaction.

We pay a great deal of attention to formative feedback and feedforward activities, and our module assessment strategies are designed to help students attain the best practice in meeting learning outcomes. Our modules cover all industry sectors and assessment across modules frequently feeds into subsequent learning and practice activities. We cover all learning styles in an inclusive manner.

As part of our Undergraduate Student Promise, every student will undertake accredited work-related learning (in either the form of a work placement or ‘live’ project with a partner organisation or planning to set up small business) as a core, compulsory element within their course programme.

Students will be taking the “Live Event Practice” 15-credit module (Level 5) and the 30-credit “Music Marketing Strategy Lab” (Level 6) in their core course programme, both Work-Related Learning modules. Additionally, students have the option of taking an additional 30-credit 12-month sandwich placement module (which would extend their course to four years).

Work-related learning provides students with:
● the experience of a competitive recruitment process or pitching for an opportunity
● a work-related experience or project which impacts a real organisation
● assessment and feedback on their reflections on their experience of the work-related learning and planning for their future career.

Where required, students will be supported in finding suitable opportunities which can be either be a placement, part-time role or ’live’ project for an external organisation untaken within the University. We have dedicated placements and careers teams who will assist learners with all aspects of their job search and application. The suitability of the opportunities will be assessed by the Module Leader on an individual basis. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for opportunities and engage with the relevant University personnel who to assist them in gaining a suitable role.

Additionally, students may opt to elect to participate in our Study Abroad programmes (US), or study placements in Europe through the Erasmus programme, enabled through our HE Partners abroad.

As part of our Undergraduate Student Promise, every student will benefit from accredited work-related learning (in either the form of a work placement or ‘live’ project with a partner organisation or practical small business planning) as a core, compulsory element within the study programme.

Standard University regulations apply

PDP/reflective learning are integral to this Degree Course throughout its duration.
The skills required to promote reflective learning shall be introduced and developed through the Level 4 modules, and further embedded throughout the course. Level 4 modules/ curricula, enhancing reflective learning include specialist approaches to: 1) overall music industry structures; 2) music (CCI) marketing; 3) music scenes and global strategies; 4) music publishing.
In addition, modules such as: Live Events Practice; LT5080 Music Industry Management (Level 5); Music Marketing Strategy Lab, as well as LT6051 A&R (Level 6) entail formative assessment methods that require reflection and Personal Development Planning.
In School-wide events on each level of study (L4,5,6, corresponding with Years 1,2,3 respectively) there will be a number of Employability activities.
(NB Live Events Practice and Music Marketing Strategy Lab are to be delivered as WRL modules, further enhancing PDP/reflective learning.)
Regarding the course, BA (Hons.) Music Business all such activities have an industry specific context from the outset, led by industry leaders, entrepreneurs and staff whereby liaisons and work placement mechanisms will be introduced through combinations of guest lectures, tasks, feedback/feedforward and reflection methods and high-profile events (such as LMU-exclusive MMF Training Days), promoting existing best practice.
These will be further tied into specific subjects and practical tasks in specialist modules.

Upon successful completion of their Degree, our students can find work across the music industry, media and entertainment sectors, as well as marketing, public relations, and digital start-ups. Our graduates attain work and enterprise positions across the above sectors, including but not limited to: e.g. artist management, record companies, music publishing, industry bodies (AIM, WIN, IFPI etc.), digital distributors, the live/music events sector, online or broadcast media, collection societies etc. The annual event established in 2011, ‘The Orchard Lab Grand Plenary’ also serves as a gateway to employment as a showcase of student excellence in music marketing. Additionally, networking, placements and internships, industry-centred events, recommendations, calls and contacts enabled through our Industry Partners and VPs assist our students in further career progression. We also have an excellent network successful of Alumni, many of whom return to us and offer our students work placements and employment opportunities within the organisations where they work or which they lead as independent entrepreneurs. Finally, this Degree Course serves as an excellent springboard for further study and PDP, including Research Degree programmes.

This degree course greatly increases your employment prospects and opportunities in the music business. This is an exciting time to enter the industry, as it transforms into an ever-more multifaceted field of practice that utilises digital platforms and new business models, a trend that is set to continue.

This course will equip you with the skills required for entrepreneurial practice and management. Typical job roles include but are not restricted to: record company executives, roles in digital music platforms and services, digital marketing and distribution roles, publishing managers, tour managers, artist managers, strategy advisers, venue and festival promoters, and marketing and PR consultants.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of grades CCC in three A levels (or a minimum of 96 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National, OCR Diploma or Advanced Diploma) in academic or business subjects
• English language and mathematics GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent) are also required

These requirements may be varied in individual cases.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.